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A Positive Sign
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Stay the Night What's Coming Next?
AstonTiffany and I were both manning the front desk on Monday afternoon. With the influx of guests we were experiencing after implementing all the changes Blake had helped with and suggested, we were going to need extra front desk staff at peak times.One person working by herself wasn’t enough anymore. I helped when I could, but more guests meant more work for me, too. I also couldn’t work our systems as fast as she could.I was working as quickly as I could to get guests checked in, but it felt like my line was longer every time I lifted my head. It seemed like the ad I took out at the airport as well as the free shuttle service between the airport and the hotel was paying off big time.Both of those things were Blake's ideas and I still hadn’t thanked him for either. The hotel was busier than ever and still getting better and busier yet.At the rate we were going, I had no doubt that our mediocre numbers will have shot through the roof by the time they were reported again. I hande
Stay the Night Major Cutbacks
AstonThe reporter on the business news desk was a young guy, maybe my age, with short cropped blond hair and an ill-fitting suit. I wondered if the guy knew his dramatic pauses were going to give me a cardiac event if he didn't spit out whatever it was he had to say.“The company has been in the news recently for making announcements about some big expansion plans. We already know they are expanding their footprint both at home and internationally by adding a few more properties to their growing collection, as they announced awhile back. The company also surprised investors recently when it announced plans to expand into social media."“Get on with it,” Tiffany urged the reporter. She took a few steps closer to the television and glared at the guy the way men sometimes did while watching sports—like the reporter was a referee who made a bad call.It would have been funny if I wasn’t even more anxious to know what was coming than she was.“Danny McAllen, son of CEO Wayne McAllen, spok
Stay the Night You're Fired
BlakeWhat a fucking week. I was no stranger to firing people, and it was by no means one of my favorite things to do, but it was something that needed to be done from time to time. Since I was usually on the ground level out among our employees, I was often the one who had to do the deed.This was different though. Firing one person was nothing compared to going around having to tell managers responsible for hundreds of people that their branch was on the chopping block.The sun was shining in Houston, but it felt like there was a thunder cloud hanging over me inside the hotel manager’s office. He was one of the managers I had never met before, but I knew from his reports that he was a relatively meek and mild man.He got consistently okay reviews from guests and his staff alike, and appeared to be something of a yes man. That didn’t make my job here any easier, but then again, nothing could.I took a sip of the water he had fetched for me and fixed a solemn expression on my face bef
Stay the Night Forgot One
BlakeBy the time I left the Houston property, I was fucking exhausted. Justin had made it too easy for me, and somehow, that made me feel worse than with the managers who put up more of a fight. I sighed, sinking into the black leather seats of the car that waited for me outside the building. After leaving Florida to begin this terrible trip, I caved on my usual aversion to private travel and called my dad’s pilot and the travel department of the company. Knowing what the week held for me, I knew I would be too tired and not in the mood to drive myself or to deal with flying commercial.Both were things I ordinarily didn’t mind doing, but not this week. This week, I didn’t want to see any more people than necessary, like I would at the airport and I spaced out so much thinking about my dad and the work I was doing, that I would have been a danger on the road.Without the need to say a word, my driver pulled away from the Houston property and headed back to the airport. He navigated t
Stay the Night At Capacity
ASTONThe sun was setting over the glittering turquoise ocean beyond the wall of windows in the lobby. The orange ball of fire was just kissing the horizon, signaling the end of another busy day. On my way back to the front desk from dealing with a problem in the restaurant, I stopped next to the windows to take in the view.I was dog tired, but in the best possible way. Seeing the hotel bustling and finally reaching the potential I knew it had all along was invigorating. The challenge would be to keep it up. To keep coming up with fresh ideas and getting our name out there.Wishing for the hundredth time that I could to talk to Blake about it, I sighed. I longed to talk to him about any number of things, but I still hadn’t heard from him. Since I now knew about the cuts being made, I knew he was dealing with a lot. Not wanting to be annoying or a nag, I left him be and didn’t call again. I would hear from him soon enough.That didn’t mean I didn’t wish that ‘soon enough’ was today, t
Stay the Night We Need to Talk
AstonIt was one thing to have suspected he was rich and powerful from the first moment I met him, but it was something completely different to know just how rich and powerful he actually was. Memories of what he’d been like when we slept together came rushing at me.The way his muscles tensed and quivered above mine, how his eyes screwed shut when he was overwhelmed with pleasure. Wetness pooled between my legs at the thought. It sent a thrill through me to know I could do that to him.But now that I knew just who I had brought to his knees when he crawled onto the bed with me, I was in awe that my body could reduce a man like him to a trembling, moaning mass of pleasure.Tiffany brought me back from my naughty trip down memory lane when she cleared her throat. “Earth to Aston. Do you want to go do your checks at security so we can get out of here sometime before midnight, or are you planning on sleeping in your office again?”I shook the lusty haze fogging up my brain away. “Sorry.
