Alex (BIG Northwest Book 2)

by Janice M. Whiteaker

  The kind of man women called fine.

  The observation pissed her off. “It’s probably because you’re a pain in the ass.”

  Edward’s immediate laughter bumped her head back in surprise.

  “She definitely never called me a pain in the ass.” His smile was wide and oddly genuine considering she’d just insulted him.

  “Well, that’s the difference between her and me.”

  Edward’s smile changed in an odd way. “One of many.”

  Something shifted in the air between them. Something that made her less comfortable.

  Which also pissed her off.

  Alex turned back to the blank Facebook profile staring her down. “I don’t know what to put on here.”

  Edward leaned in close. Closer than he had to. “I would start by filling in the profile picture and the header picture.” He rested one arm on the desk as the other hand came to the back of her chair. “Do you have anything to put in those?”

  Alex cleared her throat, blinking hard at the screen in an attempt to keep her eyes from straying in the direction of the man taking up most of the air around her. “Not really.”

  “Then let’s get someone started on a logo.” His voice was a little lower. Like they were sharing secrets.

  Even though what they were currently discussing was much less personal than the conversation a few seconds ago. “I’m going to guess you also know someone who can do that.”

  “I do.” He grinned her way. “If it makes you feel any better all the people I know are the same people your brother knows.”

  “So it’s who he would have suggested I use anyway?”

  “Definitely.”

  “I guess that’s fine then.” It was who Lance would have suggested. Edward wasn’t proving to be any more useful than she expected.

  It was fine.

  “It might be easier for me to call them since I already know them.”

  It made sense. “That’s fine.”

  “Anything in particular I should tell them to include?”

  She wasn’t an artist. How in the hell was she supposed to know what a logo should include?

  Edward laughed again, the deep, rich sound filling her office. “You don’t hide they way you feel, do you, Al?” He grabbed the pad of paper from earlier. “How about a color. What colors do you like?”

  “I like green.”

  His dark eyes roamed around her office. “Shoulda probably guessed that.”

  “Don’t worry. I wouldn’t expect a man to pay attention to something like that.”

  “Ouch.” He wrote the word green on his pad. “Got a problem with the male species, do ya, Al?”

  “I don’t have a problem with men at all.” Technically. “It’s the way they are allowed to exist that i struggle with.”

  How many times had someone been shocked at her intelligence over the years? Her drive. Her willingness to do what it took to get what she deserved.

  No one was surprised when it came from a man. But the second a vagina was involved suddenly everything changed.

  Too forward? A bitch.

  Too driven? A bitch.

  Too focused? A bitch.

  But if there was a dick swinging between your legs?

  Too forward? Not a problem.

  Too driven. Also, not a problem.

  Too focused? Once again, not an issue.

  “It’s a man’s world, Ed. I should be happy I’m allowed to exist in it.” She sat a little taller, the reminder of all she and her sister had to fight making her angry.

  Again. It was what drove them. What they built their lives on.

  Anger.

  Edward finished writing on his pad, snagging it away before she could see what else he added to his list. “What are you writing?”

  “Just giving Joe some ideas.” Edward stood up. “I’m gonna go grab my computer while I’m sure you can’t block me in.”

  “Don’t doubt me, Eddie.” More than a few men had. Assumed she was something she wasn’t.

  And now they were crying in their Cheerios.

  “I don’t think you have to worry about that, Al.” He gave her a wink as he opened the door. “I’ve seen what you’re capable of.”

  Then he was gone, leaving her frowning after him.

  Edward was weird. Not like the men she’d dealt with in her life up until now.

  Charlie stepped in front of the office door, her body blocking Alex’s view of Edward’s retreating form. Her sister stood on the sidewalk outside watching him go. By the time Charlie finally opened the door, there was no sign of Edward.

  Alex lifted her brows at her younger sister. “Get a good look at him?”

  “Oh come on. Like you haven’t noticed how hot he is.” Charlie came in. “How’s your ankle?”

