Page 17 of My Grumpy Alpha

“Do you need something?”

“Yes.” He squeezes his eyes shut, then opens them in a flash.

“I need a date.”

“Ummm.” Not what I expected.

“Okay, I can probably find someone to help you out with that on some dating website or maybe hire someone and—”

“—No.” He clips out.

“You’re coming. Wear something nice.” He turns to Gabe.

“I trust you’ll help her out?”

“Absolutely.” Gabe grins.

“That’s clearly my new job title, helper outer.”

“Don’t be cute. It’s exhausting.” Eli walks off.

And I’m left with Gabe staring at me, me staring at him.

“So…” Gabe nods slowly.

“He’s annoyed and slightly pissed, did not have that planned so early in the day. Let’s go grab a dress. I have no clue what he needs, but I’ll look at his calendar, probably a dinner he has to go to or an event, though I didn’t see anything on his schedule. We’ll figure it out. It’s best to just ask for forgiveness than permission with him.”

I shake my head.

“He just keeps getting better and better, he’s like a wolf.”

Gabe bursts out laughing.

“Yeah, exactly like that. Good eye.”

An hour later and I’m ready to punch Gabe, track down Eli, and then quit my job. I’ve never in my life tried on so many dresses.

Ever.

And you’d think that I’d be so thankful, but I’m tired, I’m hungry, and no dress seems to pass what Gabe says is the mark.

What the hell is a mark?

I’ve been up since five, we’re closing in on dinnertime and I’m still putting on tight dresses that look like crap on my body.

I grab the last one.

It’s red, blood red. I don’t imagine it’s going to look good. It’s strapless and also just plunges way too deep down my boobs, and magically it’s able to stay put while the back plunges to my ass.

It’s beautiful, but it’s daring and definitely not me or my style, but I put it on anyway.

Miraculously, it fits and looks good.

I prepare for another head shake from Gabe.

But when I walk out, he drops the coffee he’s drinking onto the small table and falls onto the couch.

“This.”