1: Waiting

                                    

                                          
AN/Warning:
This is a sample. You can read the full version of this first book in the Fallen Reapers MC series on Galatea. 
<3
CELIA
"You're from Portland?" The sleepy-eyed blonde asks me while looking over my resume.
I nod my head. "Yes, I needed a change of scenery. So, I decided to come up here." Truthfully, I needed to get away from the man who would not stop stalking me. If I had the means, I'd have gone much farther.
I keep that information to myself, doubting the knowledge will change my chances of being hired.
"I see," Morrigan responds. "Welcome. You'll love Mcdermott."
I smile back, hoping her words ring true. She doesn't look up for a long moment—enraptured in her scrutiny of my resume. It's unnerving to see. I know the document isn't impressive in the least or sparkling with potential. Even after I stretched the truth on it a little.
I guess since I'm applying for a job that sounds pretty equivalent to waitressing, that shouldn't matter much. I have the experience, and I'm hoping that will sway any indecision she might have about hiring the disheveled brunette in her office.
I'd just arrived in Mcdermott, Montana around 1 am, sleep hadn't come on account of my ever-persistent paranoia even after my head met the fluffy pillow of a bed. I was worried I might have been followed. No one came rapping on my hotel door this time though—no crazy ex-boyfriend who claimed to be madly 'in love' while trying to drag me across the country in spite of my resistance.
I can feel the puffy bags under my eyes from stray tears and lack of sleep. My hair consists of stress tangles and knots from my nervous twisting of it every five minutes as I look over my shoulder. I spent most of the night pacing and watching the parking lot of the little hotel for most of the night. To be frank, I look like hell. And as much as I try to keep my head up and stay positive, I feel even worse.
Morrigan presses a button on the desk surface and holds a hand out to me. "Can I see your I.D, please? I have to run a quick background check and then we can get on to the point."
Right. I dig through my purse and pull my wallet out just as the door to my left opens and heavy feet cross the floor toward the desk. I place my I.D in the woman's waiting hand and glance toward the tall man standing at my side.
 He's wearing a curious smile and looking at me with mischievous eyes. More importantly, he's a stranger. I feel my body sag into my chair almost instantly as the realization sinks in.
"Everything good, Morr?" The stranger asks.
She passes my card back to me and gives him an affirmative nod. "Yes. I'm interviewing for the new mom position." She gestures to me, a smile on her lips. "This is Celia."
The stranger scrutinizes me for a moment, unabashedly looking over my body. His gaze lingers the briefest second longer on my exposed legs. I glare without thinking, wishing I hadn't worn what I did. The only problem is, what I have on is my only semi-formal outfit. All of my belongings are exactly where I left them—my abandoned house in Portland a few states over.
Forgoing anything but myself and few enough clothes to fit into a carry on was necessary. Especially if I wanted to feed myself without any source of income for however long it took me to get a job. 
The plane fair to Mcdermott itself left a good-sized dent in my already flushed savings account. By the time I paid for the taxi and hotel, I didn't have any other choice but to make do with what I have. And it isn't much.