Page 37 of Breaking the Alpha (Serpent’s Tongue Ink #2)

A ngelina skimmed her fingers across River’s chest and along his shoulder, coming to a stop when she felt the cool leather strap of his turquoise bracelet.

“This may sound petty, but I’m glad you put these back on,” she whispered in the dark, closing her eyes while he continued to run his hand through her hair.

“Zoe showed me that balcony picture a few days ago.”

His arm tightened around her and he kissed the top of her head. “I only took them off before shoots so none would get lost on site. But not the bloodstone. That hasn’t come off since you put it on me. I—” He stiffened for a moment, then eased his arm out from under her. “I’ll be right back.”

She pushed herself up on one elbow and appreciated the view of him tugging his boxers up over his hips, her brows lifting when he snatched up his jeans and yanked his car keys out. “Where are you going?”

“Right back,” he called over his shoulder as he disappeared around the corner.

She could hear the thumping of his bare feet while he took the stairs two at a time. When she heard the unmistakable sound of her front door being unlocked and opened, she clasped the sheet around herself and rose up on her knees to peek out the window.

She watched as he jogged to his car, flung the trunk open, and hauled a large duffel bag out. Still donning nothing more than his boxers, he came inside, his walk up the stairs slower and with a slight hitch to his gait.

“Where the hell is it?” he muttered, his inked, muscular back to her as he turned on her lamp and rifled through the bag.

“There’s no way I for—there.” Getting to his feet, he crawled onto the bed and sat back on his haunches, his right fist closed tight.

“I missed your birthday. Because I’m a stubborn ass. ”

Biting her lip, she tried to hide a smile. “I won’t argue the stubborn part.”

“I babe’d you, and that makes me an ass,” he stated, exhaling a puff of air. “It probably sounds stupid, but of all the dumbass things I said that night, ‘babe’ is the one word I’ve regretted most for the last two months.”

Matching his position, she faced him, clutching the sheet to her chest. “Hardly a crime,” she reassured him. “Everyone uses it.”

“I’ve never called you ‘babe.’” His unclenched hand went to the bloodstone pendant. “And I did it on purpose that night to kind of seal the deal. In my head, it was putting you alongside all the other women I’ve dated or slept with.”

She leveled him with a dead stare. “I liked your earlier apology better. The one where you weren’t in my bed talking about all the other women before me.”

His nose crinkled as he cringed. “I swear this gets a little better.”

“I sure hope so.”

She knew he’d caught the humor in her eyes when his shoulders relaxed.

“Anyways, I was killing time between shoots poking around some shops in the Hills and I saw this.” His fist remained closed and he glared at it.

“Actually, I saw a gaudy diamond BABE necklace first and it just kind of drove home what a jerk I’d been.

That thing was hideous. Expensive as hell and tacky as shit.

But in the next display case was this, and the second I saw it all I could think about was you. ”

He seemed to be struggling to open his hand, his fingers unfolding one by one to reveal a small velvet pouch.

“This isn’t an engagement ring, because there’s no way in hell I’m going to do it in my boxers on your bed when I do propose properly, but this—” He swallowed and pulled a delicate ring from the bag, his words becoming more and more rushed as he handed it to her with shaking hands.

“I bought it two days before your birthday and I’ve been carrying it around ever since.

It’s called an eternity ring and when I saw it, and I saw that BABE necklace, it was like some sign.

Like I was being smacked upside the head by the universe. ”

“It’s stunning,” she breathed, examining the white gold band ringed with—“River? This isn’t costume jewelry.”

He frowned. “It better not be.”

Her eyes widened as she inspected the stones. Shades of emeralds, rubies, diamonds, and an array of sapphires were laid in an unbroken rainbow, the gemstones glittering in the dim lamp light. “It’s beautiful.”

“Not to get all corny or anything, but I’m pretty sure it was made for you.” Taking it from her, he tried the delicate band on each finger until it slid perfectly onto her ring finger. “We’ll get it resized when we get engaged.”

*

River clasped Angelina’s hand in his while they walked up to Serpent’s Tongue Ink.

“You don’t need to be so nervous,” she whispered, giving his fingers a reassuring squeeze. “Your brother wants you to be happy. I don’t think he cares what zip code you find that happiness in.”

Nodding, he pushed the door open, noticing the absence of the chimes.

Although it was Birch who gave him the final kick in the ass he’d needed to drive the two long days back to Angelina, he’d awoken with a renewed guilt.

Birch and Winter had worked so hard to get him away from Epson and the stigma of the Baker name.

And now here he was, back in town and putting down the most permanent roots he’d ever planted.

He saw Grey first, his brother’s long hair pulled through the opening of his ball cap and his head bowed over a thick textbook as he sat at the desk. Exhaling a sigh of relief at how relaxed and recovered Grey looked, he grinned.

“Worst. Receptionist. Ever.”

