Page 15 of Beat around the Bush
“Oakley, if there’s some guy we need to be concerned about coming in here looking for you, I’d like to know.”
Her head snapped up. “What?”
“I heard you on the phone yesterday in here. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.”
“Why?”
My brows pulled together in confusion. “Because eavesdropping is invading your privacy...?”
She shook her head. “No, why do you care if there’s some guy?”
“Because if that asshole walks into my store trying to find you, I’ll gladly throw his ass out to the curb.” I said it matter-of-factly. There was no other answer. No woman in my store was going to be disrespected and put in harm's way.
She was silent for a moment, gnawing on her lip as she focused on the screen on the wall. “It’s not an ex,” she said, notmeeting my eyes. “I promise no one will come in here causing any problems. I’m sorry you thought-”
“You’re apologizing?” I cut her off. No way in hell was she going to apologize for my concern for her wellbeing.
“Well, yes-”
“Don’t apologize about your personal life, Oakley. Shit happens to a lot of people and they can’t help it. It’s not your fault. I should be the one saying sorry, I shouldn’t have pried.”
Her eyes finally found mine again. “It’s okay. But nothing will come of it, I can at least assure you that.”
Before I could reply, Leo walked into the break room. I glanced at the clock on the wall. The store opened in five minutes, and I still had to count the till and put it in the register.
“Oakley, this is Leo,” I introduced him. “Leo, this is Oakley, our new hire.”
Leo held a hand out, and she reached for it, the two of them shaking hands. My hands fisted as my eyes zeroed in on where their skin was touching.
I should’ve shaken her damn hand the other day.
“Store opens in five minutes. Make sure one of you is at the register,” I grumbled before walking out of the break room and into my office.
My fingers punched the code into the safe and I grabbed the till with more force than necessary. It was going to be another long fucking day.
9
Oakley
Leo was nice. He was also checked out ninety-nine percent of the time, and while he was polite and engaged in small talk, I could tell he’d rather be anywhere else but here. I didn’t blame him, though. I’d come to find that working retail wasn’t exactly glorious and exciting.
He helped show me a few other things around the store, like the alarm we had to set before we left for the night, where they kept the cleaning supplies, and how to mark something down if it had a tear or hole in the bag.
The bell that hadn’t stopped going off all morning dinged as two women walked through the door. I instantly recognized them from the booth at the Art & Wine event where they’d referred me to this job. I’d stopped by Bottom of the Buckle’s booth at the festival my first day in town, looking for a job, whenthe shorter of the two had referred me to apply at Tumbleweed Feed.
“Hey, Oakley!” the woman with honey-colored hair greeted. I couldn’t remember her name.
They ambled up to the register, smiles gleaming on their faces. “I’m so sorry, I don’t remember your names.”
“Lettie, and this is my best friend, Brandy,” she said.
Brandy held out a hand. I hadn’t spoken to her at the booth, so we hadn’t talked before today. “Nice to officially meet you, Oakley. I’ve heard a lot about you the past couple days,” she said with a wink.
I shook it, willing away the heat I felt creeping up my cheeks. I remembered Lennon was Lettie’s brother, which made me nervous that he could have been talking to them about me. I hoped it was nothing but good things, but fear of hearing the worst kept me from asking.
“You should come with us to the bar tonight!” Lettie squealed.
“The bar?”