  “Bruised.” Alex lifted the bag of mostly-melted ice to peek at her aching appendage. “Oh shit.”

  It looked worse than she thought.

  “Have you not looked at it?” Charlie leaned in, her nose lifting on one side as she winced at the sight.

  “Not really.” She’d been working hard to act like it was fine, knowing Edward assumed her feminine condition would make her vulnerable to pain and delicacy.

  “That’s stupid.” Charlie gently grabbed her toe and used the grip to move her foot to the side.

  Alex sucked in a breath.

  Charlie’s eyes lifted to hers. “You should probably have it looked at.”

  “It’s probably just sprained.” No way was she proving Edward right. Even if the damn thing had to be amputated. She would go to her gangrene death swearing she was fine.

  “How did you even walk on it?” Charlie’s nose wrinkled more as she leaned to look at the other side. “The whole side of your foot is bruising.”

  “I didn’t walk on it.” Alex chewed her lower lip as she leaned to get a better look at her ankle. “Edward carried me.”

  “You’re kidding.” Charlie’s hand pressed to her chest. “That’s so romantic.”

  “Isn’t that what you said when Willoughby carried Maryann home?”

  “It was romantic.” She shrugged. “Until Willoughby turned out to be a twat.”

  “And you still named a cat after him.” Alex shook her head. “Pretty sure you’re a bad judge of what’s romantic and what’s not.”

  “Like you’re any better.” Charlie crossed her arms. “You wouldn’t know romance if someone slapped you in the face with it.”

  “I’m not interested in romance. I’m interested in making sure we don’t have to worry about men or any of the bullshit that comes with them.” Financial independence was all that mattered. Being able to take care of themselves. Provide for the lives they worked so hard to have.

  “We have that.” Charlie fell into the chair Edward brought too close. “Why can’t we also have at least a little romance?”

  “It’s not all it’s cracked up to be.”

  Charlie sighed. “I don’t want to be a spinster.” She cocked her head. “Do you know that just a hundred years ago I would be considered a spinster already?”

  “You’re twenty-four. That’s nowhere near a spinster.”

  “Twenty-four and a virgin. By today’s standards that’s almost as bad.” Charlie fell against the back of the emerald green chair. “I should have just found someone to have sex with. Men don’t like virgins, Alex. They’re scared of us.”

  “Men are scared of us anyway, Charlie.”

  “Exactly! That’s what I’m trying to say. Men are already scared of us because of—”

  Charlie’s lips clamped shut as Edward walked back into the office.

  His eyes immediately fell on Charlie. He gave her an easy smile that clearly had its desired effect. “Hey, Charlie.”

  “Hey, Edward.” She shifted in the chair, sitting up a little straighter. “Have you looked at Alex’s ankle?”

  Alex turned to her sister, eyes burning as she glared. “It’s fine.” The words were hard to get out betw
een the clench of her teeth.

  “It’s definitely not.” Charlie gave her a sweet smile. “I was just telling her she should go have it looked at.”

  “And she’s going to listen to you?” Edward appeared skeptical.

  “Of course. Alex is a great listener.” Charlie turned her innocent appearing smile onto Edward. “But she definitely can’t drive herself.”

  “Charlie, I swear to—”

  Charlie reached out to smash her hand into Alex’s face. “Don’t listen to her. She’s delirious with pain.”

  “I’m not delirious.” Alex smacked her sister’s hand away. “I’m fine.”

  “See?” Charlie lifted her brows as if her point had been proven. “She clearly needs to go to the hospital and have it checked out.”

  “And you think I’m the best one to accomplish that?” Edward’s eyes moved from Charlie to Alex.

  “Of course.” Charlie shrugged. “I have to stay to watch the shop. Sam has the bakery. Danny and Craig are out with Jude, and Frankie is out on a job.” She pointed at Edward. “That leaves you.”

  “It’s up to Alex.” Edward’s eyes were still on her. “She’s the boss.”

