Chapter 3
Chapter Three
SAGE
Iwas still so heated from my run-in with the guy from the coffee shop that I shoved through the doors of Alpha Omega without taking a single thing in, stomping across the floor like I was trying to break the tiles with my amazing heels.
Roxanne’s voice pulled me from my angry fog and back to the present. “Rough morning?”
I whipped around to face the saucy redheaded woman. “What’s the company policy on cussing?”
She looked taken aback for just a few seconds before grinning widely. “Honey, you’ll be workin’ around a bunch of former military men . . . and me. Policy on cussin’ is no one really gives a shit.”
I blew out a breath, trying to center myself before declaring, “Good. Because I just ran into the biggest dickbag in the whole world, and I’m pissed right the hell off!
So yeah, it’s safe to say I had a rough morning.
The son of a bitch would’ve ruined it completely if not for Muffin Top’s stellar coffee.
” I looked to the tray of drinks in my hand, some of my ire melting.
“Speaking of which, I got you something too.”
A look of excitement flitted across her face before she reached up and gave me the international sign for grabby hands. “Then bring that loot over here, darlin’ and tell Rox all about what’s troublin’ you.”
I placed the tray on the ledge of her desk and pulled her coffee cup free, passing it and the pastry bag her way. “I wasn’t sure what you liked, but Molly gave me some suggestions. Hope you like it.”
She took a sip and closed her eyes in appreciation, “Sage, girl, you just became my new favorite person.”
“Glad to hear it, seeing as I think I’ve already made my first enemy.”
“Already?” she asked with a surprised laugh. “That has to be some sort of record. Haven’t you only been here a couple of days?”
“Technically, a week. But this one wasn’t my fault. It was the bastard at Muffin Top. He cut in front of me, took the last cranberry scone, then insulted my shoes.”
Roxanne’s mouth fell open as she lifted up and peered over her desk to get a better look at my feet. “Honey, those shoes are the shit.”
“Thank you,” I cried, throwing my hands wide, feeling justified that someone else understood the fabulousness of my shoes.
“You get those at Glitter and Gold over on Sycamore?”
“Yep. That place is ah-mazing. It’s like biker-babe heaven. I’ve already dedicated most of my first paycheck to that place.”
“You and me both. Pretty sure I’m responsible for keeping that place afloat when the economy tanked several years back.”
“Then you’ve got my appreciation, sister.
Anyway,” I said on a sigh, leaning my forearms on the ledge of her desk, “the worst part of the whole exchange was that he was, hands down, the hottest guy I’ve seen in I don’t know how long.
I’m talking gorgeous. It should be a crime for a guy that fine to be such a prick.
I’m telling you, Rox, it was a total waste of man flesh. ”
She chuckled and shook her head. “Honey, this is Hope Valley. You can’t spit in this town without hittin’ a fine specimen. Hand to God, I think there’s somethin’ in the water here. Don’t you worry. You’ll find another good-lookin’ man, and most of ’em know how to treat a woman.”
I didn’t bother telling her I wasn’t in the market for a relationship after my last epic disaster. That would’ve led to her asking questions I wasn’t in the mood to answer.
Instead, for the first time since storming into the office, I took the time to study my surroundings.
To say Alpha Omega wasn’t what I’d been expecting was putting it mildly.
When I’d thought of what a private investigator and his office would look like, I’d imagined it as some dank, dingy hole-in-the-wall place with a pot-bellied boss who had a receding hairline and armpit stains on all his short-sleeved button-downs.
What I’d walked into when I pushed through the doors for the first time was the polar opposite of what I’d been picturing.
The reception area was all smooth, sleek tile and clean glass.
Huge black leather couches sat close to the big picture windows that looked out onto the street with a modern glass coffee table between them that held an extensive catalogue of magazines for people to flip through.
There was even a mini-coffee station set up beside the sitting area for guests with a badass coffee maker, the likes of which made my heart flutter.
I’d checked out one just like it for myself, thinking those little pods were a fool-proof way of making my own coffee at home, but there was no way in hell I'd been able to afford it. If that was the machine they put in the lobby, I couldn’t wait to see what they had stashed in the breakroom for employees.
My perusal was cut off when the door next to the kick-ass coffee station opened, and a huge dog came barreling out, it’s claws clacking loudly on the tile floor as it loped toward Roxanne’s desk.
