Nodding, I grab my briefcase.
“You’re right. Make the changes and send it back to them. Add your name to the review list.”
Her cheeks flush as she straightens. “Really?”
I wave her back to her desk. “I hired you for a reason, Sarah. I want someone who assists, not someone to take notes and fetch me coffee. I can get my own damn coffee.”
I also don’t have the heart to tell her that her coffee tastes like shit. She thanks me over and over again, full of bouncy excitement as she heads back, fingers flying over the keyboard.
My head is far away as I stand in front of the elevator doors, watching the buttons light up before heading down through floor after floor. Colleagues get on and off, making small talk and asking about work. I’m absent, at best, and I shoot one of my associates an apologetic grimace as I exit.
“Sorry, Mullins. Focusing on a case. Give me a call tomorrow.”
When I walk through the lobby, Jordan jumps up from his desk, casually turning over his phone. We both pretend not to hear the raucous noise of the hockey game he’s watching in the background.
“Do you need the car, Mr. Reyne?”
Glancing outside, I shake my head. “I’ll walk.”
It’s a beautiful day. Cold as hell but a blue sky and winter sunshine. It’s not too far to get home, and I can get Axel from the gym on the way.
Making my way along the sidewalk, I dig my wallet out of my pocket to pay for a fresh, hot coffee from the stand on the corner.
I look down for a scant moment, and that’s all it takes for someone to collide with me with a humph, sending my wallet scattering to the floor. The female bounces off me, landing heavily with an audible thump and a gasp.
“Shit – are you okay?”
I reach out a hand as she scrambles up and away from me. She’s tiny, barely reaching up to my shoulders as she brushes down her thin jacket.
She must be freezing.
Taking in her threadbare outfit, I scowl. “You need a thicker jacket.”
The beta blinks up at me, and I’m hit with a wave of warm, creamy butterscotch.
Fuck. My mouth actually waters, and I take a step forward, inhaling deeply.
“Omega?”
The word is pulled from my chest, deep with a vibration just on the edge of a growl. The omega pales as she backs away, her hands outstretched. It’s enough to shake me back into my senses, and I take my own step back, raising my hands.
“Steady,” I soothe. “I’m sorry. Are you alright?”
What the hell is she doing? There’s no bitemark, so she’s unmated. And she smells fucking divine, like my favorite dessert. Any asshole alpha would think he’d won the lottery if he bumped into her.
“Fine. Sorry.”
She pushes past me before I can open my mouth, although I’m not sure if it’s to apologize again or to scold her for being so damn irresponsible. Taken aback, I watch her as she pelts up the street. She turns, and our eyes lock for a moment, hers widening as they flick downwards to something in her hands.
I follow her gaze, my hand dropping to my empty pocket.
“Hey!” I shout. “That’s my wallet!”
The omega shrinks back before she darts away around the corner. With a curse, I give chase. I don’t give a fuck about the money, but there’s things in that wallet I actually need.
Skidding around the corner, I nearly trip over the discarded wallet. There’s no sign of the omega. Picking it up with a sigh, I rifle through, surprised to find it full.
She didn’t take the money. No… I count. Ten dollars.
