“You are a complete tool, you know that? An entitled, rich tool that needs to turn around and walk the hell out of my shop. Now. Before I—”
“Unless you’re a freaking psychic, you don’t know whether I’m a tool or not, because you don’t know me. Even if I am, sweetheart, I’m a tool who has permission from the owner to walk around here for as long as I—”
We continue to talk over each other like a pair of bickering toddlers until Cody lets out a piercing wolf whistle. The sound makes us both shut up, swallowing whatever insults we each had left in our arsenals.
“Holy shit. Back down, both of you,” Cody commands. Then he pinches the bridge of his nose as his eyes drop closed. “I thought I had another month before I had to deal with this kind of shit. You two make breaking up fights between hormonal, chippy teenagers look like a fucking picnic.”
Cody’s the assistant head coach for the high school football team in our hometown. He was meant for the job because very few people have the patience for dealing with all the drama surrounding high school football in a small town. If it isn’t the players creating drama, then it’s the parents, the school, or the other coaches. More often than not, Cody’s the only grown-up in the room when it comes to the Kersey Kougars—and that’s even when he’s dealing with the adults.
Alec and I are apparently those kinds of adults right now. The kind who can’t be trusted to act like it. I can feel my face heating at the thought, so I take a deep breath and will myself not to say another word even if that means I won’t get the last word in with Alec.
Finally Cody tips his chin toward Alec. “Here’s what you need to know. You’re wasting your time. Maybe Sage and I can’t stop you from poking around or whatever it is you’re trying to do here, but that doesn’t change the facts. The track isn’t for sale. End of story.”
“With all due respect to both of you, I already figured that out,” Alec grumbles. He shakes his head a few times, giving up an irritated sigh. “But since I have to see this through, I’ll be back. Which is something we can all look forward to.”
He slings his suit coat over one shoulder and somehow manages to amble out leisurely. Almost as if he doesn’t know that I’m mentally cataloging each item in the shop that could be used as a dangerous projectile. Like he isn’t aware that I plan to be more than ready for him whenever he shows up again, so he should pack a freaking lunch if he wants to keep up with me.
I’ll be fueled by resentment and caffeine and prepared for anything that Alec Mason tries to throw my way.
After This is available now!!
Also By Liora Blake
The Grand Valley Series
First Step Forward
Second Chance Season
Ready for Wild
* * *
The True Series
True North
True Devotion
True Divide
* * *
Reluctant Hearts Series
After This
Then Again
(a bonus extra available at www.liorablake.com)
* * *
Until Now
(Coming Soon!)