Stay the Night Coming Clean
BLAKEAston’s scent, a vanilla mixed with something slightly floral, permeated my senses. She smelled so damn good.I swiped my key card over the reader and pushed open my door. Everything was exactly as I left it and walking in even felt a little like coming home. It was a feeling I hadn’t had for the longest time.Aston followed me inside. Her footsteps were muted by the thick carpet, but I could feel her behind me. Finally, alone with her, I gave in to the urge I’d been fighting since I first saw her downstairs. Rolling my bag to the side, I turned, grabbed her wrist and tugged her into my arms, wrapping them tightly around her.Breathing her in, I closed my eyes. “Fuck. It’s so good to see you.”Surprised by my sudden move, she was stiff for one terrifying second where I was afraid she was going to push me away, but then she relaxed into me. She burrowed into my chest, her thin arms coming up to form a vice grip around my waist. “It’s not bad to see you either. Are you okay?”“Fin
Stay the Night Who You Are
BlakeNow or never. I took a deep breath, wishing it could have been never. But that wasn’t how I rolled.“I haven’t been completely honest with you,” I started, expecting more of a reaction than the one I got.Aston calmly chewed her food, glancing down at the table before motioning for me to continue. The words came out in a rush. “My last name isn’t Carlton. Carlton is my mother’s maiden name and my middle name. My real last name is McAllen. I’m Wayne McAllen’s son.”There, I said it. I waited for surprise to color her features or for a burst of anger to come. I half expected her to call me a liar and to run from the room screaming. Instead, she didn’t look surprised at all.If anything, she looked relieved. “I was wondering when you were going to tell me.”My jaw threatened to drop. “You knew?”She nodded, embarrassment flashing in her eyes.“After you left, Tiffany looked you up,” she admitted. “I was going to wait for you to tell me everything yourself, but then she found out an
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Stay the Night Epilogue Part 2
AstonEverything further away than what could be reached in two or three hours by plane, he let Danny handle. Blake had been my rock, my constant. With him as the dad, I could see myself having a lot more children. He certainly seemed to be on board.A nurse came in to check on us, as they did every so often. This was one who must have just started her shift, since I hadn’t seen her around earlier. She was an older woman with bright red hair and a kind smile. “Is everything okay in here? I need to take the baby for observation, it won’t be more than a few minutes before she’s back.”Blake’s eyes widened comically. “You’re taking her away?”“Just for a few minutes, sir.” The nurse smiled sympathetically. “I won’t take my eyes off of her for a second, you have my word. I know it’s hard for you to let go of her right now.”“She has to go?” Blake asked, not looking like he was inclined to hand her over at all.The nurse nodded. “A few minutes, sir. She’ll be back before you know it.”Relu
Stay the Night Epilogue Part 1
ASTONOn a rainy Saturday morning, Blake and I welcomed baby Emma Rose McAllen into the world. She was a pink, healthy little angel that had both of us wrapped around her little finger the very first second we laid eyes on her.The hospital was busy. I could hear people milling around outside, some running to take care of patients and others here to visit friends and family, and to meet the new arrivals. Emma was only three hours old, but I was sure Blake’s family and Tiffany would get here soon.Both Tiffany and Blake’s mom had wanted to be in the waiting room when she was born, but I went into labor in the early hours of Saturday morning and in our rush to get to the hospital, we hadn’t wanted to disturb them in the middle of the night.For now it was just us and our little cherub in our bubble of the most perfect, serene happiness I’d ever known. With Emma’s tummy full for the first time, she was dozing in her daddy’s arms and the scene in front of me was as precious as I’d known i
Stay the Night Catching Up
BlakeTiffany led us into the smaller of the conference rooms at ground level, one where Aston and I had shared dinner not so long ago, yet it seemed like a different lifetime now. Aston walked over to the window, releasing a happy sigh to be looking out over the ocean. “It feels like I haven’t been here in forever.”“For you and me both, girl.” Tiffany sighed. “Welcome back.”“Thanks,” Aston replied softly. “You should come visit us in Florida sometime. We’ll be happy to have you.”“Once the baby is born, try keeping me away,” she said, reaching out to pat Aston’s belly again.The two friends shared a moment. I hung back, getting settled at the table. When they sat down, Aston joked, “Oh, you’ll only visit once the baby is born? That’s still months away.”“Good point,” Tiffany said. “Maybe I’ll come out there sooner. Is your nursery set up yet? I can come help with that.”“We’ve been settling into the house,” Aston told her. “We haven’t gotten to the nursery quite yet. It would be gr
Stay the Night Not A Vacation
