Chapter2
Maverick
After the run-in with Belle, I needed to get out of there.I only attended the party because Cooper thought it would be a good idea since I was doing work on the patio.To avoid my family, I had walked behind the buildings to the parking lot where my truck was parked.
Everyone seemed excited for the bookstore to open.I was more interested to work on a project that had the potential to be unique.Belle had given me her ideas, but I'd added more detail.
The idea of expanding was a good one.Not that I'd ever tell Belle that.It maximized the footprint of her store and allowed customers to linger.When it was done, it would be the perfect destination for tired shoppers.
I'd harbored a grudge against her since high school, and I couldn't seem to shake it.At first, I had been attracted to her.She'd been content to read while the popular girls she sat with, chatted and giggled.
I invented excuses to talk to her, asking her why she read so many books.
Eventually, I asked her out, but as the night approached, I couldn't help but think about all the reasons why we didn't make sense.She was a straight-A student who never got in trouble.She was friends with the popular girls who bordered on mean, not that I'd ever witnessed her be that way.
When I drove by her house, I realized how much money her parents had.Not that my family was poor.But we were definitely more blue-collar to their white.There was no question that she'd go to college and that her parents would fund it.
I was the bad boy who disappointed everyone.I had so much potential but chose to get into trouble.I hated school and everything it represented.The social groups, the dating rituals, the sporting events.I wanted nothing to do with it.And dating someone like Belle meant being part of that world.
There had been a small part of me that questioned why she'd ever want to go with a guy like me.I hadn't done anything to deserve her attention.I'd done her a favor by not showing up that night.She'd deserved so much better.
But now we were working together; I had to get my shit together.I prided myself on being professional, on delivering exactly what the client wanted.
At home, I pulled out a beer and started a fire.When there was a knock on my door, I ignored it.
"I know you're in there.Open up," Morgan yelled.
I groaned as I got up and opened the door.I didn't bother waiting for him to come inside.I just walked back to my spot on the couch and picked up the warm bottle of beer.
Morgan grabbed another beer from my fridge."Why did you sneak out?"
It irritated me that he acted like he lived here."I didn't sneak out."
He raised a brow as he settled on the couch across from me."You never returned after you said you needed air.Ayla was worried about you."
My heart clenched at the idea that I'd hurt Ayla."I was going to come back, but there were too many people."
He knew how much I hated crowded spaces and large events."I thought you were going to make an effort.This is a big job for us."
"I wanted to."My shoulders felt tight.
He scrutinized me for a long minute."Is it going to be a problem working with Belle?You don't seem to like her."
Oh, I liked her well enough.All I'd been able to think about when we were alone behind her store was that I wanted to kiss her.I wanted to press her against the brick wall of her building and show her all the ways we were different.My hard to her soft.My bad boy to her good girl.I was the dark to her light.The gruff to her sweet.
In no world did we make sense.I did her a favor when I stood her up when we were teens.There wasn't any reason to backtrack now.We were too different.
"I'll get the work done."
"You're planning on avoiding her, aren't you?"
"It's not a bad plan."
He just gave me a look."How do you ignore the client on a project that big?You're going to have to run things by her, give her updates.Ensure her that dirt and noise won't interrupt her business."
A muscle in my jaw ticked."Eve's the client."
"Eve's the owner of the building, but Belle is the designer.I saw the picture she drew of the renovation.She framed it and put it on the wall of her store."
