Page 26 of Breaking the Alpha
She felt the bed shake as he struggled to stifle a laugh.“I’m amazed those weren’t snatched up the day you set them out.”
Tapping his chest, she shushed him.“They obviously filled a unique void in someone, so they were a sound purchase decision.”
“They were ugly and half of them had wonky, misplaced eyes.”
Unable to hold back, she giggled.“They were a valuable lesson in staying stone-cold sober while shopping online.Again, purposeful.”
He chuckled and they fell into a silence so natural she almost joined him under the covers.“Thank you for opening the door.”
“Thank you for trusting I would.”
*
Angelina wrapped thedelicate bracelets one by one, slipped them into a slim paper bag, and eased the receipt inside.“I appreciate your business!Have a wonderful evening.”
The man clutched his treasures and waved as he walked out, nodding politely to River as he strode in with the look of a man who had one thing and one thing only on his mind.
“Hey,” she greeted him, tilting her head to assess his mood.“Everything okay?I thought you’d still be working.”
He stopped and held his hand out.“Phone, please.”
Confused, she reached into her purse and pulled it out.“River?Is something wrong?”
“Yeah, there’s something wrong,” he said, his thumbs flying across her screen until his own cell buzzed.“And now there isn’t.”He handed back her phone.“I forgot to get your number when I wandered upstairs to devour your coffee this morning and I have eight minutes before my next client arrives.Call me later?”
“I will,” she promised.“And River?My basement suite is available.You know, in case you’re interested.”
He paused mid-turn.“Yeah?Like, for rent?”When she nodded, he smiled.“I’ll take it.We’ll figure out the details tonight.Deal?”
“Deal.”
He walked out and she watched him through the windows lining her shop, taking her time to admire the view.As did every other woman in the vicinity, because River was a man with a presence.He channeled a casual confidence in everything from his prowling gait to the turn of his head—which was trained for maximum effect.His blue button-down shirt played against the green of his eyes, and his hair was slicked back save for the few strands falling forward across his brow tempting her to reach out and brush them aside.His jeans lay dangerously low on his hips and the hem of his shirt rode up every so often to give onlookers a glimpse of his v-cut.
Add in the hint of a five-o’clock shadow across his jawline and the ink of his tattoos peeking out from the neckline of his shirt and he was definitely making it into a few fantasies tonight.
Once he was out of sight, she returned to her till and stared at the counter until her vision blurred.
What was she doing offering her basement suite to him?It was one thing to open her door to him in the middle of the night and give him a few hours of escape from whatever demons he was running from, but this was something else entirely.Even if she was able to handle having someone else in her space, she had no idea what else—or who else—he may bring along.Because although she felt like she knew River’s soul, she didn’t knowhim.She didn’t know his friends, didn’t know his habits, didn’t know his life.He had a soon-to-be ex-wife.Three brothers.An agent.Fans.Any of them could come knocking at her door and she would be unable to turn them away because her renter would welcome them in.
Welcome strangers into her home.
Strangers who could seek her out.
Her vision started to pinhole as the soft music playing through the shop speakers grew muffled.Her fingers latched on to her bracelet on instinct and twirled the misshapen beads one by one until her breathing settled and her senses returned to normal.
Her heart may have made the decision to open her home up to River, but her mind had the final say.
*
River eased hisneedle through his client’s lip, his fingers deftly sliding the silver ring through in a single motion while Birch snapped a few pictures.
“Okay Jenna, you’re good to go,” he stated, passing the woman a mirror to examine her new piercing.“What do you think?”
She moved to touch it, smiling when he blocked her hand and gently lowered it.“Right.No touching until it heals.It looks amazing.”Looking up at Birch, she made a face and he took another photo.“I want my tongue done next.”
He rolled over to the counter and snapped his gloves off before dropping them in the trash.“Wait three months, minimum.We want this one healed without any issues before we go in for more in the area.”
While he reviewed the care sheet and warning signs with her, Birch continued to take pictures on River’s phone, frowning when it buzzed mid-shot.“You’ve got a text here from Angel.”He captured another handful of images while River passed Jenna the post-piercing pamphlet.“Is that your agent?”
