“Not so fast, baby.” He moved his hands to frame my face, pulling me forward and kissing me so intensely I momentarily lost all coherent thought. He drew back, not too far, hands still on either side of my head. “Got shit to do, I don’t know how long it’s going to take, but I when I’m done we’re gonna talk. About how you know ‘bout all kinds of bad and why you go as white as a fuckin' ghost when men wearing cuts get within five feet of you.”
His icy grey gaze looked determined. Shit.
Rage started to boil up within me. How in the fuck does he think after sleeping with me once he has the right to order me to tell him anything? I opened my mouth to tell him to go and fuck himself but paused. I had been fighting him, cursing at him since this whole thing began and look where it got me, screwed in more ways than one. And only in one way I liked. Did I not read enough romances to know that the badass alpha males liked the sassy women who threw attitude? They liked the challenge. I decided to play this a little differently.
I leaned into Cade, who was still holding my head, and touched my lips lightly to his. “I’ve got to go, honey.” I watched as he gazed at me in surprise. “Do whatever you got to do, I’ll see you later,” I finished sweetly.
I hopped out of the truck, walking towards my door without looking back. Only when I got inside did I hear him leave.
After taking a lightening quick shower and getting ready faster than I thought I could, I made it to town just before lunch. I stopped by the local deli to grab me, Amy, and Rosie some sandwiches. One of the many things I loved about America was their sandwiches. Americans did not fuck around with their sandwiches.
Arms full, I braced myself as I entered my store, expecting a full inquisition the moment I got my Gucci clad foot inside. But luckily both girls were busy with customers.
“Hi, everyone,” I chirped, smiling at the customers, recognizing some of them from last night.
I strolled towards the counter, intending to dump our lunch on it, when a perfectly groomed woman stopped in front of me. She had chocolate brown hair, which was styled in a complicated but totally awesome updo. Her makeup was outlandish and almost over the top, but somehow she made it tasteful. She was wearing head to toe pink. Don’t ask me how, but she made it work. Looking to be in her early thirties, she was curvy and gorgeous.
“Girl, I heard you were in a tug of war with the two hottest men in this town, both on opposites sides of the law.” She raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow at me before continuing. “Not that I am judging. I would so go there, either way. I would have paid to see the face-off between those two boys. It looks like Cade’s pretty much staked his claim on you, considering you were on the back of his bike last night and you’re rolling in here at this time.” Her southern twang was so slick it was a miracle I could understand her.
I blinked, unsure of who this woman was, how she knew all of this and how to respond to everything she just said. She didn’t sound bitchy, just overly nosey, but friendly. “Um…” was all I managed before she got started again.
She put her well-manicured hand over her chest. “Now where are my manners? I’m Laura Maye. I own the bar down the street, and after looking in your store, probably your best customer.” She gestured with the shopping bags I hadn’t noticed before, which were a dusty pink with white ribbon handles and stamped with the word “Phoenix.” My bags were the shit.
“Got to run anyway, doll, I’m late for a facial. I’ll be back real soon, though. Want to hear all about last night.” She blew me a kiss, strutting out the door, yelling over her shoulder. “Bye, Amy girl, nice to meet you, see yah, Rosie!”
The girls both waved back. I stood frozen for a second, in one of those, did that just happen moments. This town was weird. But in a good way.
I continued to the counter, dropping the bags of food, turning to see both Amy and Rosie looking at me with smirks on their faces. I resisted the urge to flip them the bird, seeing as they were both with customers.
“Lunch,” I announced.
I turned on my heel and stomped into my office before I could get any teasing questions. I ignored the muted laughter behind me.
Another thing I loved about my store was the back office, it was small, but awesome. I had it painted a dusty pink, my white desk in the middle of the room. A couple of Vogues were stacked on one side, and a tray of candles at the front of my laptop. Behind the desk was a light yellow upholstered swivel chair. To the left of my desk was a pale yellow printed couch, and on the back wall was a huge framed photo of my hometown back in New Zealand. It was taken when Ian had dragged me along with him to go hunting one winter when he was home. I did this under huge protest. The sight of blood made me squeamish, seeing the animal carcasses that Dad and Ian brought home on a semi-regular basis was enough for me. I had said as much to Ian, but he laid the guilt trip on me.
“Sis, I’m not home for long, who knows when I’ll be back next.”
I grumbled about it, but I went. I still to this day don’t know why he wanted to spend his short leave hunting animals when his job was to hunt humans. Despite my complaints, I actually enjoyed it, not the killing animals part, but the hiking in the hills, amongst the beautiful scenery with my brother who I missed dearly.
I took the picture when we got to the top of the mountain. With the view of the whole valley we lived in, and then some. Our hometown in the winter was magical. Snow capped the hills, temperatures that dropped to well below freezing, causing the bare trees to turn white with frost. It had been early morning, the sun had just risen, a soft pink dancing on the horizon, and the street lights of the town still twinkling. It was amazing, our small town nestled among the rough hills, the whole valley dressed in winter white. I loved that picture.
I sat behind my desk and cranked up my laptop, sipping the coffee that was slowly contributing to normal brain function, after half of it had been screwed out of me last night. My phone rang from the depths of my handbag, I managed to answer just before it went to voicemail.
“Hello,” I greeted nervously, hoping it wasn’t Cade. I hadn’t given him my number or anything, but he was a super badass with super badass powers. Or more likely he got it off his sister.
“Sweetie!” my mum screamed.
I relaxed into my chair, smiling. It had been a while since I had heard from either of my parents, I missed them.
“I’ve been thinking about you, things have just been so busy I haven’t had the time to ring! How was the opening? You getting settled in okay? Making any new friends?” My mum shot multiple questions at me at once, I was used to it.
“The opening was great, I’m emailing you pictures of the store now.” I started typing on my laptop. “We’re settling in fine, Amy did a freaking great job of the house, but I’m sure you’ve already seen it all.”
“Yes, yes, Amy sent me pictures ages ago, I had the final say in most design decisions,” Mum told me matter of factly.
I rolled my eyes. “Of course you did, Mother. And yes, we are making some awesome new friends. Amy got us invited to a party the other night. It was heaps of fun and I met some lovely people, one of whom I hired to work in the store. Looks like we are going to need her, things are busy already. I think a clothing store was exactly what the female residents of Amber needed.”