  “Oh really.” Alex crossed her arms as she stared his way. “Because I remember you saying something about not being the kind of man who would jump.”

  “Two different things, Al.” He lifted his dark brows. “We gettin’ that ankle checked out or not?”

  She tried to wiggle her toes. Just that little move sent a stab of pain up her leg. “Fine.”

  “I’ll go grab the car.” Edward was already out the door.

  “He seemed awfully eager.” Charlie caught her lower lip between her teeth. “I bet he’s good at...” Her cheeks flushed a deep crimson. “The things.”

  “Fucking, Charlie. If you can’t say it you’ll never have it.” Alex dropped her head back against the chair. “And I would suggest you not try to find out if Edward is good at it.”

  “Ew. No. I don’t want to find out.” Charlie’s eyes slid Alex’s way. “It was just an observation.”

  “Stop observing.” Alex rolled her head Charlie’s way. “And why wouldn’t you want to find out?”

  Charlie shrugged. “He’s not my type.”

  “Now you have a type?” Alex shifted in the chair, trying to work up the courage to get on her feet.

  “Maybe.” Charlie turned away, but not before Alex caught the sly smile on her sister’s lips.

  Edward came back through the door. “Alright, Al. Car’s here.”

  She gripped the arm rests of the chair, gritting her teeth in anticipation of the pain that was coming.

  “I got ya.” Edward stepped past Charlie to scoop Alex up.

  Charlie gazed up at him. “You smell really good.”

  “Thanks. I had plenty of time to shower after your sister locked me in Craig’s camper.

  “Sorry about that.” Charlie only looked a little sorry, which made sense considering she laughed right along with Alex as they walked to work. “It was nothing personal.”

  “Did you lock Craig in his camper too?” He paused at the door as Charlie hustled in to open it.

  “Oh no.” Charlie smiled. “Danny made him help butcher a hog.”

  Edward came to a full stop and his eyes went to Alex’s. “Is she kidding?”

  “He sucked at it. Passed out and ended up with a concussion.” It made it pretty obvious Craig wasn’t cut out for the sort of life they all lived.

  She’d been sure of it.

  Until she wasn’t.

  “Sounds like this place is accident prone.” Edward eased Alex through the passenger door Charlie held open.

  “Better watch your back then.” Alex jumped a little when he shut the door right in her face.

  Edward turned away to face Charlie. The two spoke for a minute.

  Low enough she struggled to hear what either of them were saying. Alex pressed the button to roll down the window.

  Charlie immediately leaned to peek around Edward’s body. “Nosy.”

  “You can talk to Eddie as much as you want. I’ll find someone else to drive me to the hospital.” Alex glanced around the interior of the luxury sedan. “Whose car is this?”

  It was high-end as hell. Made her brand new Corolla look like it came from a gumball machine.

  Edward climbed into the driver’s seat, eyes on her as he pressed the button to roll up her window. “If you want to know what Charlie and I talked about all you have to do is ask.”

  “I don’t care what you talked to Charlie about. It’s none of my business what you do.” She buckled the belt across her body.

  “Good point.” Edward put the car in drive and eased away from her office.

  Alex stared straight ahead. Charlie told him something. She knew damn well her sister couldn’t keep her little nose out of this. Ever since Craig showed up and swept their older sister off her feet, Charlie’s already skewed views on men and romance had gone off the freaking rails. “Whatever Charlie said was a lie.”

  “Interesting.” Edward didn’t say any more. Just kept driving, one hand slung over the top of the steering wheel.

  “She’s just—” Alex waved one hand around. “Her.” There was no better way to describe Charlie. Not to Edward. He wouldn’t get it.

  “She seems to be very sweet.” Edward tipped his head her way. “Maybe a little naive.”

  Alex snorted. “A little?”

  “It’s not necessarily a bad thing. Seems like she’s got plenty of people to watch out for her. Make sure no one takes advantage.” Edward seemed to know exactly where they were going.

