Page 11 of Enemy Crush
I try to mentally add everything up. “About five grand a month?”
She nods. “Okay, well my goal is to double that.”
It feels like my eyes bug out of my skull. “Are you crazy? In this town?”
She nods. “Lola told me the website is being rebranded. After we get the store to profitable, we’ll really focus on your online profile and sales. That should double your income.”
I feel impressed and I lean back. Maybe she does know what she’s talking about. Why didn’t I do this sooner? Oh yeah, because she hates me and I can’t keep my eyes to myself.
Chapter Seven
Stella
As we eat our appetizers and sip our drinks, we talk about the store, the condition it’s in, what it needs, and how to do it all. He’s upfront with his answers, he’s professional, and polite. Tonight, I’m seeing a totally different side of him. I never knew that Paxton could be so adult and mature. I wonder if I’ve been judging him all this time based on the person he was and not the person he is today.
After reviewing all the numbers, throwing out some quick suggestions, and asking every question I can think of, the shop talk is over with and our dinners get brought out. There is still half a platter of appetizers left, but I dig into my steak and salad. I watch as he cuts into his and takes a nice, big bite.
“So, has half the town attacked you yet about closing down?”
He laughs and nods. “Oh yeah. But the news has brought in some business. I had three people in today who only came in to ask if it was true and then ended up buying books.” He laughs.
I shrug. “Well, at least something good is coming out of this small town and all their gossip.”
“Mark at the garage was talking you up last night,” he mentions.
I smile. “He was? I actually got an email from him this morning, thanking me again for my help. He’s a great guy, and he has a beautiful family. I couldn’t imagine being married with three kids already.”
“Yeah, I asked about them last night. He suggested I take you up on your offer of helping with the store. If you can turn my place around like his, I’ll owe you one.”
“Oh yeah?” I smile. “Does that mean you’ll start ordering the romance books I request?”
He shakes his head and let out a quiet chuckle. “Yes, any book you want, I’ll get it. Consider me your own personal dealer.”
My smile stretches across my face. “My book dealer…I like the sound of that.”
“I don’t get why you like those books so much. I mean, why don’t you just start dating and live your own romance story?”
“Are you asking me why I’m single?”
He shrugs and looks up at me from beneath his lashes. “I guess I am.”
“Well, I like those books because they’re full of romance, duh. Real life isn’t anything like that. The guys I’ve dated never even opened a car door for me, let alone planned a whole romantic evening for me.”
“Maybe you’re dating the wrong guys,” he suggests.
“Obviously,” I laugh out. “No, I have too high of expectations. I don’t just want any guy. He has to be the whole package. I need to be attracted to him. I want him to be crazy about me, unable to keep our hands to ourselves. He needs to be settled in life, know what he wants, ready to plant roots and build a family. All these guys around here, they don’t know what they want. It’s like they’ll get with you until something better comes along. I want real love, not right now love. I want to know that we’ll both choose one another again and again and nobody will give up because shit gets tough. I want someone to fight for me.”
He moves his head from side to side. “Well, that I completely understand.”
I pick up my glass of wine and take a sip. “So, why are you single? Why did you and perky boobs break up?”
He laughs. “Perky boobs?”
I lift a brow and nod. Everyone knows about her new boobs—not that there is anything wrong with it—but in a town this small, everyone knows everything and it only makes it more awkward if you don’t talk about it.
“We just…” He lifts his hand and lets it fall. “Grew apart. She wanted more. A lot more than me and this town. She wanted to travel, be adventurous, see the world. She wanted to live a life that only a few do. And there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s all great. But that’s not me. I want the small-town life. I want to raise my kids the way I grew up. I think we both just finally understood that neither of us were going to change. So why waste any more time?”
I nod, understanding. “That makes sense.”
