Page 4 of More Than Words
He wiped his hands again and walked toward me slowly—not threatening, just…confident.Like a man who didn’t rattle easily.
Like a man who was used to getting what he wanted.
I knew that type.
“Look,” he said when he was close enough for me to see his rich-chocolate eyes.“I know it’s loud right now.And I really am sorry, but there’s no other way to do demolition and construction.I have permits and like I said, a lot of work to do before I can open my doors.”
“Which I assume will bring even more noise and chaos.”I knew I was in danger of being a bitch, but I couldn’t seem to stop myself.Something about this man got me off-balance.
“I don’t plan on running a nightclub, Delaney.”
His use of my name reminded me I still didn’t know his.
“I hope not…”
“Ethan.”He held out his dusty hand.“Ethan Lyons.It’s nice to meet you.”
I glanced at his hand, but kept my arms crossed until he withdrew it with a cocky wink.
“Look, Ethan.I like things quiet.Predictable.And so do my customers.”
He tilted his head, his eyes scanning my face as if he were trying to solve a puzzle.“Yeah,” he said softly.“You strike me as the type who likes things in a certain way.”
I stiffened.“And you strike me as someone who thinks he can charm his way out of anything.”
“Guess we’re both observant.”He laughed, full and warm, and for a split second, I hated how good it sounded.“How about this?”he said before I could reply.“Let me know when you have book club meetings and I’ll do my best to keep the noise down during those times.”
It was a good compromise.Probably the best outcome I could hope for.Still, the way he was looking at me as if he expected me to be grateful for his basic decency got my guard up.
Don’t be unreasonable, Delaney.He’s not Ken.
“Thank you.”I uttered the words begrudgingly, completely aware that I had now fully entered bitch mode and needed to calm down.I blew out a breath and tried to soften my voice.“I’d appreciate that.”
He flashed his bright smile in my direction as another man walked out of the back room, an armload of broken plaster in his arms.
“Delaney, right?”The man nodded in my direction.He looked a lot like Ethan, only instead of the overly charming smile, his lips were pressed into a scowl.
“Does everyone know who I am?”
The man shrugged and dumped his load in the corner of the room.“Small town.I’m Reid, Ethan’s brother, who’s been conned into slave labor.”
“More like payback for living in my house and using my shed as your workshop for free until you finally found a woman to fall in love with.”
Reid glared at his brother, but I could see the affection between them through the thick layer of grumpiness.Instead of replying, he turned to me.“Sorry about the noise.”
“We’ve reached a neighborly agreement,” Ethan jumped in.“I’m sure this is only the start of what will be a fabulous relationship.”
I doubted it.
“Don’t try to charm me.”
“Not trying,” he said easily.“Just being friendly.”
Exactly.
That was the problem.
ChapterTwo
