“Who is she?” I echo Major, but my tone is full of wonder.
I’m much nicer, of course.
“This is Veda St. James,” replies a man in a full suit who can only be the driver.
Veda. I taste her name on my lips, discovering it’s sweeter than any dessert. She lifts her chin, a dare to any of us, and I fall even further under her spell. Helpless, I smile, but all she does is press those beautiful, full lips into a line. As the driver takes her luggage from the trunk, I finally connect the dots.
St. James.
The angel is not just a gift from the gods, but the supposed rich delinquent we’re housing. Hmm, interesting. That explains why Major is vibrating in anger beside me. I thought he had some aversion to beautiful women.
Veda takes her suitcase from the driver’s hands with a small smile. Oh, how much I wanted to be the recipient of that smile. Damn, it’s my brand new dream.
“Thank you,” she mouths.
“Miss Veda…”
He doesn’t finish his sentence, but it lingers, weighted in concern. I frown, watching ever so carefully, begging for more to make sense of the scene developing in front of me, but Veda shakes her head, stopping the conversation before it even begins.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be alright.”
The tender exchange leaves me wondering, but Major doesn’t catch the softness of the moment. The guy is not great at reading the room. He marches to the car, hands balled into a fist, posture of someone who’s pissed off and is ready for a fight. Honestly, what is there to fight about? We got a goddess instead of a delinquent. Sounds good to me.
“She can’t stay here.”
Major’s words are directed to the driver, and I wince when I see Veda is taking them personally.
“I’m assuming my stay was agreed upon beforehand.” She lifts an eyebrow. Major’s silence says everything she needs to know. “Well, then it’s done.”
She doesn’t give us a chance to reply. With the luggage rolling over the uneven ground, she shoves her way to the house, a whiff of the most delicious sugary smell following her.
My mouth waters as she goes past me, and I turn to Derrick, who looks just as stunned as I am.
This Beta smells like something else, something I know doesn’t exist anymore.
Major curses, giving the driver a last look before he moves away and follows her into the house, his jaw set and hands still balled in a fist. He’s definitely taking this way harder than I am.
The driver doesn’t get into the car straight away, he looks anxious about leaving her behind. His eyes linger on the porch as if he’s speculating on whether we deserve to house her. I send him a smile and a wave. Major might be an asshole, but he’s not dangerous. She’s safe with us. It doesn’t help with the door bangs at its hinges, Major’s fury more apparent than ever.
“It’s all good!” I call out to the driver.
“Come on,” Derrick nods to the house. He’s right. The fire is inside, not here.
“I’m serious, you can’t stay here,” Major is saying to her as we step in.
“You agreed to this!” Veda replies, her words firm. “It’s not my fault you didn’t know what you were agreeing to.”
Even in her anger, she smells divine. Never in my life have I met a Beta who smelled as sweet as her. I take a deep breath, my head dizzywhen the sugar scent hits me at once. I look at Derrick, trying to ask all the questions overwhelming me at once.
Aren’t you scenting this? I can’t be the only one.
“Your grandfather never told me you were a girl,” Major continues to argue, and I don’t know how he can scent this woman and not smile.
Veda laughs softly, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “What difference does it make?”
Major shakes his head, frustrated. He tried to hide it, but I know he wasn’t happy about the arrangement either. It’s been too long since we let anyone in our lives. Fuck, I was surprised when Major dragged Derrick here after the accident.His own brother.Having a ranch hand wasn’t ideal, but I know Major couldn’t upset our biggest client. He might try to hide that, but it’s obvious to anyone. We need money. But now, instead of a ranch hand, we have this incredible woman with the most puzzling scent.
“Hi, I’m Jesse.” I interrupt their weighted silence. “This is Derrick, and our ray of sunshine is Major.”
