Ashley.
“Did you see anyone else?”
“Nope,” he said. “I stopped under that streetlight on the other side of the butcher to count the money. No one came past.”
The kitten dug his claws into Earl’s trench coat and mountain-climbed up his arm to bat at the package. “Oh, he wants his dinner.”
I slunk away. “Then you’d better feed him. I’m sorry for accosting you like this. I’m just… scared I’m going to be accused of a murder I didn’t commit.”
“‘S okay,” he shrugged. “I know what it’s like when people assume the worst about ye. Most people assume I’m a bad sort. I’m a good person, missy, just don’t have a roof over me head. An’ like, I reek of beer, but I ain’t even a drinker. Someone tossed a couple of cans into the gutter outside the shop, an I was putting them in the bin yesterday an’ got it all over me.”
“I believe you, Earl. If you and your kitty friend ever need a quiet spot to read, feel free to come into the shop,” I said, feeling bad that I’d assumed so much about him.
“Don’ worry, my luck will be changing soon. Just the other day this woman gave a presentation down at the shelter, an’ she had these vibrating exercise machines an’ she was saying how what she made millions selling ‘em, and she reckons I’ll be the best salesperson.”
I groaned. “Take my advice, stay well away from that woman.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Heathcliff can’t intimidate me. I’ll be stern and state my case. He’s my boss. It’s not right for him to make an advance like that on me, and then to turn it around and act like I’m the bad person. I’m not going to let it go this time. I’m going to march in there and tell him what I think, and if that means I can’t work in the bookshop or see him anymore, than I’m just going to have to live with that.
Ignoring the stabbing sensation in my chest, I forced the front door open. “Heathcliff,” I yelled, letting the door slam behind me.
No answer. The only sound was the faint gurgle of the upstairs pipes. The coffee had disappeared though, so at least I knew he was nearby.
“I’ve come to talk about yesterday. I think you know how highly inappropriate it is to make an advance like that on an employee. I know things have been stressful for you lately, but just because I know your secret and you know mine doesn’t mean you get to treat me that way—”
“What’d he do to you?”
My breath caught in my throat. Morrie stood at the top of the stairs, patting his hair dry with a towel. He wore nothing but his wicked grin.Aphrodite, save me.
“I… er…”
“He’s not here,” Morrie said. “He slunk away twenty minutes ago, mumbling about some appointment. Judging by the flames coming out your ears, I think he wanted to get out of the line of fire. I repeat, what did he do?”
“I really need to talk to Heathcliff.”
“Don’t look so glum. I’m here instead, and we’re going to have the best day. Yesterday was terrible for me, as well. I spent three hours infiltrating the department store only to discover those rings are so popular there’s no way to find out what store it came from or who purchased it. But today will be better! Let’s start by rearranging all the books so they’re alphabetized by the third letter of the author’s first name. Oh, or…” his eyes glinted with mischief as he descended the stairs. “We could glue all the furniture to the ceiling.”
I snorted. “Don’t, Morrie, please. I—”
“What did he do?” Morrie was only a few feet away now. This close, his fruity scent overwhelmed me, sending me straight back to that alley in London, to his lips on mine and his hand down my pants, touching me until my body shuddered with the best orgasm of my life. My stomach flipped and I stared at the ground. Big mistake. I copped an eyeful of muscled thighs and the largest half-erect cock I’d ever seen.
I snapped my head up and focused on a spot on the wall behind Morrie’s earlobe.Calm down, just breathe.“I… we had a disagreement,” I managed to choke out.
“A disagreement? You didn’twanthis tongue down your throat?” Morrie stepped closer. Heat rose off his body. “That doesn’t sound like you.”
“How did you know?”
“I didn’t. I guessed, and you confirmed my supposition.”
Damn you, Morrie.“You should put some clothes on. The door’s unlocked. A customer could come in any minute.”
“Why? You don’t want me to put clothes on.”
Heat flushed in my cheeks. “I do.”
“Give me some credit. The flush in your cheeks, the quickening of your breath, the subtle change in your scent as your pheromones kick in… It’s a simple deduction.” Morrie drew up in front of me, not touching me but holding his body so close it felt like touching. All I had to do was fall forward and we’d be locked together, the magnetic pull of our attraction drawing us in.