  “I thought you didn’t look into Shadow Pine before you came here.” Of course he did. She knew damn well no one in their right mind would—

  “Got directions when I went to get my laptop.” He lifted up his phone with one hand, wiggling it from side to side. The navigation app was open, showing him exactly where to go.

  “Why would you do that?”

  “Have you seen your ankle, Al? It’s a mess.”

  She shot him a dirty look. “It’s not a mess. It’s just bruised.”

  “I thought it was fine.” He peeked at her out of the corner of his eyes, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

  “I thought you were going to be helpful. So far you’ve made me waste an entire afternoon going to the hospital.” She crossed her arms. This is exactly what she knew would happen when he showed up.

  Maybe not exactly, but some sort of it.

  She knew Edward would be a problem and here he was.

  Being a problem.

  “So far I’ve got someone making you a website, someone else designing you a logo, and I’ve carried your ass all over town.” The same smile was toying with his mouth.

  “Oh don’t act like you had to hike all over the place. The damn town’s less than a quarter mile long.” She slumped down in her seat. “And you didn’t have to get someone to do a website and logo. I could have figured it out.”

  “I don’t doubt that for a minute, Al. I’m pretty sure you can figure just about anything out.” He tipped his head toward her, dark eyes finding hers for a heartbeat. “But there’s only one of you, and you’re burning the candle at both ends. Something’s gotta give or you’re going to burn up.”

  “And that’s what you’re going to do? Keep me from burning up?”

  He stared straight ahead. “That’s the plan, Al.”

  Edward’s dark eyes came her way again. “For now.”

  SIX

  “IT LOOKS GREAT. I’ll show Alex once she’s done here. Let you know what she thinks.” Edward glanced up as a nurse came through the emergency room door and headed straight for him. “I’ll call you back.” He hung up before Joe had the chance to respond. He stood up. “She all set?”

  “She’s ready.” The nurse pointed to the overhang outside the sliding glass doors. “You can go ahead and pull your car up. I’ll bring her out to you.” Her eyes ling
ered on him a second before she turned away.

  Edward glanced up at a movement behind the registration desk. A cluster of women in scrubs stood, their eyes widening as he caught them checking him out.

  He nodded their way. “Thanks.”

  A couple of them waved.

  It was both flattering and oddly uncomfortable.

  He hustled outside. They’d been at the ER for hours and it was getting late. The sun would be down by the time they made it back to Shadow Pine, and while he was confident in his highway driving, mountain roads were a much different beast, and tackling them in the dark didn’t sound even remotely appealing right now.

  The nurse was already outside when he pulled up. Alex sat in a wheelchair, her injured ankle strapped into a black brace with two medical-grade ice packs wrapped around it. A set of crutches lay across her lap. Edward grinned at her as he strode around the car. “Looks like that ankle wasn’t fine after all.”

  “Shut up.” Alex looped the strap of her purse over one shoulder before fighting the crutches upright.

  Edward held his hand out. “Give them to me.”

  “I need to use them to get up.” She ignored his outstretched hand, instead planting the rubber ends of the crutches right on his toe before using them for leverage to pull herself out of the chair. Alex turned his way, giving him a smile. “There.”

  “Proud of yourself?”

  “Yes. I am.” Her smile continued as she grabbed the open door and hopped her way to the seat, falling down into Kari’s car. She turned to the nurse, brows lifting when she realized the nurse wasn’t paying a lick of attention to her. Alex leaned forward. “Thanks.”

  The nurse’s gaze jumped from Edward to Alex. “Yeah. You’re welcome.” She turned to smile Edward’s way. “If you need someone to show you around town I could give you my number.”

  He leaned down to peek in at Alex. Her eyes were straight ahead, staring out the windshield.

  Edward turned back to the nurse, slamming Alex’s door. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m going to pass.” He backed around the car. “Thanks for taking care of her today.”

  So far nothing Alex did pissed him off. Not even when she barricaded him in the camper with her car.

  But for some reason this did.