Grey glanced up with a deadpan expression. “I save my charm for paying customers.” He turned to Angelina and flashed her a smile, leaning forward enough to show off the flex of his arms. “And beautiful women. How are you doing?”

“Charmed, of course,” she laughed. “You look good, honey.”

Grey cocked his head slightly and smirked in a way River knew damn well he’d picked up from him. “I know.”

“Enough,” he warned, swatting at Grey’s hat. “Birch here?”

The older Baker strode out of the back room, snapping a pair of latex gloves off and tossing them in the trash.

He looked at River, at Angelina, at their entwined fingers, and crossed his arms. “Before I do something embarrassing again, is it safe to assume you’re here to tell me my idiot brother got his head out of his ass? ”

“Yeah, yeah,” he huffed, pulling a chair over for Angelina and standing beside her. “We’re also here to tell you to pull the Piercer Wanted ad down. You have one. Permanently.”

Birch’s brows rose. “What do you mean, permanently?”

Glancing down at Angelina, he shrugged. “I mean I’m staying. Here. In Epson. I can fly out to LA or New York for shoots as they come up, but this is home. For good.”

“And he’s moving in with me,” Angelina tossed in, biting her lip as she looked up at him. “If you want.”

They hadn’t discussed it, and he sure hadn’t been keen on pushing his luck by broaching the subject when he was already feeling pretty damn lucky she forgave him.

But it had crossed his mind. Crossed his mind a few dozen times.

Or more. For a moment, he forgot they were standing in front of his brothers and he grinned. “Hell yeah, I want. Like, today?”

“Like, last night.” She smiled before returning her attention to Birch. “Sorry for the interruption.”

Grey stayed motionless behind the desk while a myriad of emotions crossed Birch’s face.

Shock, confusion, and anger were first, moving on to frustration and betrayal before he took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, nodding as his face settled into an amused smile.

“Well, shit,” he huffed, reaching into his back pocket and pulling out his wallet.

“You win, Grey. Buy yourself something nice.”

As Birch handed a wad of bills over to his crowing younger brother, River crossed his arms in a mimic of Birch’s earlier pose. “What were the terms?”

Grey fanned himself with the money. “I bet him a hundred bucks you’d be shacking up by Friday. He put his losing cash on next month.” Sitting back, he put his feet up on the desk and counted the bills. “My wallet is pretty happy you’re a horndog in love.”

Reaching over to snatch a twenty out of Grey’s hands, he faced Birch. “You’re okay with this?”

His brother removed his hat and ran his hand through his hair.

“Jocelyn and Grey have been preparing me for it, so yeah. Yeah, I’m good with it.

More than good. I’m happy for you.” Tugging his ball cap back on, he slid his hands into his pockets and rocked back on his heels with a grin. “Have fun breaking the news to Winter.”

*

Angelina placed her hand on River’s knee to still it as she looked around the bustling room, her eyes drawn to the guards peppered throughout.

“If he decides to kill me,” River whispered under his breath, “don’t let Jodie convince you to bury me in skinny jeans. I don’t care what she says about my legs, I don’t like them.”

His nervous energy was infectious, and her own apprehension at meeting the eldest Baker brother amped up the longer they sat and watched the door where the inmates were slowly trickling in.

What if he hated her? What if he blamed her for ruining River’s life?

What if he saw through all her practiced calm and figured out she wasn’t good enough?

She leaned on River and focused on steadying her breathing until he synced up with her, his tension visibly easing until the door opened once again.

A beast of a man walked in, flanked by two armed guards.

His shoulders were as broad as the frame, his nondescript olive garb clinging tightly to his taut muscles.

He was huge and commanding as he stopped and perused the room.

Spotting River, his lip curled up into a sneer and he strode over, sat down, and folded his hands on the table without a glance her way.

“Are you here asking for permission or forgiveness?” he asked, a gruff rumble in his low voice.

River’s hand grabbed hers under the table. “Uh, forgiveness, I guess.” He cleared his throat and sat up a little straighter. “Winter, this is A—”

“Angelina,” his brother finished for him, his green eyes finally turning her way. “Grey likes you. Says you keep this pretty boy from hiding too deep in his own head.”

She smiled. “He brings me out of my own, so it’s a good deal.”

He didn’t speak again for a long moment and she held his intense stare until he looked over at River. “Don’t bother groveling. Grey already told me why you were making the trip out here.”

“Fucking tattletale,” River muttered under his breath. “I’m sorry, Winter. I know you wanted me—”

“Unless you’re about to finish that statement with ‘to have a decent kick at life,’ you don’t know shit about what I wanted for you,” Winter growled before he sat back and crossed his arms in what Angelina realized was a very Baker stance.

“If you’re done riding your guilt trip, maybe take a few minutes to tell me how you two met and why this sweet woman puts up with your damaged, ugly ass. ”