by C. E. Black
And maybe he had some friends who were looking for a job, I thought, chuckling to myself.
“There’s not much to say about me. I run 5 miles a day, minimum, but also enjoy the occasional hike. I don’t watch television or have a favorite movie, but I do enjoy listening to jazz. Miles Davis to be exact. I’m looking for a woman who doesn’t mind my long hours at the office. My job comes first. No exceptions. I’m also a single dad.
If you’re interested send me a private message. But only if you’re serious about a long-term relationship. I’m looking for a mate, not a hook up.”
Though a little brusque, I liked his right-to-the-point attitude. It was something we had in common.
Locke was thirty-five and only a couple inches taller than my five feet, eight inches. I liked that my neck wouldn’t get kinked looking up at him, or when we kissed. I laughed at the thought. I was getting way ahead of myself.
Shaking my head, I finally allowed my eyes to land on his profile image and my whole body stiffened.
“Wow,” I whispered.
The man was extremely good looking. Not movie star pretty. Too rugged for that. But he was definitely eye-catching.
His firm expression and intense stare made him look a little badass but he had a country-boy feel about him. Though I couldn’t put my finger on why.
The scruff covering his square jaw was almost a full beard. Something I wasn’t used to in my partners. But it was his deep, mesmeric gray eyes that were easily his most striking feature.
Overall, he seemed like a normal guy. Would he be okay with my little issue? Only one way to find out.
Before I could talk myself out of it I pressed the message icon next to his profile.
“Here goes nothing.”
Username: Isa98
Locke,
I have just been informed we are a perfect match. At least on paper. I’ve read your profile and am also looking for something more serious in my next relationship. If you’re interested in getting together sometime or want to schedule a phone date, I would love to hear back from you.
Sincerely,
Isabella
As soon as I hit send I wished I could have a redo. I groaned as I reread my message. Was I contacting a client or a potential date?
Leaning back in the tub I wondered if he’d tell me politely he wasn’t interested or if he’d just disappear altogether.
The next time I checked the screen, a little check mark had appeared. He’d read my message.
I sat up and waited. Then waited some more.
Just when I thought he wasn’t going to answer, little dots popped up indicating he was typing. Taking a deep breath, I braced myself for disappointment.
Locke
So, the online dating gods had found me a match. Hallelujah! That had been quick. How long had I been signed up? Twenty-four hours? If that?
I’d spent the day working, as usual, and though my day had been full of meetings, I’d had to reschedule many of them so I could take care of Sara. For some senseless reason, she only had to attend school half the day. Luckily, she wasn’t high maintenance and spent most of her time at home in her room. She’d even made us grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner. One of my favorites. Still, it had been a long day.
Stretched out on my bed, I stared at the screen on my laptop, reading over the message from my match again. Professional. That had been my first impression. This Isabella was used to writing business emails, I presumed. Which was okay with me. If it had been the least bit bubbly, I might have ignored it.
Before committing though, I clicked on her name, which took me to her profile page.
“Fuck me…” I whispered. Damn, she was gorgeous!
Her bottomless hazel eyes arrested me first. Sultry would be the best word to describe her expression. I was instantly jealous of whatever or whoever was on the other side of the camera taking the photograph.
Her pink lips weren’t pursed, but the natural plumpness of them had me licking my own lips, my cock hardening in my pants. And was that a hint of naked shoulder she was showing off?
“Fuck me…” I murmured again.
Once I was able to look away from her image, I quickly skimmed over her bio. She was five years younger than me, almost my height, which I instantly loved about her, and she owned her own business.
My eyebrows rose at that, unsure if her job would be a deal breaker. Not that I didn’t appreciate a successful woman. In fact, it was a huge turn on. But would she be a good fit for what I was looking for? Deciding to give it more thought, I continued reading.
“If what you did YESTERDAY seems big, you haven't done anything TODAY.”- Lou Holtz
My brows rose. “Nice quote,” I said aloud.
“You should probably know that I’m a bit of an overachiever. However, I don’t feel like this is a bad trait. I plan on giving my partner 110% and expect the same in return. I would also describe myself as the opposite of clingy. As stated in my FAQ, I own my own company, and I rarely find time for myself. Which is why I’m here. I’m hoping to find someone who can spend the occasional down time with me. I enjoy outdoor activities, such as hiking, biking, fishing, and snow sports when I get the chance, which is rare. If the television is on at all in my house, the channel is turned to the game.”
She was perfect. I still wasn’t sure if her career would be beneficial as a full-time mother, but something about her made me want to give it a shot. Plus, she was supposed to be my perfect match.
Or maybe it was lust.
I glanced down at my lap where my cock pressed against the inside of my jeans, and rolled my eyes. Definitely lust. But maybe more?
“What the hell,” I stated, clicking reply, then growling when my username popped up. Brandon was dead meat. Rolling my eyes, I finished the message, hoping she thought it was clever. I would have changed it by now if I knew how.
