ChapterTen
CHLOE
I’ve had enough; enough of being stepped on by the likes of Sylvia Spiteful Chamberlain, enough of being looked over as unimportant.
Rather than ask Sylvia how I can help, I ignore her. Instead, I lock my gaze on the young girl who’s just been shoved to one side, and who’s obviously upset.
“I’m sure we’ve got some more bracelets out the back. Would you like me to get them for you so you can have more to choose from?”
When the young girl nods tentatively through her tears, the only thing louder than the grinding of Sylvia’s teeth is Blake’s muffled laughter. Eventually he gives into his mirth.
Sylvia is having none of it. Before I’ve had a chance to go check the storeroom, she slams her hands down on the glass-topped sales counter. There’s no way I can ignore her any longer.
"Sylvia, I'm sorry, did Wright's not have what you were after?" I follow this up with a patently false smile. Despite this, I’m enjoying a grim delight in not backing down as I often would.
Mom and dad will give me grief when they hear of it, but I no longer care. If I can hang on to a shred of self-esteem, then I’m going for it. They can’t let me go. I’m not on the payroll.
Sylvia glares at me, her eyes awash with malice. "I told you the service at this place was as rubbish as the selection." She’s said this loud enough that every customer in the shop can hear. "Come on, Blake, let's get out of this dump. You'll be able to get what you want over at Wright's."
Even though Sylvia has supposedly addressed Blake, her real target has been my customers. As on the day before, a few of them slink away. The only difference today is that when she opens her mouth to continue her tirade, I decide I’m not standing for it.
I round the sales counter and jam myself between Blake and Sylvia. Despite Sylvia being 6 inches taller than me; I’m all up in the woman's face. "Out, now!" I follow this up by pointing dramatically at the door, leaving her in no doubt.
My actions have been every bit as blatant as Sylvia's. I can’t damage the store's reputation any more than the unpleasant woman in front of me. When Sylvia doesn't move, I grab her by the elbow and turn her to face the door. “Come on. You’re wasting my time, and I’ve got real customers to attend to.”
All those years of hefting books around in the library have me stronger than I appear, with Sylvia shocked at being moved so easily. Compared to a trolley full of books, the woman is lightweight.
I don’t slow until I’ve deposited her on the sidewalk. This has been made even easier by Blake opening the shop door for me. The biggest surprise is that after he’s shut it, he's still inside with me.
While he's the first to bow and applaud my actions, other customers soon join in, the loudest of all being the young girl. The admiration she’s giving me has me standing a lot taller than my five-foot-two.
Even more flattering is the look of admiration Blake gives me as I make my way back behind the sales counter. On closer inspection, admiration isn’t all that’s glinting in his eyes, with my body responding in a flash of good ol’ fashioned lust.
A smile dancing on his lips, he saunters over to stand beside me. He’s so close his heat brushes against my exposed skin, doubly so when he leans over to whisper in my ear. “Weren’t you heading out back for some more bracelets? I can help if you like.”
When he straightens, his friendly smile has been replaced with a dirty grin. He runs his tongue over his bottom lip and memories of yesterday flood me in response. It’s all I can do to keep standing. If only it was closing time and I could take him up on his offer.
Today is going to be a very long day.
BLAKE
Sylvia stands fuming out on the sidewalk. However, I’ve got no sympathy for the nasty piece of work. She asked for it and Chloe delivered.
I’m definitely looking at the curvy girl in front of me in a new light. What a little spitfire. As I imagine the response if I was to get her under the covers, I break into a lazy grin. A quick glance at Chloe, and the stock room, and a plan emerges.
By the end of today, she’ll be so wound up that all I’ll need to do is suggest touching her very core with the tip of tongue and she’ll implode. Now that’d be a wondrous sight.
I know from our little interlude in the stock room yesterday that there’s a lot more to this woman and her outwardly calm demeanour. The longer I dwell on what had taken place, the harder I get to the point I have to put some distance between us.
She might not be the only one ready to blow by the end of today. Being this close to her and unable to do anything about it will be torture.
Sure, I’m as adventurous as the next guy, but even I draw the line at a shop full of people. And the number of people in the shop never gives up; it’s like yesterday, but on steroids. At this rate, I’ll be lucky to have enough energy left to take Chloe every which way I can think of.
Despite being rushed off our feet, every chance I get, I explain to Chloe what had happened down at the beach that morning and later at the gym.
By the time we’re skin to skin, I want any doubts she might dealt with. The only thing I want between us when that happens is a slippery layer of sweat.
Hell dude, clear your head or you’re gonna blow.
