His plump lips finally pull up into a smile. It’s not wide and jolly like Bear’s, or gleaming like Elliot’s, but it still makes my heart pound in my chest. Reaching up, he takes off his glasses and stares up at me.
“Good morning, Holly.”
Holy profiteroles, that voice. I’d forgotten the way his deep timbre makes the hairs on my arms stand on end. The way he says my name is sinful and alluring. My mother would have called it a bedroom voice, and I can see why, as my mind is picturing him in my room saying exactly that. Only he would be naked.
What am I thinking?Come on, Holly, pull yourself together.We don’t ogle our neighbours and imagine them in compromising positions. Of course my body doesn’t get the message and my cheeks flush red, as his smile widens into a smirk. He knows exactly the effect he’s having on me.
“My assistant manager was this close to calling the police.” I gesture with my fingers. I’m exaggerating, but he doesn’t have to know that.
One sleek brow raises at my comment, but otherwise his posture doesn’t change. He’s not worried at the slightest about being picked up by the police. Clicking his tongue, he glances around and gestures to the other people who are taking advantage of the nice day and sitting outside.
“The last I checked,” he begins, “there was nothing illegal about sitting in a public spot. There are plenty of others here and I don’t see you accosting them.”
I scoff. He thinks I’m accosting him? No, he’s attempting to wind me up and I’m not going to let it work. Mimicking him, I raise a brow and wait for him to finish what he’s saying.
“I have not reached out to you, come into your shop or tried to get your number.” Counting each point off on his fingers, it makes me realise that he’s been thinking on this. “In fact, it’syouwho has come out to seek me.” He stands and takes a few steps towards me, lowering his voice. “You came to my club. You then came into my place of business, and now you’ve come here to speak to me.”
My mouth drops open in shock at his accusations. “We both know you’ve been watching me.” It’s supposed to sound accusatory, but instead I sound like I’m asking a question. I hate that he’s making me question myself. Have I been following him? No, I didn’t even know he existed until I went to the club the other week, andheis the one that bought a business next to mine.
“You kissed me back.”
It takes me a moment to realise that he’s changed the subject and isn’t accusing me of anything. No, from the glittering in his eyes, he’s clearly remembering the moment fondly. What do I say in reply to this? I can’t deny it. Although I was shocked, my body took over as though it recognised Clay. All of my thoughts fled my mind, leaving me in total calm. I wish I felt that way now.
“I’ve been looking for you,” he comments, saving me from having to answer, and closing the last bit of distance between us.
“Well, you found me.” My voice is breathy, my breathing shallow as I watch him with anticipation. Tilting my chin to look up into his eyes, I struggle to put into words what I want to say. What happens now he’s found me? Will there be a repeat performance of the other day? What about his brothers? That’s what I want to ask, yet my thoughts are all a jumble. Taking a deep breath, my eyes seem to drop to his lips, watching as his tongue flicks out to wet his lower lip. He’s so close to me, he could easily reach out and... “Are you going to kiss me again?”
Holy cheese balls, Holly, what was that?!That was not what I was going to ask, and now he probably think’s I’m a raving moron. Who even says that other than a lovestruck teenager?
“I would fucking love to kiss you.” He brushes his thumb across my lower lip, making me gasp.
He’s going to kiss me. I can hear the truth in his words: he wants nothing more, eyes watching me intently.
“But – I’m going to wait this time. I will only kiss you when you ask me.” He smiles, making him seem like a dickhead but I get the feeling this is just as painful for him as it is for me.
What the fuck? Is this some sort of test? Embarrassed and red-faced, I back away, feeling rejected despite what he said. He wants me toaskhim to kiss me. No bloody way. I’m not afraid to admit that I’m stubborn, and now I want to do the exact opposite of what he says. Hiding my feelings behind my anger, I put space between us and glare at him.
“You’re going to be waiting a long time then, buddy.”
I turn away and storm back towards the bakery, not waiting for a response. There is nothing he could say now that could rescue this interaction.
“We’ll see.”
Freezing in place, one foot raised in midair, his quiet comment somehow reaches me, stoking the fire inside me. Glancing over my shoulder, I glare at him and his smug expression.
I’m about to storm into the bakery when movement catches my eye. Looking over, I see Bear step out of the building, his whole face lighting up when he sees me. His mouth opens and I know he’s going to say something, but I hold my hand up to stop him.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t deal with any more of you today.”
It’s rude, but I don’t want to take my mood out on Bear when he’s done nothing wrong. However, they are just too much for me to handle today. Thankfully, Bear doesn’t seem to upset with me, just surprised. At least, hewaslooking that way; now, his gaze has shifted over my shoulder and he frowns. I’m assuming that he’s noticed Clay, who I can still feel watching me, and come to his own conclusion. I don’t stick around to see if I’m right, though, moving past him and hurrying down the alley between our shops. Slipping through the door that leads up to myapartment above the bakery, I race up the stairs and let myself into my home.
My apartment is my safe place, and I’ve always felt I can come here and decompress after a long, difficult day. However, that doesn’t seem to be working today. My body is restless and my emotions fired up, flipping from one end of the spectrum to the other. I also can’t deny that I have feelings for Bear, despite the short time we’ve spent together. And Elliot… I can’t even think of him without feeling turned on and furious at the same time. He just gets under my skin in a way no one else can.
These guys are messing up my mind and my feelings are all over the place. I have no idea how any of this is going to work out but I need to get a hold of myself before I do something stupid.
FOURTEEN
HOLLY
