Page 3 of Knot Their Boo
“Sorry, what?” I murmur again, when all he does is stare me down. He's still holding me close. So fucking close… This is no good.
“What are you doing here?” he demands again, this time less aggressively and more curious. Still too pushy for my tastes though. He finally realizes that we’re still pressed together and jerks away from me like I’m acid burning his skin, taking several steps to the side.
“Throwing away the boxes.” I gesture to the pile still on the ground. “You?” I ask because I’m not even sure what the hell else I should say or do, even though I know that’s not what he meant.
My first crush. My first kiss. First heartbreak, and first rejection… All wrapped up in one delicious alpha.
“No, in town, Sable. What are you doing in town?” he demands again, this time pissing me off. I cross my arms over my chest, standing off against him, annoyed with his tone. Hemight be a big, strong alpha with an incredible scent, but he has no right to speak to me this way.
“I live here now, Colter. I’m taking over Gram’s shop and living in the upstairs apartment. This town has been my home since I was a kid. Maybe I left for a little while, but–”
“Six years, Sable. You left for six years. Plenty long enough to find a new home. A mate. Or even an entire pack,” he grunts, and the words land like the slap he intended them to be. He knows how those words will wound me, and he said them anyway.
All I ever wanted was a pack, Colter. To be truly loved for who I am…
I shake off the memory and glare at the alpha.
“Still fucking grumpy, I see. Go sip on some sweet tea and eat some fucking candy so you can sweeten up, hmm?” I flip my long, dark green hair over my shoulder and stomp away from him, leaving the boxes where they lie.
Of course, all of my bravado dies when I yank the handle for the back door, but it doesn’t budge. Because it’s locked. Fuck.
“You know, if you weren’t such a pain in the ass, I’d offer to help you fix those steps,” Colter shouts at my back, and I glance down at the rotting wood. I'd better be careful on these.
“Bite me, Colter,” I huff. I’ve been here for like two hours, and he’s already managed to irritate me? What is it about him that makes me want to start a fight? Maybe the knowledge that he would never do anything to hurt me. He’s a firefighter. A good guy. The town's hero.
“Bend over, and I will.”
“Just go away!” I snap, spinning around and heading to the front of the shop, a massive alpha hot on my heels.
“Hey, wait, wait…” He wraps that meaty hand of his around my wrist and tugs me to a stop on the sidewalk.
“Colter, I have been back in town for less time than it takes you to grow that five o'clock shadow, and you are already onsome bullshit. Why are you picking a fight with me?” I snap, trying to yank my hand free, but he refuses to let me go.
“I’m sorry. Sable, I’m sorry. Listen to me,” Colter pulls me in closer, and I can’t help but breathe in his scent as it spikes, trying to soothe me now. Fuck, he’s intoxicating. If I leaned in right now and licked his neck, what would he do? Shit, that's a crazy thought. Ugh! Alphas! He knows exactly what he’s doing to me.
“Well,” I grumble, gesturing for him to spit it out already.
“Seeing you sent me right back to being a dumbass teenager. I didn’t mean to be a shithead, I’m sorry. Let me help you with your porch. I’ll replace the back steps and fix the broken boards. As an official apology, okay?” he offers, looking so damn sincere.
I’m breathing heavily, watching him closely, really wishing he hadn’t reminded me of our past together. Not that I’ve ever forgotten, even for one moment.
“Fine, but if you keep pissing me off, then we’re going to fight,” I warn, making him smirk.
“Oh yeah? Sounds like fun.” Colter wiggles his brows at me, and I can’t help but snort. “You look good, Sable. It was nice to see you. I’ll be back soon for the repairs.”
“It was good to see you too, Hero,” I say, shaking my head as he jogs across the street, winking at me over his shoulder. The firehouse is just down the main street in this sweet little old town. Watching him evokes a sense of nostalgia.
Like everything I went out into the world searching for, might have been here all along.
My smile fades when I catch sight of the town's grouchiest gossip staring me down as she walks her pint-sized dog, and suddenly I remember why I left in the first place.
“Already getting cozy with Colter, I see,” Mrs. Baker harrumphs, shaking her head at me as she walks past. “Who’s next, I wonder,” I catch her whispering under her breath as she goes.
My scent sours, filling the air with the odor of rotting pumpkins. Sixteen-year-old Sable would have thrown eggs at her car. But I've matured. Probably.
“Eat shit, Mrs. Baker,” I grumble, flipping off her back. When she trips over the cobblestones under her feet, I drop my hand, snorting a laugh. She only stumbles a small step, but when she hastily glances around, checking if anyone saw, I send her a little wave and a sugary sweet smile.
I'm not surprised when she glares back at me.
