Page 17 of For the First Time
“You must be Eve.”
I gasped at the sudden intrusion of another person—which was ridiculous since I was not only at work, but in someone else’s home.Still, the voice had my body rushing with adrenaline like it expected me to be in immediate danger with the handsome man.And just like the rest of his pack, Everettwashandsome.
There was no denying Everett’s designation.The man hit every stereotypical mark of an alpha.Not only was he tall, he was wide, his shoulders broad, his arms thick.He looked like a man that not only worked out—he enjoyed eating.His beard was trimmed close to his face, still long enough that I knew he could run his fingers through it, but not unruly like an abandoned mountain man who didn’t know beard oil existed.Tattoos decorated his upper arms and chest, the skin exposed in the slim tank he was wearing, which also happened to show off his chest hair that made him look like a sexy bear.
I couldn’t get myself to look away from him.I hadn’t truly pictured Everett in my head because I knew whatever I’d imagined wouldn’t be right.And I was right.Nothing I would have thought of could have compared to this man.This alpha.
“I’m Everett.We spoke on the phone.”
I nodded because I couldn’t speak.My mouth felt dry, my tongue had completely forgotten how to work.The other men in this pack were already so good looking they made me nervous.Everett literally made me dumb with his looks.I hadn’t known that was possible.
He came forward, his hand extended for me to shake, and I was so lost in my attention to him that I reached out and dropped my notepad and pen onto the floor.“Crap.”I dropped down to pick it up, bouncing back up so quickly that Everett was forced to jump backward or risk being headbutted by me.“Sorry.”
A soft chuckle came from him.“It’s all right.”He grabbed the notepad from me and shook my hand before handing it back.“Good morning, Eve.”
I already knew what Everett was going to smell like.His alpha scent was all over this house, as much a part of the walls as the paint.It was sweet, like syrup and sugar, the type you dipped your finger into and ate plain.The type that made your cheeks ache with how sweet it was.
“Morning.I hope you slept well.”I was glad that words were finally starting to come out.
“I did.Have you had breakfast yet?”
The mention of breakfast had my brain rebooting to work properly.“I can make you breakfast, absolutely.I was just waiting here because Oaks said I had to sign something.But if you tell me what you prefer, I can get it started for you.Oaks said he likes eggs and some sort of meat—are you the same or do you prefer a sweeter breakfast?”
“I prefer something sweet in the mornings after my workout.Before then, I usually just do some yogurt and protein.Did you eat already?It’s pretty early.”
“I had some fruit and a protein drink on the way here.And in case you’re going to ask, I also have a snack if I get hungry before lunch.”
“That’s good thinking.”
The pride that bloomed in my chest had my shoulders rolling back slightly, my heart finally calming down and no longer beating desperately inside me.I was capable and hearing someone else say that, despite my obvious nerves for starting my new job, felt good.
“Do you want me to make something for you?”I opened my notepad and flipped through recipes I had written down over the weekend.Blueberry muffins and buttermilk pancakes and quick French toast and banana loafs and lots more.“I wrote down loads of ideas, but of course, I can fine tune anything to how you guys like it.Like blueberry muffins.I can do whatever fruit you like or any flavor of chocolate chips, whatever you have available.”
“You’re real prepared.I like it.Why don’t you just come with me?I’ll show you what I usually do before I head to the gym.Whatever you want to make after you sign the papers with Oaks will be fine.”
That made sense.Some people were very ritualistic in their eating.
Everett motioned for me to go first, so I did, marching my way into the kitchen.
“Whoa, whoa, hold up there.”Everett’s hand reached out to my bicep, not really gripping me, just touching me, grabbing my attention.“You want to settle in a bit?Take your shoes off or set your purse down?”
I looked down at my feet, noticing Everett’s bare ones.Neither Oaks nor Atlas had mentioned a requirement to take off their shoes, although the rack of multiple shoes had been present by the front door.“I can take them off.”
“Why don’t you do that.Set your stuff down wherever.In the living room maybe?On the couch?”
If I was honest, I didn’t truly remember my first day with the OC.I had been thirteen and only a volunteer.Personally, that was what I considered my first day, but there was also my first day when I became part-time and then the first day I became full-time.Still, with those lapses in my memories from years ago, I knew with absolute certainty that this day was not like that.
I did as Everett suggested and quickly returned to the kitchen to find him opening a cup of yogurt, tossing the lid into the trash.He grabbed a spoon and then started eating as he continued searching the pantry.He grabbed a little bag of something and a yellow box, bringing both of them to the counter.
Oatmeal and brown sugar.
He ate the yogurt while he made his breakfast, adding extra brown sugar to his high protein oatmeal.
“Good morning, pet.”
I had been watching Everett intently, making notes about his preferred breakfast, so I saw the way his eyes widened as he whipped his head to look over at me.I didn’t have the physical ability to blush any more or I was sure my cheeks would have burned.Looking over my shoulder, I gave Atlas a small smile.
He was dressed almost exactly like he had been last week.The same jeans that looked like he’d worn them for years, the stains officially a part of the fabric that no amount of laundering would clean.His thighs pressed against the denim, showing off how thick he was without the fabric being so tight it looked like his legs were suffocating.His shirt was dark black, the fabric almost canvas thick, and a logo for the brand rested on his shoulder.The front of his shirt was just barely tucked behind his belt, showing off the silver, oval buckle.Like Everett, he was without socks and shoes.
