My heart rate spikes. “Who?”
“A pretty little blonde,” he wagged his eyebrows, “brought you a box of something and refuses to leave it with anyone but you.”
Standing, I walked in his direction, and when he attempted to follow me, I paused and gave him a puzzled look.
“Thought maybe you needed some backup.” When he shrugged, I took the opportunity to shove him backward. He stumbled and laughed, bracing himself on the wall. “I’ll just watch from up here, but if you need me to take her off your hands, just holler. I’d be more than happy to help.”
Ignoring his words, I took the stairs two at a time and paused at the landing to look back up. Both Will and Rich were leaning over the railing, watching me with eagerness. Will offered a thumbs up, and of course Rich the player made a few vulgar gestures, and part of me wanted to go back up and hang him over the ledge by his feet, but I continued on.
As I rounded the corner, I felt the excitement in me falter when I found Holly standing near the back of one of the trucks holding a small box in her hand. I did my best to hide my disappointment when she looked up. My earlier thoughts of turning around resurfaced but for entirely different reasons now.
“Hey you.” Immediately, I noticed the flirtatious way she began to saunter in my direction. “I thought I’d swing by on my way home from work and offer you something sweet. Oh, and I brought brownies, too.”
“Thanks.” I ignored the way she’d just offered herself up and looked down at the box she held instead.
“I’d like to say I made them myself, but I’d be lying.” She pushed out the box a little farther in my direction, and I accepted them and forced a smile. “Lily Mae’s, the best in town.” She wasn’t lying. Lily Mae was a sixty-year-old woman who owned a bakery in town. She’d been feeding the town of Brooklet’s sugary sweet addiction for years.
“I appreciate the treats.” I stepped back. “The guys will love these.”
“And you?” Holly stepped closer, and I heard one of the guys whistle from behind. She, of course, looked over my shoulder, offering up another sweet flirty smile to whomever it was behind me. When she gave a little wave, I fought the urge to roll my eyes. This was a fine example of why she and I would never work. The woman had no shame. It never mattered if she was in a relationship or not; she loved attention. The more she got, the better. Married or not, she accepted it and demanded more.
“So about that drink you owe me.” She returned her attention to me. “When does your shift end?”
“I wish I could but—” I paused, wondering how the hell I was supposed to get out of this without sounding like a complete asshole. “I’m seeing someone.”
“You are?” The question came from over my shoulder, and again I refrained from turning around. I would deal with the guys later. Right now, I had to get out of this and fast. “It’s new but,” Chloe’s face filled my thoughts, “it’s something I don’t want to screw up.”
“So who’s the lucky girl?” I didn’t miss the way her nostrils flared with her question.
“Chloe.” Before I had the chance to stop myself, her name fell from my lips.
Holly’s eyes widened with surprise. “Rigdon?”
I nodded.
“Hmm.” She still didn’t back away. “I must say that I can’t truly picture the two of you together. She is so—” Instantly, I felt myself growing defensive before she even finished the sentence. “Well, just not your type.”
“You think you know my type?”
“Chloe is just so reserved and boring.” When Holly crossed her arms over her chest, her tits pushed upward, and I knew she’d done it on purpose. When I looked up and our stare reconnected, I saw the gleam in her eyes. “How about you take this?” She held out a piece of paper, and I took it, hoping it would move her along a little faster. “Whenever you get tired of Little Miss Perfection, give me a call.”
I saw a phone number scribbled on the paper, and instead of looking back at her, I focused on it instead.
“I think we both know already that you and I would be real good together.” With that, she moved in close and pressed a kiss to my cheek. Pulling back, she left behind a wet mess, and I was instantly reminded of the horrendous kisser she was. “Don’t lose that.” I fought off the shiver her whisper inflicted. “Enjoy those treats, Landon, and think of me.”
I heard the sound of her heels clicking against the floor as she exited.
“Damn,” Rich mumbled at my side, and I hold out the box of brownies. “You don’t want ’em?”
“Nah, suddenly I’m not feeling so good.” I walked away, wondering if the knot in my stomach was solely related to the vexatious woman that just left or the idea that I had just told Holly that I was dating Chloe. It was just a matter of time before that got back to her and, hell, every damn person in her family.
I had just made it to the top of the stairs when my phone beeped with a message.
Dating Chloe, huh?
That didn’t take long.
Chapter Nine
Chloe
“Have you seen him?” I continued to focus on the darkened road before us that was lit up by the bright lights of her Explorer.
“Nope.” I was interrogated first thing Thursday morning when I entered the office. Holly was waiting for me with one question after another.
When did I start dating
