His fingers wrapped around my arm, stopping me from walking past him. “He’s got deep pockets and is willing to reward those who help him reach his goals. Like someone who might need a big influx of cash to make a fresh start.”
“Like I said, you’re talking to the wrong guy.” I wrenched my arm out of his grip.
“He’s also willing to take down those who stand in his way,” the guy mumbled. “It would be a damn shame if something badhappened up there. Especially with the way folks in town feel about having criminals living right under their noses.”
The barely veiled threat should have made me think twice about standing up to him. But I was tired of people talking shit about things they didn’t know anything about. He didn’t know a single fucking thing about me.
“You’re right. It would be damn shame if something bad happened. I didn’t catch your name. Can you tell me what it is so I know who to come after if I find someone snooping around where they don’t belong?” I pulled myself up to my full height and glared at the bastard.
Even though he was several inches shorter than me, to his credit, he didn’t flinch. “Think about what I said. I’d hate for you to end up on the wrong side when all is said and done.”
“Get the fuck away from me.” I left him by the cheese and carried my items to the register where Paisley was unloading her basket.
“Did you find something?” she asked.
“We’re getting low.” I set the coffee and creamer on the counter and pulled out my wallet. “Can you ring this up together, Ruby?”
“I can cover it.” Paisley held out her credit card, a shiny platinum piece of plastic that confirmed we were from two different worlds.
“I’ve got it.” I shoved some cash at Ruby before Paisley could tap her card on the device. She wasn’t buying much, just a bag of flour and some chocolate chips. Maybe she was planning on making chocolate chip cookies. I’d told myself she couldn’t win me over with sweet treats, but I hadn’t had a homemade chocolate chip cookie in years. My mouth watered even thinking about it.
Paisley slid the items into the reusable shopping bag she’d brought with her. Before she could grab it, I picked it up by the hot pink handles.
“Buying my groceries and carrying them for me too?” The light twinkled in her eyes as she looked up at me and smiled. “Be careful, Aiden. I might start to think you like me.”
Ruby rubbed her hands together. “The two of you make such a cute couple. I’ve got a knack for matchmaking, you know.”
“Really?” Paisley slid her hands back into her mittens as we prepared to leave. “Tell me, wise matchmaker, what do you see when you look at the two of us?”
“Oh, that’s easy, sugar. You’re like oil and vinegar. You don’t seem to have much in common at first glance, but once things get shaken up, you’re perfect together.” Ruby winked as she tucked the receipt into the bag, along with a couple of chocolates from a display by the register. “Here, these are on the house. I got them from a woman on the other side of the mountains who makes them by hand. She comes from a long line of mystics and these are supposed to keep the fire of desire burning bright between couples.”
“Love chocolates, how fun.” Paisley stifled a giggle. “We’ll have to share them after dinner tonight. Who knows what might happen? Thanks, Ruby.”
I couldn’t wait to get the hell out of there. First, I was propositioned by some asshole who wanted me to sell out the only true friend I had. Now Ruby was trying to force some sort of fucking love connection with magic chocolates.
In an alternate reality, I would have already tried sweeping Paisley off her feet. We might have only known each other a little over a week, but I could tell she was the kind of girl a guy would take home to his mama… the kind of girl a guy would want to put a ring on her finger to let everyone know she was taken.
But I didn’t get to live in an alternate reality. I was stuck in the one I’d created for myself. A world where a guy like me didn’t get the girl of his dreams, or any girl at all.
Shane was the exception. He spent time in prison, but he wasn’t guilty of committing the crime that landed him there.
Second chances weren’t meant for a true bad boy like me.
CHAPTER 4
PAISLEY
I’d been wrong.When Aiden and I went to town the other day, I thought I’d seen a crack in the hard-as-nails outer shell he hid behind. For a moment, just a fraction of a fraction of a second, it seemed like he might have opened up to me. Then poof… whatever warmth there was between us vanished, making me wonder if I’d completely imagined it.
I even made brownies. From scratch. With fudgy icing. What man could resist homemade brownies? Evidently the one I shared a bunkhouse with could. He hadn’t touched a single one when I brought a whole plate of them down from the big house last night. And those chocolates Ruby had given us? She was trying to be sweet, and I felt bad for egging her on. But when I handed him one on our drive back to the ranch, he’d thrown it out the window.
I was giving up. Even a glass half full gal like myself could only handle so much rejection.
At least I had the bunkhouse to myself tonight. Shane and Aiden had gone over to the Mustang Mountain Riders’ clubhouse to help with some project. Caitlin had invited me up to the big house to watch a movie, but with the way the snow was coming down outside, I took a raincheck.
I planned on engaging in a little “me time” and doing a little “me maintenance.” I’d fallen out of the habit of my weekly facial mud mask, so I settled on the couch with a glass of red wine while I waited for the thick mud to dry. Caitlin had passed on a book she’d just finished and I could wait to dive in.
As soon as I flipped open the front cover, the lamp on the side table flickered and went out. Ugh. It figured. I flipped the switch off and on again, tapped on the bulb, and even tried to tighten it. Still, nothing.
