Page 44 of Thirst For Me
“So? If you don’t mind, your dog interrupted my mindfulness practice.” What there was of it. The only thing I was really mindful of was that I reallydon’twant to be here, but I think I mightneedto be.
If for no other reason than I can’t bear to fail at one more fucking thing right now. And I have a specific sales number I need to hit this month, or my business is for sure going belly-up.
“He didn’t seem to bother you,” he says, but puts the dog on the leash and draws him in to heel. Scar sits patiently at Mason’s feet as Mason stares me down. “You’re not at the pier,” he says accusingly.
Why is this guy always accusing me of shit? And what is he accusing me of now?
“It’s early.”
“So, you’re all set up for your grand opening on Wednesday?”
“Will be.”
He looks away, out over the water, and my eyes rake over him from the cords in his manly neck to his attractive toes. The man even has nice feet. His chest rises and falls in a slow, deep breath. He looks tense all over.
Exactly how I feel.
I meet his eyes when he turns to me again. “Have you given some thought to my offer?”
I snort. “Was that what it was? Felt more like an order.”
“It was a legitimate offer. Name your price, within reason. And I’ll pay it.”
Yeah. That’s what he said the other night before I basically laughed in his face, and Sophie politely asked him to get out of my shop or she’d call some of her biker friends to come down and remove him. (Yes, sweet, squishy Sophie knows bikers.)
“Oh, I thought about your ‘legitimate offer.’ Kinda hard to forget.”
“And?”
“And I think I’ll have to legitimately decline.”
“Much easier if you back out now, before the shop opens.”
“And why would I want to do that?”
“Because then you won’t have to deal with me anymore.”
We stare at each other as my hormones flip out at the thought ofdealing with him. Over and over. Naked. For some reason, my sex parts seem to think he’s flirting with me again.
I never realized before that they’re so fucking stupid.
“But dealing with you issoenjoyable, Mason,” I say, hoping to put across with my scathing sarcasm:You know what? Fuck you for being so hot, affectionate, duplicitous, and completely despicable.
“You’re making a huge mistake, Sierra,” he says in a low voice. I can’t quite tell if he’s pissed or legit trying to warn me, like he thinks he’s doing me a favor.
It definitely sounds like a threat. But I don’t feel threatened. Just outraged.
“Maybe you’re making a mistake,” I retort. “I’m feisty.”
I could swear a glimmer of surprise, or maybe even amusement, alights in his eyes, but it’s quickly snuffed out with a frown. “You’re going to regret your stubbornness on this.”
“Uh-huh. You too, I’m sure.” I’m not sure, but I’m fucking mad.
“You really think coming into town and making enemies is a smart move?”
“You tell me. You seem to have some enemies yourself.”
His full lips tighten into a hard line. Oh, he didn’t like that. Because now he’s wondering if June has said something about him. Or if I know how much she hates him, his entire family, and his “assorted associates.”
