Page 5 of Breaking the Alpha
Angelina suspected that even if she had the ability to see or read auras, Zoe’s preferences were a little too entrenched to be eliminated with anything other than an exorcism.
“Speaking of red auras, our white knight was a walking cardinal sin.”Zoe huffed and narrowed her eyes.“Why don’t we have any guys like that around here?”
“We do,” she said as they stepped outside.“If I remember correctly, you were complaining last month that you’ve dated all the ones in your age group since you moved here and were looking to poach in on mine.”
Grinning, Zoe pulled her keys from her purse.“Oh, right.I need to get me some of those silver foxes.”
Scoffing, she gave her friend a quick hug.“I choose to release your insult from my mind, young grasshopper.See you tomorrow.”
She waved as Zoe drove off and was about to start her own short trek home when a familiar voice purred her name.
“Angelina, right?”
Turning, she saw the man from earlier walking toward the hotel entrance carrying a takeout bag from the new Mexican restaurant two blocks up.His entire demeanor gave off a self-assured cockiness and the kind of relaxed sensuality only the most genetically blessed men could pull off.“And you’re River, if memory serves.”
“Looks like we both remember each other.”He wrinkled his nose.“I can’t decide if that sounded stupid, cheesy, creepy, or all three.”
“Definitely all three,” she replied with a laugh as she motioned toward the bag in his hand.“I see you’ve got a solid plan for the rest of your night.”
“More like a case of eyes being too big for my stomach.”He gave it a shake.“There’s enough in here for two, if you want to join me.”
Her brows shot up and the confidence he carried so naturally seemed to waver.
“No pressure or anything,” he continued as he raked a hand through his hair.“I just figured it’s late, and you might be hungry, and you probably don’t know what’s open at this time of night… and you really shouldn’t be walking around alone hunting for a decent meal.”
She bit the inside of her cheek to avoid laughing.Over the years she’d become quite good at reading people, and the only flag River’s presence waved was the white one of surrender from her own libido.“So you think it would be safer for me to join a stranger in his hotel room?”
“I—” He ran his hand over his face.“I swear to god, I’m usually smoother than this.I mean, I’m not trying to be smooth.It’s…I—”
Deciding the poor guy had been floundering long enough, she threw him a rope.“I would love to have dinner with you.Lead the way.”
He exhaled with a smirk and offered her his arm.“Where are you from?”
Deciding a half-truth would do, she smiled.“Wisconsin.You?”
“LA.”
They didn’t speak as they walked through the lobby and rode the elevator up to his floor.It was strangely comfortable, unlike the usual awkwardness that seemed to accompany situations like this where both of them knew how this night would probably go.Or, more accurately, how the morning would go.But River seemed to be going with the flow just as much as she was, and while she wasn’t one to appreciate white knight attempts at valor, she could definitely appreciate a man with a sense of humor and a good moral compass.She could also appreciate a man with the genetic blessings obviously bestowed on River.Except it wasn’t the muscled form visible under his shirt she was thinking about when the elevator doors opened.There was something behind the playful glint in his eyes.Something she recognized.
He was as alone as she was.And maybe he needed someone tonight just as much as she did.
She held back a moment as River entered his suite, giving him a moment to hide anything he might not want her to see before she followed him in.“Wow,” she breathed, scanning the decor.“This is really pretty.”
Trailing her finger along she smooth wood, she took in the rest of the sleek, muted decor, admiring the way the natural woods blended together seamlessly, their natural state highlighted by the live greenery interspersed throughout.She could feel his eyes on her, but she allowed herself a few moments to appreciate the efforts the designer had put into creating a welcoming space for travelers far from home.
River was focused on opening the drawers and cupboard in the kitchenette.“I have mineral water, but we can order up a bottle of chardonnay if you’d prefer.”
“Water is perfect.”She took the plates and cutlery he set out and carried them to the table.
He toed his shoes off and brought the water bottles over, sitting down across from her.“I hope this is good.I got food poisoning four times trying to find the best burgers in LA when I first moved there,” he said, his voice trailing off when she bent down to unlace her sandals.
Amused, she straightened up and stretched one leg onto his lap.“I’d love to visit LA some day but I suspect I’ll prefer California’s deserts over the cities.”
His fingers undid the knot in her ribbons with ease and he unlaced them slowly, almost absently.“The desert is incredible.Lots of little quirky places to explore and hike.But the city is an experience all on its own.With the right balance, I think you’d love it.”
“Do you?”she asked, her curiosity piqued with this new tidbit of information.
“Do I love it?”he asked.He frowned when she lowered her shoeless foot and smirked when she stretched the other one over his thigh.“I love pieces of it, I guess.Mostly the beach.I never imagined I’d be half-decent on a surfboard, so that was kind of a cool discovery.”
