Page 1 of Her Grumpy Alpha

ONE

SADIE (SIX YEARS AGO)

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm, golden hue over the pristine sands of Cancun’s beach. It was a much-needed vacation, a rare escape from the daily grind of the office job that I absolutely hated and couldn’t wait to get out of–as soon as I figured out what I wanted to do instead–and I was loving every single moment of it.

“Why don’t we do this more often?” Charlene asked me with a soft smile. She was the only one in our group who’d stayed on the sands with me while the rest frolicked in the turquoise ocean. “We need to get away like this all the time, am I right?”

I tossed my head back and laughed. “Yeah. I know what you mean. I’d love to go on vacation all the time. But how could we afford it?”

Charlene pouted understandingly. “Yeah, you’re right. I do not earn anywhere near enough to do this all the time. Which actually really sucks because I think it’s good for my soul. I’ll work harder when I get back home, you know?”

I wished I could agree with her, but I didn’t think anything would spark my enthusiasm to work more. Truth be told, nothing in Memphis was sparking any joy in me any longer. I hated living there. I just… I didn’t know where else to go. Just because I’d grown up there and I didn’t know anything else, and of course I had all my high school friends there as well, it was easy for me to remain. But being in Mexico was a stark reminder that there was a big wide world out there, and at some point, I needed to explore it all.

“Oh look, the girls are coming back,” Charlene chuckled. “Soaking wet, the lot of them.”

I slid my sunglasses down and lounged back in my chair, acting all casual on the outside when inside I was a bit of a mess. As my friends chatted animatedly beside me, the sound of the gentle waves lapping at the shore running a lovely background track, all I could think about was that stupid office cubicle that was sucking the life out of me. I needed so much more.

Luckily for now, I had a fruity cocktail in hand which could help me keep my worries at bay. I didn’t want to lose myself in the sadness of home while I was in paradise. And this vacation wasn’t going to be just about relaxing by the beach either. We were going to have a lot of fun. Partying tonight was going to be incredible, wherever we ended up going.

I couldn’t wait to let my hair down and to have a laugh. It had been so long since I’d really blown off some steam, and I seriously needed that. So bad.

Wait a minute… Who the hell is that?

My heart actually stopped beating for a moment as I laid my eyes on him. A stranger I definitely didn’t know, but one who was possibly the most handsome man I had ever seen in my life.

At first, he was just a vague figure on the horizon, walking along the water’s edge. But as he approached, it was impossible not to really notice him. Tall and broad-shouldered, he moved with an easy grace, each step taking him closer to where we were seated. The rays of the setting sun illuminated his features, highlighting his striking profile.

My friends’ voices became a distant murmur as my gaze remained locked on the mysterious man. His skin was kissed by the sun, a warm, golden tan that made him look like he belonged in this tropical paradise. His dark hair was tousled and perfectly imperfect, ruffled by the ocean breeze. Sunglasses perched on the bridge of his nose, but they couldn’t hide the intensity of his eyes, a deep shade of pale brown that seemed to hold countless secrets.

As he drew nearer, I couldn’t help but appreciate his strong, chiseled jawline and the faint shadow of stubble that decorated it. A hint of a smile played on his lips, an inscrutable curve that sent a shiver down my spine. My heart quickened its pace, and my palms grew clammy.

“Sadie, are you okay?” Charlene’s voice penetrated my daze, bringing me back to reality.

I blinked, tearing my gaze away from the man who had captured my full attention. “Huh? Oh, yeah, I’m fine.”

Charlene exchanged a knowing look with another woman in our group, Amanda, who raised an eyebrow. They were my best friends, and they knew me well enough to recognize when something had shaken my usually composed demeanor.

Amanda chuckled softly. “Is someone here about to have a little steamy holiday romance?”

I blushed and sipped my cocktail, trying to hide my growing curiosity about the stranger. “I don’t know, but there’s definitely something intriguing about him. He is hot.”

Charlene laughed. “He sure is. And just your type, Sadie. Although maybe a little bit older than you’re used to.”

Amanda nodded in agreement. “But that’s not a bad thing. It means he might have some experience, am I right? Go talk to him. Have some fun for once. Especially since we leave tomorrow evening. Make the most of it while you’re here.”

“I don’t know. I mean, he might have a girlfriend…” I was hesitant. Mostly because I was way too shy to just go up and talk to him. Even with a bit of Dutch courage careering through my system. “What if he doesn’t want to talk to me?”

“And what if he does?” Charlene laughed. “When are you going to get another shot at this guy? Just go and say hello. You don’t need to ask him to marry you!”

“You’ll likely never see him ever again,” Amanda agreed. “Take the chance while it’s there.”

Their words tugged at me. They were right. This was a vacation, a time to let loose and embrace new experiences. With a newfound resolve, I set my cocktail aside and rose from my beach chair.

“Alright,” I said with a determined smile, trying to ignore the absolute anxiety exploding like mini fireworks all the way through me. Being brave was exactly what I needed to do to try and break out of the rut I’d been living in. This was the perfect time to do that. “I’ll go introduce myself. Wish me luck.”

With the encouragement of my friends spurring me on, I began the short walk toward the mysterious man who had captured my attention. My heart raced with a mix of nerves and anticipation. As I got closer, I couldn’t help but wonder if this was going to be a lot of fun or the most embarrassing mistake of my whole damn life.

I took a deep breath and smoothed down my beach dress as I approached. The beach was a picturesque backdrop for this to turn out to be something incredible, the waves whispering their secrets as I drew nearer to him. I just hoped and prayed I wouldn’t look like an idiot.