Chapter Two
Crow was staying untilthe New Year.Now, from time to time, he came for a few days and left.This was for a month.
Kelley didn’t know what to do to gain the attention she would like.Crow didn’t know this, but from the moment she had met him, away from all the violence and general chaos, she had fallen for him.At first, it was clearly just infatuation.He’d been her hero and she loved him.Simple as that.
Only, it wasn’t quite as simple as that.It wasn’t simple at all.
She expected to get over her little crush.It hadn’t gone anywhere.No, little by little, the crush had built, and the best times of the year were the ones when Crow was coming to visit.She always tried to play it cool.That was her jam.The truth was, she wanted him so badly.But she didn’t want to just be another in a long line of women.
She was in love with Crow.
He didn’t feel anything for her.
Putting the last of the chocolate chips on the shelf, she looked at the baking section and knew it wouldn’t be long before it was a mess again.She took great pride in her work.The shelves always looked great, and when she could, she’d straighten things out, giving everyone the best shopping experience of their lives.That was what she kept telling herself.Only, she knew it was to distract herself from what she really wanted.
Crow had never made any promises to her.In fact, he had told her she would never see him again.Every Christmas and birthday, he came and stayed with her.Like now, he was staying in the spare bedroom.It was a small house, with three bedrooms, one bathroom, a sitting room, kitchen, dining room, laundry room, and even a small pantry.She loved it and called this home.She wouldn’t give it up for anything.
There was only one thing missing—Crow.
Dating was not an option.A couple of customers who cam into the store regularly had asked her out on dates, and she declined.She was not going to give them the wrong impression.She was not interested, even a little bit.
There was only one man she wanted—Crow.
She was not going to try with anyone else.To her, that was cruel.If Crow didn’t want her, then she would be just as happy to be his friend.At least she kept telling herself that.
She was just nearing the end of her shift and was near the refrigerator section, when the man she couldn’t stop dreaming about entered.
“Hey, sweetheart,” he said.
Okay, her heart started to race.She knew his sweet words didn’t mean anything to him, but they meant a great deal to her.
“Hey,” she said, trying to play it cool, although it was the last thing she felt.
“So, I was thinking I’d take you to the diner for dinner tonight.Save you from cooking.”
“Oh, okay, yeah, that, like, totally works.”She forced a smile to her lips.
“You good with that?”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m happy with that.”
“Aren’t you finished soon?”he asked.
She nodded.“Yeah, in about ten minutes.”
“I’ll wait.”He winked at her, and Kelley realized she was going to have to actually work with him watching.
That was easy.This was what she did every day.Only, her heart wasn’t racing, and she never felt nervous before, but she could do this.She tried to ignore Crow, but it was like her body and brain were betraying her, as she just drank him all in.Every single particle of him.
He was taller than her, about six feet, maybe taller.He looked like a beast of a man, but sexy.His hair was short, and he had ink that came to his neck.From seeing him shirtless, she knew his arms and chest were covered in ink as well.His legs were bare of any ink.His back was also covered.He was strong and muscular.When he took on those two men five years ago, he didn’t even break a sweat.
She wondered what it would be like for him to hold her.To touch her.Those large hands that she knew were rough from hard work ...how would they feel on her body, giving her pleasure?
She dropped the trays of yogurt into the bottom of the refrigerator.“Crap.”She quickly picked them up, thankful none of them had opened.There was nothing spilled.It was all fine.
She offered him a smile and tried not to panic.
“I’ll wait outside.Those ten minutes are nearly up.”
