Sunday, October 13, 2024
👻🎃Sunday's Short Stack🎃👻: Pumpkin Patch Cutie by Lacey Daize
Holiday Surprises #1
Scott wants it all; an alpha and a family of his own. But for now he's content to be the cool uncle.
It's hard to be patient sometimes, but Scott knows that his perfect alpha is out there somewhere. In the meantime he's taking care of his niece, and decides to take her to the nearest pumpkin patch for a day of fall fun. But when she gets lost in the corn maze he panics.
Dom's ready for a new start, he just needs to get his business off the ground.
Dom just moved back to Valle Granja in order to start his own business as a large animal vet. Unfortunately there's not much for him to do while waiting for his license and other important paperwork to be processed. So in the meanwhile he's helping out his uncle on the family's pumpkin patch. But he doesn't expect to help a gorgeous omega in crisis mode.
Neither man expected to find the other that way, but when it's right, it's right.
Pumpkin Patch Cutie is a 14.5K word , non-shifter, M/M, Mpreg romance
I get it, Mpreg is not for everyone, it's probably one of the "out therest" of "out there" but if we can't look outside the box in our own readings once in a while then what's the point of being a reader? My experience in the genre is still limited to only a few authors but when I discovered Lacey Daize's books I definitely found a winner. The characters, the settings, and omegaverse world building is quite detailed and that's not something you often find in mostly novella-length stories. I'll admit I chose this author first primarily because they often fit the holiday themes for my blog but I really loved them, so no matter what brought them to my shelf, they earned their spot in storytelling stay-ability.
As for Pumpkin Patch Cutie, well frankly the title says it all. Omega Scott is ready for the whole family shebang but until he finds his alpha he is more than satisfied with his uncle role. What better way to fill that role than taking his niece to the local pumpkin patch and maze. There is a bit of location issues and his uncle mode kicks in trying to find her. Not sure which is the real pumpkin patch cutie: Scott the panicked uncle, Madison the lost niece, or out-of-nowhere hero alpha Dom who himself is helping his own uncle by working the season at his patch? All three could hold the title and they all help turn the cutest of cute meets into full on forever romance.
Pumpkin Patch Cutie is short, sweet, and all kinds of yummy. Is it too short? Perhaps, I certainly hated to say goodbye to Scott & Dom but some times short is perfect, especially when it involves some heartwarming holiday yummilicous vibes. I won't say more just know that if you have been enjoying Lacey Daize's Holiday Surprise series then this will strengthen that love and if you're new to the series be ready to blown over by a marvelous blend of sweet, sassy, and sexy in the entry that jumpstarted the series.
Chapter 1 - Scott
“Come on!” squealed my niece, Madison. “Hurry up!”
“The pumpkin patch isn’t going anywhere Maddie,” I laughed. “No need to rush.”
“But it’s right there!” she protested, rushing back and grabbing my hand. She tried to tug me faster, little puffs of dust flying up behind her feet in the dirt parking lot while the sunlight glinted off her golden hair.
“It’s not a race,” I replied. “We’re going to go through the corn maze. Then we’re gonna get some photos, play games, and pick out your pumpkin.”
She let go, moved in front of me, put her little fists on her hips, and gave me a sassy glare. “I know that! Papa and dad brought me last year!”
“So you’ve done it before,” I teased. “I guess we don’t need to do everything today. Let’s just go grab a pumpkin and leave.”
“Scott!”
“That’s uncle Scott to you, young lady.”
She stuck her tongue out and grabbed my hand again. “Come on!”
I grinned as she pulled me towards the line of people waiting to pay. She already had a huge personality, and she was only seven. I couldn’t wait to see what kind of woman she grew into.
She was also going to make an excellent big sister, but she didn’t know that yet. I had her for the weekend so that my brother Tyler and his omega Lee could try for another while Lee was in heat.
Part of me was jealous. Tyler was two years younger than me, had found his fated mate in college, and already had his family started. Meanwhile I was knocking at thirty’s door, never had a relationship last longer than six months, and hadn’t been on a date at all in almost a year.
I shook my head, trying to clear the errant thoughts. I wanted it all: a family, and an alpha. It was just taking me a bit more time to find it was all. I had to trust that the wait would be worth it.
Madison bounced on the balls of her feet as we stood in line to pay.
“Do you want a princess makeover?” I asked, glancing at the add-ons.
She shook her head. “No. I’m not a princess.” Then she gave me a fierce look. “I’m a dragon-slayer!”
I laughed. “Fair enough. We’ll get you the dragon slayer package.”
“Yay!” she declared, dancing a bit in place.
A few minutes later we reached the front of the line, and I was face-to-face with an absolutely delicious-looking alpha. He had the rugged charm of a farmer—complete with cowboy hat—and an easy smile that made my insides squishy and my omega bits threaten to start slicking me up.
