Page 63 of How May I Please You

Quin storms off, shooting a quick glare my way before pushing through the exit with a huff. Once he's gone, his friend approaches the counter with two rods in hand and a smile on his face.

“Find everything you need?” I ask, forcing the smile that I still haven't mastered.

“Yes, thank you.”

I ring up the rods and tell the man I know as Kaspian the price, and he swipes his card without small talk.

“Thanks so much for shopping at Willie’s,” I say before handing him his new fishing gear. “Would you like to fill out an informational card for a chance to win a free trip to Las Vegas?”

“No thanks,” Kaspian replies.

“Are you sure?” I ask, as I am required to do by the owner. “It includes hotel accommodations just a block away from the Luxor hotel.”

Kaspian takes his rods but hesitates with a look of interest on his face. “Really?” I nod, still forcing the smile. “Well, in that case, maybe a little vacation would do us some good.”

To my surprise, he takes the card and begins to fill it out, jotting down his name, address, and phone before handing it back to me. When I look at the name, I frown.

“Your name’s Grayson?”

“Yeah,” he answers with a polite nod.

“Oh. When you were by the fishing poles with your friend I thought I heard him call you Kaspian.”

The man’s eyes suddenly shift. His glare is menacing and I recognize something in it. It’s like a mask has slipped just enough to show vibrant colors beneath the dull coat of gray he paints on every morning.

“No,” he says, staring without blinking. “It’s Grayson.”

I quickly go from being caught off guard to being intrigued, and I smile.

“Okay,” I say with a smirk. “Don’t worry. My name isn’t Shawna either.”

Grayson gawks at me for a moment longer, his eyes bouncing from my name tag back up to my face. He tilts his head as the gears in his brain go to work, before slipping his mask back on and smiling.

“Have a nice day,” he says.

“You, too. Thanks for shopping at Willie’s.”

Just as Grayson exits, a blonde woman walks in wearing a yellow top with blue jeans. She smiles at me as she enters and I return the favor the best I can. I truly hope that you're having an easier time smiling than I am, Sir. My fucking face is starting to hurt.

“Just this, please,” the blonde says as she places a large case of bait on the counter. Her blue eyes glimmer as she maintains eye contact and beams at me.

“Great,” I say, grabbing the bait to ring it up. “Would you like to fill out an informational card for a chance to win a free trip to Las Vegas? It includes hotel accommodations for two just walking distance from the Luxor.”

“Wow. Okay, sure,” the woman says. She jovially jots down her information and hands me the card just as the door opens again.

My heart vibrates with excitement when I look over and see you strut into the shop. You're dressed in your work clothes—a black and red flannel with dirty jeans—and you look incredible. Your beard is thicker than ever, and the muscle you’ve put on since we moved here makes you a brawny specimen totally worth gawking at. I’m so fucking lucky to call you mine.

As you walk in, the blonde walks out, and I smile as you hold the door open for her. She thanks you as she starts to squeeze past you, and I watch her blue eyes drink you in. She looks you up and down before speaking again.

“Thank you so much,” she says in a voice much higher pitched than the one she used to speak to me. She keeps her eyes fixed on you, and I see the hope in her gaze. She wants you to notice her the way she has noticed you, but you don't. Your eyes find me and never leave. Your smile is only for me, and you let go of the door before she can even exit completely.

“Hey, Little One,” you say as you approach me.

The blonde’s eyes fall to the floor before she steps out and lets the door close behind her, and I come from around the counter to wrap my arms around your neck. You lift me up and spin me around like we haven't seen each other in years. Then we kiss, ignoring the fact that Larry is watching us from the office with a grin on his wrinkled face. I ignore the entire world for you, my savior.

“Did you miss me?” you ask when we pull away.

“Always … Justin,” I answer, mocking your new name.

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