Page 23 of Talk About… Trouble

Damn, she didn’t hold back. I let out a sigh but figured, what was the worst that could happen? I’d been shouldering this all alone and if she had experience, it was better than nothing.

“Fine. Do I need to know anything more about her? What to avoid? I’m not trying to trigger her,” I said with a sigh.

Hailey didn’t miss a beat before answering. “Don’t bark and don’t be a dick. Pretty straightforward. I’m emailing everything over to you now so you can just print up what you need for your end. If you’re ready to have her start, even on a trial basis, then let me know and I’ll contact her for you.”

“Trial it is,” I said, knowing damn well this was likely the best opportunity I’d get. I opened my email as it dinged, scanning through the impressive resume as Hailey fought for words. “She looks like a good fit.”

God, I hoped I didn’t regret this.

Wren

God, I hope I don’t regret this.That was the only thought that kept swirling through my head the entire morning as I got ready. Devon packed me a lunch, and Grace was there to cheer me on and comment on how cute my paw print scrubs were.

My hair was pulled back in a ponytail, wisps of blonde hair pulled out around my face so I didn’t feel like a founding father. The boots I pulled on were well worn and I had a feeling would come in handy.

I looked professional, but practical.

It was also the most put together I’d felt in far too long. Maybe Grace and Hailey were right. This was something I needed.

“I got you something to celebrate the fresh start,” Devon said as he slid me a travel mug of coffee, just the way I like, along with a sparkly green gift bag. I guess he’d noticed my favorite color, too.

“You didn’t have to do all this,” I said, stunned at his thoughtfulness. In fact, tears burned behind my eyes, throat tightening at the sweet gesture.

When was the last time someone did something this simple and thoughtful for me? The answer was far too long.

A smile spread across my face as I tossed the tissue paper aside, revealing a new set of markers in just about every color imaginable, double sided, too, so they were more compact. A carrying pouch for them all, just big enough I knew they’d fit. And finally, a stack of mini coloring books.

“Devon,” I managed to choke out. His smile was bright and sweet as he reached over and squeezed my hand.

“I noticed you do it when you’re stressed or relaxing, so I figured a new set for work breaks was fitting.”

“This is amazing. Thank you,” I said, standing up and pulling him into a hug. My entire body melted into his touch, the scent of the omega wrapping around me like a comforting blanket. It was an understated but delicious mix of green apples and cedarwood. Warm, comforting, and cozy.

When he pulled away, we were alone. Grace must have stepped away to give us a moment.

“Send me cute animal pictures,” he teased, picking up my lunch and handing it over. “And get going before you’re late.”

WIth one last wave, I snagged my bags and keys, and hurried down to my car. I piled my stuff in and plugged in the address Hailey sent into my GPS.

It navigated me straight through Rockwood Valley and out the other side. I passed the big sign for Whitaker Ranch before winding further down the road.

The road reached a fork and I turned left, right onto the long, gravel driveway that led up to my job.

I wasn’t sure what I was expecting, but this wasn’t it. The landscape was gorgeous, a backdrop of the mountains and a lakemaking it gorgeous. But the ranch itself was also beautiful. The barns were painted black with dark wood accents. The grounds were perfectly cut and flowers planted here and there.

The animals were milling around in the fenced-in fields, a handful coming to the fence to see who had arrived.

I’d barely made it out of the car when a mountain of a man stepped out of the barn. He was dressed like I’d expect, in faded jeans and a flannel shirt, though the jeans were sinfully tight, showing off powerful thighs and if he turned, I bet it was a great ass.

His hair was dark, a backwards ball cap hiding the cut but his matching beard was trimmed short and the man looked like he took care of himself.

Nothing was sexier than an alpha who cared about his appearance without being cocky. He didn’t give me fuckboy vibes.

Then he saw me and his face went unreadable. He didn’t exactly have ‘resting dick face,’ more like he was viewing the world with a healthy dose of skepticism.

“Shepherd Harding?” I asked, putting a smile on my face as I climbed out. He nodded once, taking me in with eyes that gave nothing away. As I walked closer, I saw they were a rich amber brown that were unique enough to captivate me.

“I take it you’re Wren Ellis, my new vet tech?”

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