Somehow it was a reminder of just how long it had been since I’d last been with a man, and… oh… if ever I needed a knot, it was then. I wanted to grab handfuls of his brown hair and gaze into his blue eyes as he plowed into me.
His smile widened, and I realized that I’d been daydreaming about him fucking me senseless instead of paying attention.
“Say again?” I asked.
He chuckled. “How many?”
I forced an awkward smile. “Oh. One adult, one child. We’ll also add a dragon-slayer package and a five-pose photo shoot.” I paused. “Do I pay for pumpkins here?”
He gave me a lopsided grin. “You’ll pay for pumpkins over where you pick them out so they can weigh them.”
“Oh, ok.”
“So I’ve got one adult, one child, dragon-slayer and five photo poses. Right?”
I nodded, trying to control my reaction as I felt a bit of slick escape. I just had to hope that my cock stayed soft. It wouldn’t look good for me to be wandering a corn maze filled with kids while sporting a stiffy.
“That’ll be sixty dollars.”
I pulled out my wallet and handed over the money.
The alpha turned to Madison. “Hold out your hand so I can put your wristband on swetheart.”
“Ok!” she replied, placing her hand on the table.
He deftly put the band on her, then wrapped one around my wrist as well. “A few attractions might have additional fees, but you’ll pay for those there.” He then pointed. “Head to that booth and they’ll get her dragon-slayer gear on, plus give her the mission.”
“Thank you,” I mumbled, tongue-tied around the handsome alpha.
He gave me another easy grin. “Ya’ll have fun.”
“Yay!” Madison declared, rushing off.
I laughed, nodded and followed her to the booth. There she was given a foam sword and had a burlap costume draped over her clothes. Then a very solemn actor told her that a blue dragon had stolen all the kingdom’s gold and taken refuge in the maze. She was to follow the tracks, find the dragon, and bring back one of the lumps of gold to help restore the kingdom.
Madison put on a serious expression and vowed to bring back some gold, then gleefully ran to the maze entrance.
“Come on!” she called, hopping from one foot to the other as she waited for me.
I shared a glance with the booth attendant, who was trying not to laugh, then headed after her.
“Now stay close Maddie,” I said as she ducked through the entrance. “The corn is tall and I don’t want you to get lost.”
“I thought we were supposed to get lost, because it’s a maze,” she replied, looking around for dragon tracks.
“We’re supposed to get lost together.”
“Oh.”
We reached the first intersection, and debated on which way to go, until I saw a splash of blue at the top of some stalks.
“Aren’t the dragon tracks supposed to be blue?” I asked, pointing to the paint.
“Thanks uncle Scott!” she squealed, sprinting towards the painted corn.
I followed as she reached the end of the aisle and waited for me. “Keep close Maddie,” I reminded her. “If you keep rushing off I’ll make you hold my hand.”
She pouted. “But you’re slow.”
I laughed. “We have plenty of time.”
She huffed and crossed her arms until I reached her.
“Did you find any other dragon tracks?” I asked.
“That way,” she replied, pointing to a blue footprint.
“Let’s go find that dragon then,” I said, smiling as she stayed beside me.
We made our way through the maze, following the clues until we found the prop ‘dragon’ sleeping near a hoard of gold spray-painted rocks.
“Grab your piece of gold Maddie,” I said. “Then we’ll find the way out so you can claim your prize for completing your mission.”
She crept up on the dragon and grabbed a piece of gold, then bolted back to my side. She beamed up at me and showed off her prize.
“Good job!” I praised. “Very brave.”
She did a little dance, then sprinted off in the direction of the aisle opposite the one that had led us there.
“What did I say about running ahead?” I asked.
“But we’re almost done!” she protested.
“We’re not out of the maze yet though.”
“I’m gonna find the way out!” she declared, then ran down the next aisle out of sight.
“Madison Evers,” I scolded. “Get back here.”
“Come on!” she shouted back.
I sighed and made my way to the intersection, but when I looked in the direction she’d run she was nowhere to be seen.
“Madison!”
“Over here Scott.”
I jogged in the direction of her voice. “Stay where you are Maddie, and keep talking to me.”
A giggle and the sound of running feet.
“You can consider this afternoon’s ice cream date cancelled if you take one more step,” I announced.
The sound of running stopped.
“Where are you?”
“I’m here Scott.”
I followed the sound of her voice, but soon found myself at a dead end. I backtracked, but with each turn her voice seemed farther away, until I couldn’t hear her at all.
“Madison?” I yelled.
Children and adults laughed all around, but Madison’s voice wasn’t among them.
“Madison!”
Lacey DaizeLacey lives in New Mexico with her four critters. She’s a Jill-of-all-trades by day, but loves writing in her spare time. She dabbles in a variety of pairings, but jumped feet-first into the deep end of omegaverse the first time she read it. She loves the play on social expectations and the different ways to express romance.
Pumpkin Patch Cutie #1
Series
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