BLAKEThree months after the last time Aston and I walked out of the hotel in California, we were back for a visit. It had been a long three months. We had meant to pop in for a visit weeks ago, but we never got around to it.As it was, we’d almost had to cancel again. Aston managed to dodge the bullets flying her way, with Danny’s help, and we’d hopped on the jet as soon as our meetings let out. We were like kids fleeing from school on the last day, excited to be getting away from the head office that took so much of our time.Our visit to California wasn’t a vacation though. Soon, I would whisk Aston away for a break before the baby was born, but for now, we were working.It didn’t make Aston any less excited to be headed back to her hometown. She missed her friends and had been looking forward to spending time with them, even if we would have to get some work done at the same time.Dressed in a soft, flowing red dress that clung to her newly rounded stomach, she looked more beautif
Stay the Night Stroking Her
ASTONBefore I knew what was happening, Blake flipped us over and was rolling my pants down my legs. My panties followed quickly.He yanked both items over my bare feet and dropped them to the floor. Heat spread through me as his bright blue eyes drank in every inch of me.He sat between my legs, spread open so there would be space for him. Completely on display for him, I was surprised by how much it turned me on. The raw lust in his eyes told me he felt the same. “I was an ass. I’m sorry I didn’t see how much I was upsetting you, can I make it up to you?”“Please,” I breathed, reaching for his shirt.Catching my hands in one of his, he used the other to reach behind him in a fist and pulled it off in a smooth slide. As his body came into view, I wished he wasn’t sitting between them so I could clench my thighs together to ease the need building there. Seeing me squirm, his hands went for my bare legs, running up and down my thighs.“You’re gorgeous, Aston. And the best thing that ha
Stay the Night No Buts
Blake“No buts. If that’s what you want, I’ll go. I understand that you need someone there and that logistically, it can’t be Aston. I can be a team player again and if that’s what this team needs, I’ll take one for the team and go.”Taking a deep breath, his eyes darted up to the ceiling like he was slightly embarrassed by what he had to say. “But if you’d consider keeping me on in Florida though, I could work under Aston.”Shocked, my eyes widened. “You’d be her subordinate?”“Yeah.” His eyes drifted to Dad before he nodded and looked back at me. “It’s not easy for me to face, but I know I brought this on myself. If I stay, I’ll work as her second. Help her, learn from her, whatever.”“You would do that?” To say I was surprised was an understatement. My brother, or at least the brother he’d become, lacked the astonishing maturity it took to come up with a plan like this. “You realize it wouldn’t be temporary.”“I do.” He held onto my gaze, sincere in what he was saying. “I’ve been a
Stay the Night Sobered Up
BLAKEWalking out of Dad’s study, I bumped into my mom in the hall. For a guy who spent years seeing only one family member, two at most, once every couple of weeks, I was surrounded by them now. I didn’t know how much I liked it yet.“Have you seen Aston? I asked Mom, who smiled as she jerked her head in the direction of the front door.“She left in a cab a few minutes ago,” Mom told me. “I saw her out there from the kitchen window, but it looked like she could use a couple of minutes alone. Next thing I knew, there was a cab and she was getting into it.”My heart sank to my shoes. “What?”I knew Aston was upset by my offering her Danny’s job, but I never thought she would leave. Panic crept in and gripped my heart. She didn’t know anyone in Florida as far as I knew. I didn’t even know where to start looking for her.“Fuck,” I mumbled, ignoring my mom’s chastising look. It was a little fucking late for her to try have any say about my language. I was getting used to having her around
Stay the Night Space
Aston“I’m against it because I don’t think it’s a good idea,” I exclaimed, rolling my eyes. “Danny’s position isn’t some random spot. It’s a very important position in the company.”“Exactly,” Blake snapped. “It’s not good enough to put some random person into that position, don’t you think I get that? That’s one of the reasons why I need you, Aston. You’re all I’ve got. I don’t have any other options that are good enough.”“I’m a last resort?” My head reared back like he’d slapped me. I didn’t know what was going on with me, but my emotions were all over the place. Maybe it was the pregnancy after all, but knowing he only wanted me because there was no one else was somehow more hurtful than people thinking he’d only put me into that spot because he was sleeping with me.Staring at me like I’d grown a unicorn horn or turned green, Blake shook his head. “You’re not a last resort. It’s not like that at all. Think about it this way, my dad supports me in this decision. About Danny going
Stay the Night The Offer
ASTON“Excuse me.” I pushed my chair back from the kitchen counter and glanced at Blake’s family before letting my eyes come to rest on him. “Could I talk to you outside for a minute please?”“Sure.” Exchanging a look with his father who nodded encouragingly, Blake followed me outside. I didn’t stop walking when we hit the deck, heading over it and onto the expansive green lawn.The sparkling swimming pool was blue and inviting. I briefly considered stripping off my clothes and taking refuge in the silence of its depths, but I doubted very much that Blake’s father would appreciate a half-naked pregnant girl sitting at the bottom of his pool.When I hit a patch of trees at the back of the property, I paced in the shade beneath them. Without having to look, I knew Blake was standing there watching me. He let me blow off steam for a few more seconds before planting his hands on his hips. “Before you say anything, hear me out.”“I told you I didn’t want that spot, Blake.”Walking toward m
