AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You’re doing a fantastic job, Jessica. Why are you so insistent? Can’t we just wait until I meet them?”
She dropped her gaze to the clipboard, flipping through the pages and not meeting my eyes as she said, “I told you already. It’s the least I can do after throwing you under the bus—your words, not mine.”
I sighed. “Look at me.”
Slowly, she lifted her eyes, and I was surprised to see a hint of sadness there.
“Jess… I told you I’m sorry for what I said.”
“But you weren’t wrong.” Her eyes were full of unshed tears, and she wiped angrily at them. “I want you to be happy, Garrett. So let me help you.”
I sat back in my chair, stunned by how much this meant to her. “Okay.”
“Okay?”
I nodded. “Yeah. If it means that much to you, let’s talk it out.”
She smiled at that. “It does. Thank you. So now that’s out of the way. Maybe you won’t give me a hard time in the future.” She grinned. “I can be your wingman.”
I arched a brow. That was the last thing I really wanted her to be, but these were the circumstances.
“All right, if you insist.” I cleared my throat, trying to think of what qualities I preferred in a woman. I wasn’t lying—I really did like them all. “I guess I want someone good in social situations. Someone outgoing, an extrovert like me. If you haven’t noticed—” I winked “—I have a pretty big personality. So perhaps someone who can match that.”
Jessica wrinkled her nose.
“What?”
“Are you sure about that?”
I threw my hands up in exasperation. “You asked. I’m telling you.”
She shook her head. “I just think maybe that isn’t actually what you want. If you were matched with someone with just as big a personality as yours, don’t you think you’d always be butting heads? Fighting for control?”
I hadn’t thought about that.
“Of course, it makes sense for you to want someone good at socializing,” she continued. “That’s a big part of your position in the pack. But do you really want someone who would steal the show when you’re trying to negotiate with alphas?”
“Hmm.” I tilted my head. “I didn’t consider that. Okay, so maybe not someone too over-the-top. Not too flashy, but not plain either. I need someone who can stand up to me when it’s required. Someone who isn’t afraid to call me out on my bullshit.”
She lifted her brows, smirking, but didn’t comment on that.
“A smart woman.” I scratched my chin, starting to find my groove now that she had me thinking. “Someone who understands the subtleties of pack dynamics and knows how to be comfortable in a crowd of powerful players.”
“Good, good.” Jessica scribbled furiously on her notepad.
“A woman who can balance me out isn’t something I’d actually considered before…” I mused “… but it makes sense. One who can be a calm presence to the chaos in my life. I feel like I’m always putting on a show, you know? Having to be what everyone wants me to be, playing my role, and keeping the peace. Always the negotiator. I guess having someone who can handle all my emotions and help me work through the stress of my job would be nice. I have to shove my true feelings down so often. It would be nice to have someone to talk to about it, someone I could really be myself with…”
I trailed off as I realized she was staring at me, her lips parted slightly. Shit. I’d never said that to anyone before. Had never truly acknowledged it myself. How had Jessica dragged all that out of me?
I stared back at her, surprised at how comfortable I was with her.
She held my gaze for several heartbeats before dropping her eyes back to the paper and scribbling away again. “Okay, what else?”
“Intelligence, wit. Someone I can laugh with, be playful with, and let off some steam when I’ve had a long day. Maybe someone who understands politics, but isn’t so deep into it that they can’t leave work at work.”
“Good.” She nodded.
“And while beauty is important, it isn’t the most important things. I don’t want a woman who’s good to look at but has nothing in her brain, you know?”
