Chapter 4

Four

Kaleb headed into town from the hotel, wandering like he had for the last few days, Neo and Trin loose on their leads, just trundling with him. He liked the town a lot. A lot. The bakery had amazing goodies. The bagel place had good coffee and sandwiches, and the library was packed for such a small town. They had a great fantasy collection and a DD game every week.

That rocked pretty hard.

He was meeting Kynan at his office, and the man had told him to bring the beasts, so he was taking advantage of the brisk but sunny weather and letting everyone out of the hotel room.

Charlie hadn't been at the desk this morning. Kaleb hoped he was okay.

There was something about the pretty man with the light-brown curls that just fascinated him. He was lovely, kind, and the dogs loved him. Kaleb figured he must be straight as a ruler, the way he ignored all of Kaleb's not-so-subtle clues, but that was okay.

He could still look. And maybe be friends, if Charlie would let him.

A little terrier wearing a plaid sweater careened around a corner, barking furiously, and Kaleb saw it all start to go bad before he could stop it.

Neo jumped a foot in the air before scrambling back in abject terror, while Trin leaped forward, head down and butt up, ready to play. The leashes snapped taut, his arms went two different directions, and his feet went right out from under him.

Bang.

"Oh my gosh! Hey, pup. You're okay. I have you." A tiny dapper man grabbed Neo's leash, then came to help him up. "You okay, buddy?"

"I think so?" He shook his head when Neo came to lick his cheek. "That came out of nowhere."

"Actually, it came from Mrs. Neely's house just up the way." The man handed him Neo's lead, then scooped up the wiggling Westie. "He's enthusiastic."

"Yeah. And Neo is a big weenie."

"Most big guys are." The guy winked at him, obviously playing, and Kaleb had to grin.

"Yeah, yeah." He chuckled. "Kaleb. Thanks for the assist."

"Hamish! There you are. What a bad dog." An older woman in a wild purple coat and a hat with a giant flower sticking out of it came rushing over. "Hank, thank you so much. Young man, are you all right?"

"Yes, ma'am. Just strengthening my bones."

She blinked, then laughed out loud, slapping his arm. "I've heard falling helps."

"In theory if not in practice, hrm?" He shook his head, feeling like nothing more than an idiot.

"I think you need a coffee," the Hank guy said. "Let me buy you one."

"Oh." He blinked, then nodded. "I'm on my way to a meeting, but I could totally stop and get a coffee first."

"Who are you meeting?" Hank just herded him and the dogs toward the coffee shop.

"My contractor, Kynan Tierney?" He supposed it was presumptuous to assume everyone knew everyone, even if the town seemed impossibly small to him, and Kynan had been mayor. But he put it out there.

"Oh, did you buy a place in town? He does amazing work. His husband, Andrew, is my best friend."

"So I hear. I bought the Dewhurst mansion."

"Oh my God." Hank stopped dead, staring at him. "Did you really?"

He grinned. "I really did."

"Oh. My. God. How exciting! Did you know that Augustus Dewhurst killed his omega and then killed himself in that house?"

"Annette might have mentioned it." He didn't put a whole lot of credence into ghost stories.

"It's a cool story. I used to run the historical society, and there is a ton of good information, pictures, that sort of thing." Hank opened the coffee shop door. "There's a little area over there that is dog friendly. What kind of coffee are you into?"

"Just coffee is fine." He grinned. "I'll grab myself a treat, but I appreciate the busted-my-butt-on-Main-Street sympathy coffee."

"Are you kidding? I get to pick your brain about the mansion."

"Ah, now I get it." He laughed, taking the dogs to the pet area, much to the oohs and ahhs of the other patrons.

There wasn't anyone else in there now to scare the big goofball, so he felt okay leaving them there, and there was astroturf so they couldn't make a mess.

He headed back to stand with Hank, who was perusing the coffee board.

"What are you going to have?"

The barista chuckled. "The Ghost Hunter. It's named after him. It's a white chocolate mocha with caramel, pecan, and an extra shot."

"That sounds great." He would totally pay too. "Let me get it, man."

"No, no. I'm going to treat. You can get it next time."

"I will." He decided then and there that he and Hank would be friends. "So were you on your way here for coffee?"

"I was. I come every morning. Antonia's father watches her for a couple of hours for me, and then I take the afternoon. We split the evenings."

"Oh." Did that mean they were divorced? Was he in weird water there?

"We're both work-from-home types," Hank said with a chuckle. "So we both need some time away."

"Oh! That's cool. I mean, I get it. It's harder to structure work from home."

