"I didn't answer any of your calls, didn't reply to any of your texts," she ground out quietly, her movements jerky and quick. "So what does that tell you?"
"That you wanted to see me in person?"
I winced as she whirled and pierced me with a glare. "You're not cute," she snapped. "I know you men think that this take-charge, I'm-Not-Gonna-Take-No-for-an-Answer act is what women want, but it's not. Especially when we've made it clear where we stand."
Shame churned my stomach, and my shoulders sagged as the impact of her words hit me. I was also a little taken aback by her fiery tone. I knew things didn't end well between us, but it didn't end badly enough to warrant such animosity. I must've really hurt her.
"Maria, I'm sorry. You're right. You made it clear you didn't want to talk to me. I just wanted to reach out and explain some things to you."
Ignoring my words, she turned back around and pushed the door open before disappearing inside. I watched it close slowly behind her, leaving me standing there like an idiot. She moved around inside, disarming the alarm and switching on lights. Again, a lesser man would've tucked tail and run, but I still stood firm, praying she would come back out to talk or tell me to go away. I'd take anything at this point.
She picked up a sandwich board before turning her back to the door, her delectable ass pressing against the glass. Quickly balancing the hot coffee, I rushed forward to hold the door open for her, although she was already half out. I felt redundant.
She gave an adorable grunt as she placed the board outside her store, just out of the way of foot traffic but in the way enough to catch a passerby's eye. Maria dusted her hands off and gave a satisfied sigh. I had no idea how she would be able to work all day and still retain the color of her outfit, but I had no doubt that she would be traipsing out of her salon at the end of the day looking and smelling fresh as a daisy.
Unlike me.
Everything about Maria was just so...feminine. Mixed in with her beauty, feistiness, and work ethic, it sent the primitive alpha male in me roaring. I wanted back in her orbit—if she'd let me.
Her eyes flared, as if surprised to see me still standing there like a schmuck. Her brow furrowed and she regarded me slowly.
"Look, Brian, I have a lot going on –"
"I can come back. Today or tomorrow or –" I stopped before I started naming the days of the week.Rein it in, dude."Whenever you're free, I can come back."
Maria placed her hands on her hips, and I fought the urge to stare at the smooth skin of her flat stomach. Shit, was that a belly ring?
"Imean, I've got a lot going on in general," she clarified. "My life is complicated right now, and I know yours is, too." I stiffened, knowing she recalled the words I spoke to her over our last dinner. Maria shook her head, regret softening her features. "I'm sorry, I just don't have time for this."
My chest deflated, but I smiled past the disappointment. "Hey, that's okay. I understand." The words felt like glass in my throat.
Her mouth turned down briefly before her expression cleared, and her hardened mask fell back in place.
"I will take this, though." She moved to pluck one of the coffees out of the makeshift holder.
"They're both for you."
Her hand stalled on the lid, her brow pulling down in a puzzled stare. "What?"
"It's Tuesday. That means Rachel's opening up with you, right?"
Maria had previously told me—when we were dating—that she always arrived fifteen minutes earlier than everyone, even though technically she was supposed to open with another staff member. On the days Maria didn't open or close, she drilled into her team to always be in pairs for safety reasons. I remembered scolding her for taking her own safety for granted and not practicing what she preached. She’d simply shrugged and ominously disclosed she was used to doing things alone.
As Maria continued to stare at me in bewilderment, I urged the tray into her lax hands. "I don't know Rachel’s coffee order, sorry, so I just got her a latte."
Her mouth snapped shut as she stared at the tray I was attempting to offload. "Err..thanks," she slowly replied.
"You're welcome." Our fingers brushed at the exchange, and that electric spark between us sizzled. Her face flushed and I knew she felt it, too. I kept my fingers on hers. "Maria?"
Her attention flicked up, her gaze conflicted. My stare relayed everything I wished I could say to her but couldn't. I moved my fingers softly against hers. "Anytime you're ready to talk, let me know."
I released the tray before turning to walk away. As I crossed the road, I couldn't resist a glance back to catch one more glimpse of her, hoping she was staring after me like those poor souls in one of Hannah's romance movies. But, no, Maria had already retreated into her salon.
I climbed into my car and gave a defeated sigh. That did not go as planned. The arrogant male in me thought she'd see my gesture, hear my plea, and invite me in to talk. I needed to clear the air between us, to reveal a few home truths that had come to me in a moment of clarity—a moment that unfortunately involved another woman.
Seeing her today and realizing just how pissed off she was at me put a spanner in my plan, and I was at a loss at what to do next. It was stupid to think she would just roll over and let me back in, especially since she made it clear by my unanswered calls and texts just how done with me she was.
I thought back to our last conversation—that evening when I intercepted her again at her place of work. Christ, I really had a pattern here.
