Page 18 of Knot Their Boo
There’s also someone else to consider, and I can’t help but wonder how he’ll feel about all of this.
SABLE
Do I still have a stupid smile on my face days after spending the night cuddled up to Colter and Rhian? Yes. Yes, I do. If I could have my way, we would have stayed in that bed all week, but once Rhian was awake and feeling better, I didn’t have a reason to stay.
I pouted on the drive back to the shop, even though Colter gave me a ride, making life easier.
I was slow to get the ball rolling, but managed to open the shop on time, despite my reluctance to return to the real world.
But the memory has made the days pass quickly.
Candles are selling out, and I already have to restock the front, so I grab a box from my storage, and head to the front.
The scent hits me first. Crisp Autumn leaves…oh no. I jerk to a stop when I see him.
Taron is in my shop… Fuck.
Why is Taron in my shop? Double fuuuck…
“You had to leave, go to college, start a whole new life, just to realize you wanted to be a candle maker?” he snarks, obviously aware that I’m staring at the back of his head. I nearly drop the box of candles I’m holding when he turns and looks at me overhis shoulder. It’s ten in the morning. I do not have the energy for this.
“No, I went to college for business management. Good thing too, considering.” I tilt my head to one side before looking around the shop I inherited. “Prepared me for taking over this place.” I lift my chin and place the box on the floor next to the display case for the candles. Taron watches me too closely as I pass him.
One of my favorite things about working in this shop is that I can wear whatever I want. Today I went with a long flowing white off-the-shoulder long-sleeve dress that looks more like festival attire than work clothes, but here we are.
I wasn’t feeling self-conscious about the choice until this moment, as Taron looks me up and down. Do I look like I think I’m a forest fairy? Yes. I wasn’t expecting the town's sexiest bad-boy alpha to walk in here when I got ready this morning.
I watch as he swallows, his scent spiking until all I’m breathing is him.
He smells so good. There’s a reason another one of my bestsellers isHaunted Pines. Frosted pine, bourbon, and wet autumn leaves. All Taron.
“Did you come in here just to judge my life choices, or are you going to buy something?” I prop my hand on my hip and lift my chin, meeting his stare head-on. Stupid sexy lip ring. Stupid slutty neck tattoos.
“Just looking around.” He shrugs, finally breaking eye contact and releasing me from his damn spell. I grumble with annoyance, his behavior bringing me back to the first time I met him, as he annoyed me in study hall.
“Do you often wear your hair in pigtails? Or did you do those just for me?” Taron, the school's bad boy alpha, asks.
“I just think they’re cute,” I huff. My hair was in pigtails the night Colter kissed me. He’s gone, graduated last year, but I think of him every time I wear my hair like this.
“Nah, I think you wanted to look cute for me, Sable.” He leans in after taking the seat behind me, and I shiver as he whispers in my ear, “your reputation is almost as bad as mine. Are you as naughty as everyone says?”
“Right,” I huff, shaking off the memory of young Taron, bending forward and grabbing two candles at a time to place on the display.
“Fucking evil,” he groans quietly.
“What?!” I snap my head up at him, thinking he’s insulting something in my shop, until I realize he’s looking right at me. Right at my ass as I bend over in front of him. When did he get so close?
“That dress is fucking see-through,” he groans, staring me down with a heated look in his eyes. “How many of the town's alphas saw your nipples this morning, Sable? Or am I the lucky one?” His growl catches me off guard just as much as his words do, and without thinking clearly, I drop the candles, shattering the glass around me as I cover my apparently exposed breasts. This does not bode well for the harlot accusations.
“Shit,” I murmur, glancing at the glass-covered floor. What the hell is wrong with me?
“Fuck, Sable!” Taron reaches me in two strides, scooping me off my feet and into his arms, bridal style. I yelp, instinctively steadying myself with my arms around his neck.
“I have shoes on,” I argue, even though he can clearly see my feet in this position. I was only wearing white slip-ons. Not very thick. Not exactly protective.
“You’re fucking bleeding, Sable,” he growls, but this time his voice is so deep that it sends shivers down my spine. Oh, my…the alpha is mad. That shouldn’t be hot. Is it because he’s worriedabout me? Is that why I’m turned on all of a sudden, because it means he cares? I should talk to Plum about my questionable thoughts.
“And you’re my rescuer? How romantic,” I hiss, trying to dissolve some of the tension, but those were the wrong words to use. It only seems to anger him more, and I bite my bottom lip as he storms up the back stairs toward my living area.
