Page 21 of Stuck with Mr. Grump

She quirks a brow. “Really?”

“Yes. Are you going to take my order or not?”

Her eyes slide across my face for a minute before she shrugs.

“Alright,” she finally says, walking toward the counter. “What can I get you today?”

I tap my fingers against the smooth surface that separates us before replying.“Coffee, black.”

She makes a small snorting sound. It’s kind of cute.

“Why am I not surprised? Black like your soul?”

“Very funny.” I smirk. “You talk to all your customers like that?”

She offers me a smile sharp enough to cut. “Only the special ones.”

“Then I’m flattered.”

“And by special I meant rude dickheads who think they own everywhere their feet touch,” she retorts, handing me my coffee.

“Cute,” I murmur, collecting the cup.

“That’ll be ten dollars.”

My eyes widen. “For a simple black coffee?”

“Yes. And for subjecting me to the sight of your face this early on a Monday morning,” she adds.

My lips twitch. But I hand her my card for payment all the same.

“I’m being really patient here, Ms. Cameron. How about we cut back on the sass?”

“No,” she replies without hesitation. “Now that you have your coffee, how about you tell me why you’re really here? More threats?”

“I didn’t threaten you,” I state.

“No, you just sent Lisa and that uptight manager guy to tell me that ‘you’d be pursuing legal solutions if I continue to beobstinate.’ Really rude, by the way. Lisa and I are friends; you didn’t have to send her to do your dirty work.”

Interesting that she doesn’t seem to know that her “friend” was the one who suggested this lot for the development.

“It wasn’t dirty work,” I grit out, feeling a headache start to creep up in my skull. “Listen, can we just sit down and talk for a couple of minutes?”

She crosses her arms over her chest, her expression not budging.

My jaw tightens. “Please?”

“Fine,” she says on a sigh. “Five minutes, Sterling Harrington.”

She steps out from behind the counter and I let her lead me to the table she was sitting at. She retakes her seat and I sit down opposite her.

“So…” she prompts. “What else have you got to threaten me with on this fine day?”

“Actually, I’m here to apologize,” I say a tad bit forceful on that last word. “Looking back, I realize I didn’t handle our past interactions in the right manner. And I’m sorry about that. You’re a Cameron—your brother and I are close friends, and our families are close as well. The two of us being on bad terms isn’t ideal.”

“Interesting. I see you’re going for emotional blackmail next,” she states, sounding unimpressed. “It’s not going to work, Harrington.”

I take a sip of coffee to hide my lip turning up. “Okay, so what is going to work?” I ask, leaning back in my chair. “I’m willing to do anything in my power to ensure this development works out. And for that I need you to cooperate, Ms. Cameron.”

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