Chapter 4
Chapter Four
“You have two Alphas.”
Not exactly the parting words I’d been expecting, but beyond the shock, beyond the confusion, lies pure and unadulterated excitement.
How lucky can an Omega be? Finding two of her fated Alphas the second day in town!
Well, I haven’t met Jasper’s pack brother yet, but he swore he’d bring him to meet me soon. Then, we exchanged numbers and he left, promising he’d be back tomorrow.
His rum spice scent still envelops me like a warm hug. A tasty warm hug. Mouthwatering. Slick-inducing.
Fucking hell. I have to get my act together before Lloyd’s friend gets here.
To take my mind off the super-hot football player, I sit on the floor in the living room to play with the dogs for a while.
Yes, we play ball inside the house. There are no adults here.
My little enforcer, Nikki, drops a tennis ball on the floor three feet away from me, runs off and comes back with a second ball in her mouth.
She drops this one beside the first, using her nose to tap it and roll it toward me.
When I pick it up, she picks up the first ball and barks like a muffled maniac when I throw the other across the room for her.
I laugh as we rinse and repeat, while I use my free hand to play tug-of-war with Danko.
A loud engine rumbles in the driveway. That must be Lloyd’s friend.
“Excuse me, babies,” I say as I get to my feet and go to the front door, slip on my shoes and exit. I hustle around to the side of the house to the driveway and come to a skidding halt at the sight that awaits me.
A gorgeous, hulking man, at least six-foot-six—and that’s without the height of his black cowboy hat—is walking toward me from a rundown gray pickup, like a romance novel cover model leaping off the paper.
When he removes his hat and holds it to his chest, he reveals his pale blond hair.
Pale green eyes peer at me, slightly widened, and my gaze roams his handsome face, jaw sharp enough to cut glass.
The soles of his boots scrape the paved driveway when he spots me, like he’s having the same reaction I am, but he recovers quicker and continues closing the distance between us, a somewhat hardened look on his face as he extends a hand toward me.
“I’m Ezra Finn, ma’am. Lloyd’s friend. It’s good to meet you.”
My heart does a little somersault at his deep voice, his southern accent, and the way he says “ma’am.”
Holy shit. I must have hit my head at some point last night and gotten a concussion. I have to be dreaming. There’s no way Crescent Lake is full of gorgeous Alphas like this.
I take his proffered hand and let his grip engulf me, sending shivers down my spine.
“I’m Adley Pepper. I’m glad to meet you.”
The two of us inhale at the same time, freezing on the spot.
There is no way. No. Fucking. Way.
Ezra Finn smells of comforting chamomile tea on a cold night, the scent wrapping me in the same kind of warm hug that Jasper’s rum spice had.
And that’s when I gasp, gaze shooting back up to this man’s face, just as he pulls his hand away and takes a few steps back. I swear that he’s holding his breath.
Disappointment washes over me at the move, but I don’t know this man. There could be any number of reasons he would recoil.
Oh gods, what if he’s already mated? Married?
This is awful. My breathing becomes labored, brow pinched tight.
“Uh, would you mind showing me around the barn? Let me meet your animals?”
Right. Pie and Gator. He’s here for them.
I nod wordlessly and turn, walking on autopilot to the fencing around the bright red barn. When I unlatch the gate, I walk through the opening and wait for him to come through before closing it again.
Inside the barn, I feel completely inadequate. I hardly know where anything is, and I don’t know what’s important to tell him. So, I awkwardly introduce him to the animals in their stalls.
“This is Pie.” I gesture to the enormous creature beyond the stall door, and he whinnies, like he knows his name. And maybe he does.
I really need to spend more time out here.
“And this is Gator.” I motion to the next stall where the fluffy little donkey stands. He turns his head and peers at me with one eye, like he’s sizing me up, and I inwardly wince.
Definitely going to spend more time with these two. I can’t have any of the animals here, thinking that I don’t pay enough attention to them.
I turn back to Ezra, who’s already patting Pie on the side of his neck, a small smile on his lips, his gaze softened.
Then, I word-vomit all over the man.
“Look, I don’t know how much Lloyd told you, but I know nothing about horses or donkeys.
I didn’t even know these guys were here until I arrived yesterday, and it was a shock, to say the least. I’m completely out of my element, and I appreciate you being here.
Anything you can help me with, or even teach me, I’d be really grateful.