"Yes, and I like to get out, see the town, remember that I have a life that isn't in the sound studio."

He tilted his head. "What do you do in the studio?" He loved the people he met here in Secret Springs. They all had these crazy interesting lives.

"I have a ghost-hunting podcast. I've been fairly successful. My husband, Eliot, is a novelist."

"Neat! Do you do the ghost tours too? I've seen the brochures at the hotel." He checked on the beasts, who were sitting half on top of a kid who had sidled over to say hi and whose mom looked concerned. "Be right back."

"No worries. I'll bring the coffees."

"Cool." He rescued the preschooler, gave the dogs each a cookie out of his pocket, and then went to rejoin Hank. "Sorry. So. Ghost tour?"

Hank handed him a coffee and they went to sit. "Yes. I've been running them for years, and I love it—the history, the paranormal, all of it."

"Fun!" He grinned. "You'll have to come up and do a podcast from the house at some point. When it's safe again."

"I've tried for years, but the management company that dealt with the estate said there were unsafe areas on the upstairs floors."

"Looks like that's probably the case, yeah."

"Bummer. That's a shame. Are you going to repair them, then? You know that ghosts often get riled up during renovations?"

"I'll holler at you if that's the case. And I'm going to restore the place. I really want it to be period but have modern comforts too. But I hate old houses with like, obviously brand-new shiny kitchens." He grinned. "There's a dumbwaiter."

"Dude. For real? That so rocks. You have to be so excited."

The coffee was sweet, and he found himself laughing with Hank.

The bell over the door jingled, someone else coming in, and Hank clapped. "Yay. Charlie, come meet Kaleb. He's going to renovate the Dewhurst mansion."

"Oh, Mr. Raleigh, nice to see you. Neo, Trinity."

"Hi, Charlie. Please call me Kaleb." Surely Charlie could do that off duty? His lovely light-brown curls looked windblown, his cheeks pink from the weather. He was so pretty, with his dark blue eyes and kind of pointy chin.

"Of course, Mr… Kaleb." Charlie chuckled softly. "I need a cup of coffee. Do you guys need anything?"

"Oh, we have coffee, but come join us," Hank said. "You can help prep Kaleb here to talk to Kynan about the renovation."

He glanced at Charlie and raised his eyebrows.

"Kynan loves an old house. I'm sure he'll be respectful. I'm coordinating with him at the hotel, and he's wonderful to work with."

"So what's your role at the hotel?" He put his elbows on the table and gave Charlie his undivided attention.

Charlie curled in on himself. "I—I'm just the front desk guy. Mr. Harlan lets me redo the rooms. Keeping them period. Nothing much."

"Hey, that's awesome. I mean, I'm in one of the renovated suites, and it's amazing. The bathroom is so cool. I love how the shower looks like one of the really old rainbaths, but it has the jets hidden in the wall too." He did love that shower.

"It's a good shower." Charlie smiled at him. "I couldn't resist."

"Well, trust me, it's a good thing. I may have to show you my plans for the bathroom in the master at the house. I mean, it doesn't really have one, but I want to carve one out, and then sort of blend it in."

"Oh, I'm not a professional. I'm just… I'm not a real designer. Mr. Harlan's allowing me to pinch hit."

"But you did such a good job. That makes you a designer in my book."

Hank cheered. "See, Charlie? I told you so."

That earned them a blush and the sweetest grin, and Kaleb wanted to see it again and again. There was something about Charlie that called to him, that was as right for him as Secret Springs and his new old house.

Something that made him want to wrap around Charlie and hold on tight.

"Well, thank you, but I don't want to misrepresent myself."

"Here's your usual, Charlie," the lady behind the counter called.

"I'll be right back." Charlie hustled off.

Hank eyed him. "He's a sweetie."

"He is. And I like him."

"I do too. I think I might be his best friend."

"Yeah? Is he always a little shy?" He wasn't going to ask Hank to dish on Charlie, but if he could get himself a little information, well, he wasn't above that.

"He's been through a lot." Hank shrugged, smiled.

"Oh. I'm sorry. That sucks." He wondered what Hank meant, but again, not Hank's story to tell. It was just that he wanted to be around Charlie. He wanted to not step on a mine in the field while doing it.

"Just please remember, he's been hurt." Hank's words stopped as Charlie got closer.

He nodded to show he understood. Kaleb was the king of slow hands. So to speak. Maybe because he had a few scars of his own.

"I'm running late. I promised I'd bring doughnuts for everyone today, so Mr. Matteo offered to save me a couple boxes."

