I have nothing to be guilty about. Everything I told her was true; I just didn’t mention the business. Why, then, do I feel as though I’m having to defend myself? Coughing out a short laugh, I shake my head. “I was visiting. We haven’t moved yet, we still travel to and from our house in the city.”
“You left a lot of information out.” Her arms are crossed and she glares up at me. She’s trying to be intimidating, but honestly, I just find the way her little nose scrunches up adorable.
My smile turns cheeky, trying to calm the situation without sounding as though I’m having to defend myself. “We had justmet and I had no idea who you were. Do you share personal details with perfect strangers?”
Elliot snorts from the other side of the room. “No, but she’ll kiss them if you’re lucky.”
Oh, shit.
Elliot’s snarky reply has the exact effect on Holly that I thought it would, all traces of humour dropping from her face in a second. Spinning around like a whirlwind, she storms over to Elliot with a finger raised, anger radiating from her. For someone so small, she carries a lot of anger.
Oh, it’s going to be fun with her as our neighbour. I don’t know exactly what happened between her and Elliot, but he clearly got on her wrong side. She jabs him in the chest with her finger and I don’t bother to hide my grin. Elliot could do with being taken down a few pegs, and honestly, I’m enjoying this immensely.
“Listen,you,” she seethes. “You can keep your snide little comments to yourself and leave me the hell alone.”
Elliot is a ladies’ man, and I don’t think he’s ever had a woman speak to him like this before. He looks shocked, staring down at her finger where it is still presses against his chest. Choking out a laugh, he attempts to compose himself.
“That’s going to be difficult, seeing as we’re neighbours.”
Holly bristles, readying herself to reply. I don’t know what has her so worked up with him, and it’s clear that she gets to him from his sarky comments. This is just going to dissolve into a fight. I need to step in before this gets ugly.
“Look, Holly, we just wanted to introduce ourselves and promise that we are not here to take your business.” My smile is honest and open, and I hope that she can feel the sincerity of what I’m saying. I really don’t want to take her business. “The health bar will be selling shakes and smoothies, none of the products that you make.”
“We encourage a balanced diet. I would never tell anyone to cut out the type of products you sell.” Elliot is obviously trying to be encouraging but, if anything, Holly is only more annoyed by this.
“Oh, yes.” She steps back from him and throws her arms up in the air. “Cake and bread are the perfect things to complement a gym-goers diet.”
Elliot raises his brows, confused at the strength of her frustration. “Everyone deserves a treat from time to time.”
“This isn’t helping, Elliot.” I glare at him over the top of Holly’s head. Stepping into her line of vision, I hold my hands up in a gesture of peace and smile gently. “Please, Holly, just trust us.”
She looks at me intently and I feel something in my chest a little like butterflies, a lightness filling me and lighting a hope that I’ve not felt in a long time. How is it she brings these feeling out in me that I didn’t even know I could feel any more? She looks over to Clay and the moment is broken, disappointment filling its place. Clayton is still staring at her, having not said a word since the kiss. Something seems to pass between them, but I can’t tell you what, especially given the fact she’s now backing away.
“I have to get back to work,” she mutters.
“Thank you for hearing us out. Give us a chance and we’ll prove that having us here is a good thing.” I reply, walking alongside her, holding open the door for her.
She smiles up at me, cheeks a little flushed and clearly surprised at my gratitude. Her mouth opens, then closes, and I can see she wants to say something, but I’m not going to push her. I watch her leave, and as soon as the door closes, there’s a loud thump behind me. Spinning around with a frown, I find Clay on his knees, staring at the spot Holly had just been standing.
Elliot kneels at his side, hand on his shoulder, “What the hell is going on with you, man?”
That’s a sentiment I share with him, and I walk towards the two of them. Slowly, I crouch in front of Clay and take in his dazed expression. Recognising that it’s now me in front of him and not Holly, he blinks, almost like he’s waking up from a deep sleep. I’m pretty sure I know what he’s about to say as he looks over my shoulder and towards the bakery.
“That’s her.” Clay croaks out, sounding desolated at the realisation. “Holly is the girl from the club.”
Holly, the woman I can’t stop thinking about. The one that Elliot clearly has a crush on, and the woman that Clayton has been obsessing over. I share a tense look with Elliot and I know he’s thinking the same thing.
Shit.
Things are about to get awkward.
TWELVE
CLAYTON
She’s here. I found her. Maybe luck is on my fucking side for once.
My knees twinge from where I dropped to the ground, but it’s nothing compared to the ache in my chest now she’s gone. When she left, it’s as though she took all of the oxygen in the room with her and I couldn’t hold myself up anymore.