I want to be able to care for all of the animals here. ”
Ezra’s expression is bemused now as he looks down at me. His lips purse a moment before he speaks. “What other animals do you have?”
“There are five dogs and two cats up at the house.”
He blinks, then his head bobs up and down. “I’ve been around animals almost all of my life. Was born and raised on a ranch in West Texas.” He gives Pie another pat before moving closer to me, looking into Gator’s stall. “Aren’t you a cute little man?”
I swear that Gator huffs and wrinkles his nose at the comment.
Ezra laughs. “And an attitude.” He looks back at me. “I’m happy to help you out. I’ll enjoy being back in my element. And Lloyd told me a bit about where everything was in here, all the supplies and such.”
Relief washes over me, and I let out a long breath. “I’m more thankful that you’re willing to help. I’m sure we could have found everything in here. Eventually.”
Now, it’s time for the negotiations. “Let’s discuss your pay.”
Ezra’s eyes narrow, like he’s insulted. “I’m a volunteer, ma’am. I won’t accept pay.”
“That’s ridiculous. I have to do something for you. You have expenses, even if you’re working another paying job. Time is money.”
He gives me a funny look and assesses me in silence long enough that I’m uncomfortable. When he finally speaks again, his voice is low, almost comforting. “Look. I’m staying with Lloyd and his pack right now. I have money saved up to help me through until I get back on my feet.”
Getting back on his feet implies he was off his feet at some point. Likely recently. But, more importantly, he didn’t mention anyone else being with him.
“Are you… staying there alone?”
His expression is very confused. “Yes?” His answer comes out as a question, then realization flashes in his blinking eyes. “I mean, I’m here alone. Yeah.”
Oh, thank the gods. Then his earlier reaction was due to something else. Something I will absolutely uncover. Later.
My brain whirs in overdrive. How can I get him to accept payment? He’s a working man, that much is obvious. But what if…?
“Come with me a moment.”
I don’t wait, just move. Out of the barn, through the fence, to the broken-down and rotting wooden trailer on the far side.
I turn to Ezra’s skeptical expression. “I’ll make you a deal, Ezra.
” When I say his name, his pale eyes snap to my face in attention, sending shivers down my spine all the way to my toes.
“I need this thing emptied out so I can have it hauled away. If you help me do that, I’ll buy a new trailer, hook it up to utilities, and you can live in it. As thanks for all your help.”
His mouth opens and closes twice before his head shakes. “Ma’am, I can’t accept—”
“It’s either that or I pay you.” I cross my arms over my chest, cock my hip. “Look, you can’t possibly feel comfortable living with Lloyd and his pack. Even if you’re friends with him. And I know what it’s like to feel out of place in a living situation.”
I don’t tell him that in my case, it was my own family I didn’t fit in with, but I mean the sentiment.
The wheels in his brain are spinning; I can nearly see it behind his eyes. He isn’t quite there yet, on the same page as me, so I hit him with a dirty strike and play the damsel card.
“It would honestly make me feel better having a man I can trust live on the property with us.”
Now, he looks at me. Really looks at me. There’s determination on his face, purpose in his eyes, and the little devil-me on my shoulder does a happy dance while the little angel-me slaps her forehead.
“All right. Let’s do it.”
It’s all I can do not to clap my hands and jump up and down. There’s nothing wrong with using my feminine wiles to get what I want, not when it comes to someone I know for certain I’m destined to be with. Not when I have only the best intentions.
And now the world starts to spin around me again, thoughts of three mates right here with me, within reach, flooding my mind.
I don’t have time to bask in these thoughts right now. There’s too much to do.
“I’m going to call for a dumpster drop-off. I’m sure I can get them to bring it here in the morning. Then, you and I can get to work clearing this place out as soon as you’re ready.”
Leading the way to the door, my phone’s flashlight on, I wrench it open and let him see the disarray I’d found earlier.
“I do want to go through the stuff. It looks like mostly trash, but just in case.”
“Of course.”
“And I’ll do some research on trailers and call the utility companies. I don’t know how long all of this will take, but as soon as it’s all done, the place will be yours.”
We stare at each other, quietly assessing. I don’t know what’s going on in his head, but I definitely know my brain is filling with fantasies I have no business imagining this fast.
Something about this hulking man with the soothing scent is doing all sorts of crazy things to my insides.
I just have to get through hauling trash with him and setting up the new trailer. Get to know one another better. Then, I can make a move on my cowboy Alpha.