"Do you need a ride, Charlie?" Hank asked.

"Nope. I'm great. I'll see you both later!"

Before he could even blink, Charlie was out the door.

"Damn." He watched the door where Charlie had disappeared. "I was hoping he had time to sit."

"He's the most loyal guy I've ever met. Ever."

"Yeah?" That sounded like a good quality. "Is he—is he seeing anyone?" Hank wasn't acting as if Charlie had a partner, but it was always good to ask up-front.

"No. No, he's not attached. He's living in the Apartment for Lost Omegas. Some of the town alphas—well, they keep an apartment for emergencies."

"The Apartment…" He could hear the capital letters in his head. "Okay. Well, then, if he's free… Once I'm not a guest at the hotel anymore, I can ask him out, right?"

"I don't see why not. I like you, so far, and you have big neat dogs. Charlie was a minor league ball player. I bet he could throw a ball for them."

A woof from the dog area made him grin. "Speaking of dogs… They want to finish their walk, and I need to meet with Kynan. Thanks for the insight, Hank. It was nice to meet you." Kaleb stood. "Oh, hey, about the podcast. Do I just call the brochure number?"

"You do. Or you can just call me." Hank held out his phone. "Put in your info?"

"Sure." He tapped in all his contact stuff. "I can't guarantee a signal up at the house, but I will be checking in several times a day." He was a tech guy. He couldn't live without being plugged in at least a little.

"Fair enough." Hank chuckled and sent him a text as soon as he handed the phone back.

"Got it. I'll add you to my contacts."

"Perfect." Hank grinned as he went to get the dogs. "Be careful out there!"

"I will." He leashed up the dogs and headed to see Kynan. He was going to ask Kynan about Charlie, dammit. Hank was an unknown, and one of Charlie's good friends, where Kynan seemed like the kind of alpha who rented out apartments to omegas who needed a place to go…

Kynan just happened to be arriving as they walked up, the dogs lunging forward to meet him since the last time he'd given them a cookie.

The big alpha had a brand-new baby in a sling against his chest, two children in a stroller. "Hey, guys! Kaleb! Come on in."

The little boy in the stroller made grabby hands. "Puppy!"

"Troy, we ask first."

"Hey." He tugged on the leashes. "Sit." Two hairy butts hit the ground, so he grinned. "Okay, now they can greet."

"Thanks, man. Careful, Troy. Remember what we talked about."

"Hand ope. Soft pat."

"That's good, bud. I appreciate that you listened." Kynan winked at him and then helped Troy to pet Trin, who was the one on that side. Deliberately. Both dogs loved kids, but she was so much more confident than Neo.

"Me! Me, Papa! Me!" The little girl beamed, clapping hard. "Good girl!"

"Okay, Hannah, but you have to be very careful." Kynan held her hand too, and he kept his hand on the leash loose and relaxed, letting his girl know he trusted her. Tension would make her tense.

"They're very good," Kaleb said.

"We know our share of dogs." Kynan grinned, then frowned. "You take a header?"

"There was a Westie."

"Ah. Yes. Come in. I'll get you a towel and a cup of coffee."

It seemed that the answer to most things here was coffee. Or craft food and beer if it was at night. Totally Colorado.

"Thanks. You want me to leave these two somewhere?"

"Nah, I have a towel for them too. They can come on up." Kynan led him inside, and he was glad to be able to bring the dogs all the way in, not just tie them in a foyer or something. He'd thought that was what Kynan had meant when he'd said they were welcome, but hello, little kids.

"Pup-pup," the little girl said, and her brother nodded to her, then pronounced?—

"Baby dog."

Kynan grinned. "He's very into the idea of babies since his daddy had his little brother."

"Ah." Kaleb nodded. "Big brother syndrome. It's a real thing."

"Ah, are you a big brother? My husband is too. I'm an only."

"I am. I have a couple of half siblings. Though I'm biologically an only. And my dad doesn't exactly encourage me to talk to the others." And now he had two moms, which rocked.

"So your folks split up?"

"Oh, yeah. My dad is on wife two. She's nice, but she disapproves of me because I don't work anymore." He rolled his eyes. "She's a psychologist. And mom is married to Maman, which is great."

Kynan chuckled. "Wow. So that turns the stereotype on its ear."

"Hey, she's the alpha." He shrugged. "So I need to talk en suite."

Kynan's eyebrows rose. "Okay."

"I'm in love with the bathroom at the hotel. I want that shower. It looks period but feels like twenty years from now."

"I know, right? That was a fun project."