“Oh my god,” I squealed, lowering down into a crouch and holding my arms out wide. “Come here, you sweet little fur baby.”
The German shepherd padded to me with its tongue hanging out of the side of his mouth, and as soon as he was within reach, I wrapped my arms around his neck and gave him a big squeeze.
“Aren’t you just the cutest thing on four legs?
” I baby talked, rubbing him all over until his tail was swinging so wildly his back end moved with it. “Yes, you are. Yes, you are.”
I was granted a slobbery kiss along the side of my face that made me giggle just as a feminine voice said, “That’s amazing.
Rocky’s usually really shy around strangers.
” My head tipped back to look up at the woman who had just spoken while trying to keep the dog—now known as Rocky—from licking my face off.
Her grin was so big it took up most of her face as she stared down at me with big, light brown doe eyes. “You must have a gift.”
I stood to my full height, brushing dog hair from my clothes as I returned her smile.
The woman was about as tall as I was—when I wasn’t in gorgeous four-inch heels—and was only slightly less curvy.
She had one of the best heads of thick, shiny, golden brown hair I’d ever seen, and I would have instantly hated her on the spot if I didn’t love my own darker locks.
While the woman was enviably beautiful, her expression was open and friendly in a way I knew, without having spoken a single word to her, that this was a chick I’d like.
“No gift,” I replied as Rocky ran circles around us.
“I just grew up around big dogs so I know they tend to feed off a human’s energy.
If we don’t act scared, they’re usually super friendly.
” I held out my hand and introduced myself. “I’m Sage.”
“Eden,” she returned, giving my hand a shake. “So you’re the newest member to the Alpha Omega family, huh?”
“Guess so. Do you work here too?”
“Oh, no. I’m a freelance book editor.”
“Wow, that sounds so cool.”
“It can be. I also make my own skincare products like moisturizers, face masks, and stuff like that using all-natural ingredients.”
“Really?” I asked excitedly. I loved me a good skincare regimen and was running dangerously low on my supply. “Do you sell your stuff?”
“Nah. I basically just give the stuff to my friends for free, but I’d be happy to bring some samples by for you. If you like them I can make you more.”
This chick was incredibly nice. Just like Dani and Roxanne, she surprised me by how genuinely sweet she was. It was just more proof that I’d picked the right town to call home. Even with my run-in with that jackass giant earlier. “Seriously? That’d be awesome. Thanks so much.”
“Not a problem. If you’re working here, you’re gonna need all the stress relief you can get. I make a great relaxing mask with honey and cucumber. It’ll do the trick.”
I glanced from Eden to Roxanne to see them looking at each other like they were both part of an inside joke. Confusion pulled my brows into a deep V. “Why do I get a feeling I’m missing something here?”
“Not missin’ anything,” a deep, masculine voice answered. “My woman just likes to come in occasionally and stir shit up.”
My gaze darted over to one of sexiest men I’d ever laid eyes on in my whole life.
He looked like he belonged at the helm of a Viking ship, getting his men ready to pillage some distant land, not in Small Town, USA.
This was the kind of guy who belonged on the cover of one of the romance novels my mom used to read, ripping the corset off the buxom woman on the cover with his bare hands.
Fabio didn’t have shit on the dude standing in front of me.
I liked my guys with a bit more of an edge, but a man like this wasn’t anything to sneeze at. The truth was, if the guy from this morning hadn’t been such a colossal hemorrhoid, he totally would have been my type.
“I don’t stir shit up,” Eden exclaimed in affront while elbowing the big man standing beside her. It was then I noticed the massive rock resting on her delicate ring finger and the band beneath lined with smaller, yet no less stunning, diamonds.
“Lincoln Sheppard,” the Viking said by way of greeting. “But everyone just calls me Linc.”
“Sweet mother of baby Jesus in a manger,” I replied, looking to Eden and taking in the way he’d slung his arm over her shoulders, holding her close against his side like he would have been all too happy to absorb her into his skin.
“He’s yours?” Her smile shined with pride as she gave me a small nod. “According to the state of Virginia.”
“Well done, sister.”
She emitted a small giggle. “If you think he’s good, just wait until you see the rest of the guys.”
I felt my eyes bug out in shock. “There are more like this?”
Eden’s head twisted around to where Roxanne was sitting. “You didn’t warn her in advance?”