Page 4 of Enemy Crush
The door opens and the bell rings out. My eyes move up to the person who just rushed through the door. Stella. She looks out of breath and all hot and bothered. A smile forms on my lips just from being so close to her. I can’t wait to see what this is about.
Chapter Three
Stella
Irush into the store and anger is fueling every step. By the time I push into the door my chest is heaving. He looks up and our eyes lock. Something settles over me and I feel like I’ve ran out of steam. My mouth opens, but no words come out as the two of us just stare at one another. His dark hair is smoothed back and he’s wearing a smile that even reaches his green eyes. His sharp jaw is covered in a light scruff and everything about this man pulls me in. Too bad I hate him.
“Is the store closing?” I blurt out a little too loudly.
His brows raise. “Well, hello to you too, Stella.” He pulls his eyes away and goes back to whatever he’s working on.
“Why is the store closing?” My hands find my hips as I lose what little patients I have.
He looks back up and his smirk is still in place. “You look nice today, too. Did you do something different with your hair?”
I let out a sigh as my head dips forward, my eyes on the floor as I remind myself to calm down. “Thank you, Paxton. You do look nice, and no I didn’t do anything different with my hair. Are you happy now?” I ask, looking back up at him.
His grin widens to a full-blown smile. He’s always loved getting under my skin. “Very.”
“Okay, then can we cut the bullshit?” I ask, stepping up to the counter.
He takes a deep breath. “Yes, the store is on the verge of closing.”
“Why?” I throw back instantly as I feel my brows pull together.
“Why else? Money. It makes the world go round.” He shuts the book he was working in and it makes a thumping sound.
“Well, maybe if the owner wasn’t such an asshole, it would be doing better. You have no people skills, you know?”
His green eyes cut to mine. “Excuse me? You’re the one who walked in here in asshole mode.”
My mouth drops open. “Well maybe that’s because you’ve always brought it out in me. I mean, a person can only go through so much torture before turning into an asshole.”
He laughs. “Torture? I rode my bike through your stupid doll house one time twenty years ago and you still can’t let it go, can you?” He’s smiling but it doesn’t reach his eyes. He’s just being a smart ass.
“I don’t let anything go. Especially when I was picked on my entire childhood.”
He dips his head forward and shakes it while letting out a long breath. “Fine, I was a dick to you as a kid. I’m sorry. Now, can we move on?”
I scoff. “You think it’s that easy?”
“What’s it going to take to get you over it, huh?”
I shrug. “I don’t know.”
“Why are you here, Stella?”
I straightened my back. “I wanted to know if the news I heard was true.”
“Well, it is. Now you can go.” He bends down and picks up his bag, stuffing the books into it before standing up straight to address me again.
“Well, what have you done to try and bring it back?”
He rolls his eyes. “Stella,” he mumbles my name while he massages his temples.
“Do you want my help or not?”
His hand falls away as his eyes meet mine. “I didn’t realize you were offering.”
