Page 11 of Not Ready

I pull my hand down as my head tilts. “I-I…”

“It’s no matter. You’re here now.” He gestures toward the couch. “Would you like to have a seat? I must admit, I didn’t see that coming.” He waves at my stomach as I walk over and take a seat. He sits on the cushion next to me and turns to face me. “I’m afraid I’ve run out of time. My mother has been continually calling all afternoon. I was perhaps a bit too optimistic that one of the candidates yesterday or this morning would be a good fit. Oh, I haven’t introduced myself. Where are my manners? I’m Carrigan Mercer. It’s a terrible first name. My colleagues call me Mercer or Mercy, for short.”

“Vale,” I say, exceptionally confused.

“Shall we go over the details?”

My nose twitches with his scent. I’m a little embarrassed that my nose drags me closer without any instruction on my part.

He smells like old books…

Is that really a smell alphas come in?

It’s delicious, but not a scent I’ve run across before.

“One hundred thousand dollars for six months,” he says, giving me a strange look as I try to covertly sniff him. “With the option of an additional hundred thousand if the contract needs to be extended from six months to a year.” He frowns at my stomach as my jaw falls. “I’m truly hoping it’ll be wrapped up more swiftly than that, but my family is stubborn.”

“I’m sorry. Did you just say a hundred thousand dollars for six months?” I sputter.

Of what, exactly?

“Didn’t Sylvia give you the terms prior to setting up this meeting?” He frowns, pulling his vibrating phone from his pocket. “Good Lord, that’s my mother again. She’s very anxious to meet you.”

“I don’t know who Sylvia is, but there’s obviously been a?—”

“Hello, Mother,” Mercer says, leaning over until I appear in the video call window.

What the hell have I got myself into now?

I blink repeatedly at the beautiful woman who fills the screen. She looks like an older, feminine version of Mercer.

They exchange pleasantries as he tosses an arm around my shoulders.

I don’t want to embarrass the man in front of his mother, but I’m not an escort.

I don’t know why he would need one, anyway. He’s stupidly hot, and the accent only enhances the entire package.

“This is Vale.” Mercer smiles at me, nodding to the phone. “Now are you satisfied? She’s just arrived. I’d like to get her settled, but your repetitive calls were becoming quite the distraction.”

“It’s truly lovely to put a face to everything my son has told me about you,” she says, eyeing me with what I think is suspicion. Not that she doesn’t have every right to be. “Tell me, dear. Isn’t it difficult to leave everything behind to move to an entirely different state?”

I paste on a plastic smile. Her condescending tone has officially rubbed me the wrong way. “No, I mean, yes, a little. However, it felt like it was time. One door closes and another opens.” I laugh awkwardly, and the sound is painful to my own ears.

“And what about work? Will you look for another job?” she asks, shoving long black hair behind her ear.

“Mother, it’s hardly necessary?—”

“I will,” I say as politely as I can muster.

“As delightful as this conversation is,” Mercer says, clearing his throat, “you’ll be seeing each other in person soon. I’m afraid I have work that must be handled, and I still need to get Vale settled. Love to all of you. Tell my fathers I said hello.” He hangs up but doesn’t remove his arm from my shoulders.

I take a deep breath and force myself to speak. “I was trying to tell you this before you answered, but I think there’s been a big mistake.”

“Jesus Christ,” he mutters, turning to face me fully. “Right, then, tell me who you are.”

I huff, glaring at him as Aurora kicks. My hand flies to rub at the ache. Okay, that’s a stretch, not a kick. A low throb starts in my hips, and I push myself off the couch to pace.

“My name is Vale. I’m here because…” My eyes ache, and my head falls back as it shakes at the ceiling. “Something scary happened this morning. A friend sent me here.”

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