Page 24 of Enemy Kisses

I step outside. “How come?” As we walk to the side of my building, the reason comes into view. A black truck on giant wheels is parked in the alleyway between my café andBrady’s Pub. I’ve seen the truck in the parking lot behind the pub, so I’m assuming it belongs to someone who works there. Maybe they had to pick something up and unload it and haven’t had time to move it yet. “Right. That would definitely make it hard to get through. I guess we’ll be giving our muscles a workout today.”

Stella chuckles. “I guess so.” We head down the street and grab a box each and make our way back to my café. We have to repeat the process several times, and by the time we’re done, we’re both sweaty and exhausted.

“Come in. I’ll make you an iced tea before you head off. I feel terrible that you had to park so far away today. Hopefully, it won’t happen again.”

She waves off my concern. “It’s not a problem, but I’ll take the iced tea. Mind if I wash my hands?”

“Go for it.” I wash mine, then set about making iced tea for myself and Stella, and we sit at my stainless steel counter to drink it.

“So, how are things going with the sexy pub owner next door?”

I almost choke on the tea I was about to swallow and Stella jumps up from her stool to pat my back. “Okay, I guess. Has he come down to check out your business?”

“Yeah. He brought his head cook with him. She’s so sweet and was super impressed with my setup. They’ll probably switch to me in around six weeks when their other contract ends.”

I squeal in delight. “I’m so happy for you.”

She smiles. “Yeah, me too. Going organic has been a lot of hard work, and it was an enormous risk, but it’s paying off.” Stella tips up her drink, finishing her iced tea. “Anyway, I need to keep moving. Thanks for the drink and the chat.”

I walk Stella out, noting the obnoxious truck still parked in the alleyway.

It’s still there when Liam delivers my dairy products and eggs, meaning we have to lug crates farther than we really should. All I can do is apologize with each trip we make back to his truck.

* * *

The last ten days have been like groundhog day. The obnoxious truck has blocked the alleyway each afternoon and is gone once we complete all of my deliveries. I figured it was a one-off thing the first day, and then shrugged it off the day after that, but this is ridiculous. I thought we’d turned a corner and were sort of …friends. I had hoped that this type of behavior was a thing of the past. Maybe I shouldn’t expect so much from my business neighbor. Once an inconsiderate asshole, always an inconsiderate asshole, I guess. I know it’s not his truck, but still.

After the third day, I started taking photos and I plan to confront Mr. Brady with the evidence of this latest transgression. I check I have the photos in the folder on my phone labeledBrady’s Pub. Each one clearly shows the date and time of day in the information, so there can be no denying it. I’m not bothering with an email this time. I need to deal with this face-to-face.

Not because I want to see him. Well, that’s what I’m telling myself.

I drop my phone back into my cross-body purse, take a calming breath, grip the long brass handle on the heavy wooden door, and drag it open. Pausing inside, I take a moment to allow my eyes to adjust to the dimness, then make my way across the mosaic-tiled floor to the beautiful timber bar, which looks old but well-kept. Green pendant lights hang from the ornate ceiling, and groups of polished wooden tables and chairs decorate the space. It’s classy, which wasn’t what I was expecting to find when I first came here months ago looking for the owner. A woman who looks remarkably like Gal Gadot pops up from behind the bar—a towel draped over her left shoulder—and greets me with a warm smile. She’s stunning.

“Welcome toBrady’s. What can I get for you?”

I’m taken aback by her friendliness, but I guess she doesn’t know I’m the business owner next door and that I’ve had words with her boss. I glance down at her name badge. “Uh, hi, Macy. I was hoping to speak with Mr. Brady.”

“You mean Finn?”

“Yes, please.” I glance around, noting there are several customers in booths along the side of the room. There’s an arched opening to another space and on the other side, there’s a hallway. “Is he available?”

She raises a single eyebrow, crosses her arms, and looks me up and down. “Why do you need to see him?”

I point next door. “I’m Harry from next door.” As if that explains exactly why I need to see him.

Her eyebrows shoot up and a slow smile crawls across her lips. “Riiight. Harry. Well, that explains a couple of things.” A customer steps up to the bar and Macy holds up a finger to me and then serves him, leaving me completely confused. “I’ll check if he’s available. Would you like a drink while you wait?”

“No thanks. I’m okay.”

“Suit yourself.” She steps out from behind the bar and disappears down the hallway. I fidget where I stand, not sure if I should take a seat at the bar or move closer to the hallway. I decide to move closer to the hallway. After a few minutes, Macy steps out from what I presume is Finn’s office with the infuriating man wearing a furrow between his brows and what appears to be a sports uniform close behind. When he notices me, the furrow disappears and is replaced by his usual smug smirk. Like he thinks I’m here to seehim.

Well, I am, but not because I find him insanely attractive and wanted to see him. Not at all.

Macy steps past me, her perfume wafting behind her, and I follow her with my eyes as she heads back to the bar. She’s so damn attractive … and so tall. Her legs go on for miles. I wonder if she and Finn …Stop it. It’s not your business and definitely has no bearing on the reason you’re here.

Finn comes to a stop in front of me. I mean he stopsinsidemy personal bubble and ordinarily, I’d take a step back if someone came so close to me, but for some reason, I don’t. What’s the point after the heated kisses we’ve already shared? It’s infuriating how attractive I find the man. He tilts his chin down and I tip my head back. “Harry,” he breathes, his voice full of disbelief. “Welcome toBrady’s. It’s good to see you.” He leans in to kiss my cheek in welcome, but I withdraw in time to avoid his lips. I can’t have his lips anywhere near me or I’ll forget why I’ve come here. He quickly replaces the frown from my withdrawal with a smile and gestures toward the room he came from. “Come into my office, Firecracker. We can speak in private.”

I take the first step toward his office, and butterflies erupt in my stomach. The last few times we’ve been alone, I’ve ended up trapped against something and kissed like I was the very air he needs to breathe. Worse still, Ilikedit.

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