All Chapters of THE ALPHA NEXT DOOR: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

|| Evelyn ||He was infuriating in the kitchen.Not in an aggressive way. Not loud or demanding or dismissive the way Marcus had always been in shared spaces, the way he'd made every room feel slightly smaller just by being in it. Sebastian Creed was infuriating in a completely different way--calm, unhurried, taking up exactly the amount of space he needed and not a centimeter more, moving around my kitchen with an ease that suggested he had absolutely no interest in making me uncomfortable and zero awareness of how deeply uncomfortable his presence made me anyway.I ate my omelet. It was perfect. I hated that it was perfect.He poured himself coffee and leaned against the counter across from me, and we looked at each other for a moment in the morning light."I need a favor," he said."Already?" I set my fork down. "You've been in my kitchen for eleven minutes."The corner of his mouth moved. "I told an investor last night that you're my fiancee."The silence that followed was very lo

|| Sebastian ||Damien had exactly three facial expressions.The first was his default setting: a studied blankness that had convinced dozens of dangerous men over the years that he was either bored or stupid, which was useful because he was neither. The second was the micro-expression he made when he was genuinely amused but refused to show it--a slight tightening around his eyes, barely perceptible. The third was the look he was currently wearing as he sat in the back of my car watching me adjust my collar in the rearview mirror for the second time in four minutes.That third expression could best be described as delighted."Stop," I said."I didn't say anything.""You're thinking very loudly."He turned to look out the window, and I caught the slight tightening around his eyes in his reflection. "I'm simply observing that I've worked for you for eight years and I have never once seen you check your collar. You don't own a mirror in this car. I assumed you were immune to vanity.""I

|| Sebastian ||Damien had exactly three facial expressions.The first was his default setting: a studied blankness that had convinced dozens of dangerous men over the years that he was either bored or stupid, which was useful because he was neither. The second was the micro-expression he made when he was genuinely amused but refused to show it--a slight tightening around his eyes, barely perceptible. The third was the look he was currently wearing as he sat in the back of my car watching me adjust my collar in the rearview mirror for the second time in four minutes.That third expression could best be described as delighted."Stop," I said."I didn't say anything.""You're thinking very loudly."He turned to look out the window, and I caught the slight tightening around his eyes in his reflection. "I'm simply observing that I've worked for you for eight years and I have never once seen you check your collar. You don't own a mirror in this car. I assumed you were immune to vanity.""I

|| Evelyn ||The dress was a problem.Not because it was wrong--it was extraordinary, deep burgundy silk that moved like water, fitted through the waist and flaring slightly below the knee, with a neckline that was just low enough to be interesting without being anything Marcus would have called inappropriate. Sebastian had excellent taste, which was also a problem, because every time I looked in the mirror and saw myself in something he'd chosen, I felt something I didn't have language for yet.The ring was a bigger problem.It fit perfectly, which wasn't surprising given that he was apparently thorough about everything, but it felt different on my hand than any ring had any right to feel. My wedding ring from Marcus had always sat slightly wrong, like my hand knew it didn't belong there. This one felt like it had always been there. Like removing it would leave a mark.I told myself it was temporary. Performance jewelry. I would give it back Sunday.I almost believed it.Sebastian ar

|| Evelyn ||The dress was a problem.Not because it was wrong--it was extraordinary, deep burgundy silk that moved like water, fitted through the waist and flaring slightly below the knee, with a neckline that was just low enough to be interesting without being anything Marcus would have called inappropriate. Sebastian had excellent taste, which was also a problem, because every time I looked in the mirror and saw myself in something he'd chosen, I felt something I didn't have language for yet.The ring was a bigger problem.It fit perfectly, which wasn't surprising given that he was apparently thorough about everything, but it felt different on my hand than any ring had any right to feel. My wedding ring from Marcus had always sat slightly wrong, like my hand knew it didn't belong there. This one felt like it had always been there. Like removing it would leave a mark.I told myself it was temporary. Performance jewelry. I would give it back Sunday.I almost believed it.Sebastian ar