"Hank—I met him at the fall in the street portion of the day—he says Charlie at the hotel helped design it?" There. His lead-in. Go him.

Kynan nodded. "He did. Smart kid. Talented, and what he doesn't know? He looks up. He's in the library a ton."

"Yeah? Hank says he's had a tough time of it." He hoped he wasn't sounding weird or something. He was feeling a little pushy, but he had this burning urge to know Charlie. And he rarely questioned his gut. It had guided him well his whole adult life.

"Ah, you heard about the apartment, did you?"

"I did. And he told me to be careful, that Charlie had been hurt." He spread his hands. "Maybe it seems fast, but I like him. A lot. And I don't want to mess up." In fact, he wanted to ace this one, to let Charlie know he was safe to let things develop.

"Yeah, so Hank and Elliot found him in the basement. He'd been beaten half to death by a bunch of assholes while he was up camping, and thrown into a coal chute to die. He'd been a baseball player, and that's over."

"Jesus."

"Yeah. They broke his shoulder. So he's been living above Lukas's tattoo shop, working at the hotel, and hiding out."

He shook his head. "That's nuts. He's so sweet, too. So good with the guests. The dogs." He was reeling a little, because that was more than like a relationship crashing.

"Yeah, he's a good guy, but he seems lost to me, you know? Distant, but he has his reasons."

"Sure. Do you think he'd like to work on my house? No strings attached?"

"He lights up when he talks about reno at the hotel, so yeah. But take someone with you to begin with. Me. Hank. Someone."

"I can do that. Okay, so, how did we do with that change order?"

"Given how much of the original plumbing is s. h. i. t., what you want is totally doable."

"Oh, cool. I need to be up there living soon, too. I can get an RV rental, but I'll need a hookup at the least."

"Electrical and heat are our first priorities. That way, when we put in new plumbing, it doesn't freeze."

"Right. Electric. Heat." He shook his head. "My own personal money pit, huh?"

Maybe this was an epic mistake, but he loved this house.

"Yep. You'll have to see mine sometime. Come over for a beer or whatever you drink. Andrew loves to show off our monster house."

"You did one of those corner lot Victorians downtown, right?"

"She's a grand old lady." Kynan beamed at him, the love shining from his face. "It's home."

"I'd love to see it." He was really loving the vibe of Secret Springs. He might not end up being besties with any of these folks, but they were willing to give him a chance, and he already felt like he knew more people here than he ever had in Denver.

"Papa! Pup-pup."

"Oh, God. Do you have a paper towel?" Kaleb went to pull Neo, who had decided Troy was his new favorite thing ever, off. And now he needed to mop drool. "Sorry."

"He's a child. He's gross. He washes." Kynan dug in a diaper bag and threw over a wipey. "I believe in the dirty-children-are-happy-children philosophy."

"You're a contractor. That makes sense." He scrubbed Troy up, and the little one giggled madly. "I have St. Bernards, so it's a good thing I'm not a germophobe."

"God yes. It's like my buddy Chase. His man is a cowboy and they live on a ranch. Their children are always like little urchins. He says he had to give up his worry about that or go nuts."

He cackled. "That sounds amazing."

"It kind of is. They do the best Fourth of July barbecue. Chase is the owner operator of Fuel and the hotel restaurant."

"Hey, that's seriously impressive. The hotel has amazing food. Bridget is a great chef."

"She's amazing. You're going to fit in here, man. This is not the ‘man is an island' type of town. We're nosy, and we love to get together."

"I think I'm ready for that. I… I've been alone a lot." Even in his company, he'd been the guy they all came to ask things and then the employees would all go out to lunch and leave him in his office. Not that he was all wah wah about it, but he thought he'd sold out and retired early just to go off and find a new place and a chance at a new Kaleb. He was still young enough to learn to be more than what he'd been.

"Yeah. I hear you. Come to supper with me, Mark, and Elliot tonight? We're going to have supper at Fuel and then head to the tattoo parlor next door. Lukas is going to work on my back piece." Kynan grinned and winked. "All the omegas are heading to my house to play with the new baby."

"I'd love to, if no one else minds." He didn't have supper plans, and this way, he could get to know some more people around town.

"I can almost guarantee no one will care, but I can send a text around. And King is always happy to make more money, so he'll add another name to the reservation." Kynan grinned. "We're a pretty open bunch. We love new folks."

"Well, if they don't mind, that would be great." He was ready to make more friends, for sure, and to learn more about Secret Springs.

And somehow, he would work in getting to know Charlie too.