Username: Growlz2much
Isabella,
Thanks for getting in touch with me. I’m impressed with how quickly this site works. I just signed up yesterday. I would enjoy talking with you more. I don’t mind a phone conversation. However, I would prefer to speak in person. Would dinner be out of the question? Say, Friday evening?
Hope to hear from you soon,
Locke
I hit send, surprised when a little check mark appeared right away meaning my message had been read. Isabella was online.
Smiling, I sat more upright in the bed, though I tempered my excitement when she declined my dinner invitation for Friday night. However, she had agreed to Saturday evening. And she’d laughed off my username. Which meant Brandon would live to see another day.
Once we agreed to a time and place, I hesitated, my fingers hovering over the keyboard, wondering if I should say goodbye or start a conversation. I glanced at the clock. It was late. I didn’t want to keep her up, but if she was already online… Isabella decided for me.
Username: Isa98
Do you want to chat for a few minutes?
Username: Growlz2much
Sure.
Username: Growlz2much
So, what are you doing right now?
When she didn’t reply right away, I wondered if I’d said something wrong.
Username: Growlz2much
I’m sorry. I’m out of practice with dating and this is my first time trying the online thing. I didn’t mean to creep you out or anything.
Username: Isa98
In all honesty, you took me by surprise because I’m in the bathtub. But you didn’t know that. What about you? What are you doing?
Groaning, I slid my laptop off the growing bulge happening under the covers. Bathtub. Isabella was in the bathtub. Naked, no doubt.
Of course, she was naked, you fool! Who took baths with their clothes on?
I willed my imagination not to go any further, but I really shouldn’t have closed my eyes.
When I finally opened them, I noticed Isabella had been messaging me.
Username: Isa
98
Locke?
Username: Isa98
Hello?
Username: Isa98
Are you still there?
Username: Growlz2much
Sorry. Yes, I’m still here.
Username: Isa98
What are you doing?
Username: Growlz2much
I’m in bed.
She didn’t reply right away, but before I could wonder if I’d gone too far, she wrote back.
Username: Isa98
Oh?
The single word was enough to make me smirk, but it was the question mark that was truly satisfying. It meant she was most likely thinking about me in bed. Just like I’d been thinking about her in the bath.
Though it would have been fun to continue flirting, my grin only widened when she suddenly changed the subject.
Username: Isa98
Your profile didn’t say what you do for a living. Mind sharing?
I thought about it for minute. I hadn’t put my Alpha status online mostly because you wouldn’t believe the number of women who were Alpha hunters. Not as in hunting to kill. More like they were only interested in hooking up with Alphas. I wasn’t that desperate. But Isabella didn’t seem like the type.
Username: Growlz2much
I’m the Alpha of the Wild River Pack.
The check mark appeared but she didn’t start typing right away. After a while, I glanced at the clock. A few minutes had passed. Maybe she had a phone call or something. I reached over to grab a book off my night stand when her message appeared.
Username: Isa98
I’ll be honest and tell you right up front I’ve never dated a shifter before. And certainly, not an Alpha. How did you become an Alpha? Is it a career you chose or more of a birthright?
I was surprised. Not many people had ever asked me about my job, and I suddenly found myself a little shy. I snorted a laugh at that and replied back, even more eager to get to know this woman.
Username: Growlz2much
I’ve never dated an Alpha either, so we have that in common.
Username: Isa98
Then I guess this will be a first for both of us.
I stared at her message for a full ten seconds before I realized what she’d meant. Chuckling to myself, I shook my head. I had a feeling she was right, too. At least I hoped so. I would enjoy dating an Alpha female for once.
Username: Growlz2much
I’m looking forward to it.
Username: Isa98
Me too.
Username: Growlz2much
*Growls
Username: Isa98
LOL
Chuckling, I finished answering her question.
Username: Growlz2much
I would say the job is a little of both. It’s a birthright in the sense that I was born an Alpha and I can’t change who I am. However, I could refuse to lead my pack if I wanted to, but I would have to leave the pack. There’s a lot more to it, but I don’t want to bore you.
Username: Isa98
You’re definitely not boring me. I find it fascinating, actually. Tell me more?
A grin fixed permanently on my face, we continued to chat. This woman was going to be perfect for me and Sara. I just knew it. Saturday couldn’t get here fast enough.
Chapter 7
Isa
“About time you got here,” Robert complained as he enveloped me into his arms.
Hugging him back, I sighed into his shoulder, then took a deep breath through my nose, smiling at the familiar scent of hay and tobacco. I’d tried talking him out of the bad habit, but he refused to give away his morning, noon, and bedtime smokes. It was crazy, but I’d come to love the smell. It meant I was home.
Pulling back, I grinned, my eyes moving over my uncle’s face. Though in his mid-sixties, he didn’t look a day over fifty. His hazel eyes still sparkled with life and his blonde hair was only lightly speckled with white. In fact, the only old thing about him were his hands. They were calloused and leathery, no doubt from the hours upon hours he’d spent carving and sanding wood over the years.
“It’s eight in the morning,” I said to him. “Any earlier and it would still be dark.”
Robert swatted my hand away as I reached for the overnight bag I’d dropped to the porch when we’d embraced, picking it up easily before heading inside the house.
“Was up with the chickens, so it wouldn’t ’a bothered me none,” he replied.
I chuckled, mostly because Robert didn’t have any chickens, and followed him into the living room.
He pointed to the kitchen with his chin. “I put on a pot of coffee. Go help yourself while I put this in your room.” He pretended to groan as he hefted the leather bag up the stairs. “Better not be any of them damn fancy shoes in here.”
In the kitchen, I poured my coffee and called over my shoulder, “At least six pairs. Have to make sure all of my fancy outfits match.”
I was teasing, mostly. There was one set of heels in the bag. They matched the dress I planned to wear Saturday night.
I had a date with my Alpha Singles match, Locke Winfield, the Alpha of the Wild River Pack. The same Alpha my Vitale Global had been trying to contact for weeks and who happened to live in the same town as my uncle Robert.
I was equal parts nervous and excited. This could be it. I may have finally found a life partner and a way to keep my company from going under. Being successful and rich was all well and good, but not when you had no one to share it with. I was lonely.
Would he be as fun to talk to in real life as he had been on screen?
Robert’s grumble could be heard all the way from the other side of the house and the sound had my tension melting away. Laughing, I sat at the table, my hands automatically running over the smooth, cool surface. My uncle’s craftsmanship continued to astound me. None of his furniture would ever be called elegant but it was certainly unique. Somehow he was able to make each piece look as if nature herself designed the table just for you.
Hearing Robert coming down the stairs, I removed my hand and casually took a sip of steaming coffee.
“What’s your plans while you’re here?” Robert asked, walking straight for the coffee pot.
“Mostly I just wanted to see you,” I told him. But when he grunted, I added, “I’d also like to ride Maggie, spend a little time with her.”
“That’s good.” He sat in the chair across from me, his gaze landing heavy on mine. “You okay, doll?”
“Yeah, I’m all right.” I looked down into my mug and sighed. “I figured a weekend away from work would be good for me.”
“Ain’t that the truth,” he grunted. “You work too damn much.”
“So you’ve told me,” I replied dryly. “I did take a long weekend to see you, didn’t I?”
“’Bout damn time too. You riding Maggie this morning?”
“Planned on it. Want to come?”
“Nah, I got some work I need to finish up.”
Raising my brows, I smirked, “And you call me a workaholic.”
“You hush up.” Tipping back his mug, his finished his coffee then stood. “I’ll be out in my workshop if you need me.”
Standing, I walked over to where he was rinsing his cup out in the sink and placed a kiss on his cheek. “I’m glad I came.”
“Me too, doll. Me too.”
Once he grumbled his consent to meet me for lunch at noon, I ran upstairs to change. I switched out my tennis shoes for boots and pulled my hair out of the way and into a ponytail. Then I threw on a flannel button up over my t-shirt and jeans before grabbing my hat. Winter in Georgia was unpredictable, but today’s forecast was something we were used to. Freezing mornings and warm afternoons.
As soon as Maggie saw me, she began prancing in her stall. As I opened the gate, she lowered her head and arched her neck so I would rub her nose.
“I missed you, girl,” I murmured. She dipped her head as if in agreement.
After getting reacquainted, I sa
ddled and mounted her like it was yesterday. Brushing my fingers through her mane, I asked, “You ready, girl?”
After a good stretch, I worked her up to a canter before squeezing my legs around her barrel. As she increased her speed into a steady gallop, my smile widened.
It was the perfect day. Not a cloud in the sky, the expanse of blue was almost blinding. The crisp morning air sent goosebumps up and down my arms, but just as forecasted, the bright sun hinted at a warmer afternoon ahead.
Time passed easily out there, and after a while, we slowed down as we reached the wooded area at the back of the property where the fence ended. Turning her toward a well-worn trail, I ducked for a low hanging branch. The air cooled significantly and I shivered, but it would be worth it when we got to our destination. Maggie knew exactly where she was going, so I allowed her to lead and closed my eyes for a moment.
I sniffed the air, smelling the pleasant scent of burning leaves. The wind rustled the leaves on the forest floor and I could hear the sound of water running in the distance. The birds chirped and whistled their songs for me, giving me a sense of peace I hadn’t felt in a while. They sounded so happy. And why wouldn’t they be?
I’d committed these sounds and smells to memory long ago, to bring back with me to the city. Though we were only minutes from downtown Atlanta, it was like a different world out here.
