Page 13 of Bear In A Boutique
All the ladies circled his step stool, hands on hips, judging eyes glinting sassily in the fluorescent lights.
“We’re not getting younger, Mitchell. We’d like to see you have a proper date before we die.”
Pulling a breath through his nose, he shoved the screwdriver into the tool pouch at his hip and looked at Olive.
Silence.
More silence.
Agnes crossed her arms. Both of her thin, drawn-on eyebrows arched above her comical glasses.
He sighed. At least he was a man who knew when he was outnumbered.
“Olive, would you grab lunch with me today so we can appease every single person in this town, and I can get on with my life?”
Agnes smacked him on the leg with her shiny purple purse. “Ask her nice!”
“Yes, lunch today is fine.”
Olive put a hand on Agnes’ shoulder and guided her away before she could smack Ryker again. “Ladies, let me show you the new silk pillowcases we just got in. They’re so good for your hair and skin. If I had to sleep in a hospital bed, I’d want a silk pillowcase—”
Glancing back at Ryker, she found him watching her with a glower furrowing his brow.
Okay, so he wasn’t happy about the forced date. It was just lunch. They’d eat fast, shut everyone up, and then get on with their lives. Would she, though? He’d toyed with her today, teased her, and made her heart feel like he was interested even though common sense said he wasn’t.
None of this was helping her get over her crush.
Yes, they did need to have lunch and be done. He wasn’t the only one who wanted to put this bet behind them.
Chapter Five
Sorry, I can’t make it.
Olive stood him up.
He’d left his cellphone number on a sticky note on her desk before leaving the boutique yesterday, figuring she’d text when she was free for their lunch date. Afternoon had turned into evening, and he still hadn’t heard from her. Then the text popped up on his phone.
‘Sorry, I can’t make it’ leaves a lot to interpretation. Had she been too busy to keep their lunch plans, or did she just not want to go out with him? They wouldn’t shut people up until they closed out this bet.
He tried to convince himself that he was irritated because closing out the bet was now delayed. But that wasn’t it. He’d… gotten a little away from himself at the boutique yesterday. Teasing her. Enjoying the feel of her hand on his ass. Loving the adoring way she looked at him. There was always a flicker ofinterest in her eyes when she looked at him; had been for a long time. It was so hard to ignore.
Something had been different yesterday. It was the first time he’d seen full-blown desire on her face. Big pupils, flushed cheeks, pink lips. If he’d suggested they go upstairs, he had no doubt she would have taken him up on it.
He was quickly losing his grip when it came to Olive Kent.
Ryker watched the flow of people coming in and out of Sticky Sweet Bakery from his seat by the corner window and absently rubbed his thumb against his paper coffee cup until it burned from the friction.
“What’s got your nuts in a twist?” Fox shoved a plate of sticky buns to the middle of the table. The decadent scent of warm caramel and butter made his stomach growl, but Ryker was too tense to eat. His grizzly tossed and turned all night, growling, and complaining until Ryker finally got up and went outside, hoping fresh air would soothe the beast. It didn’t.
His bear wanted so much more than fresh air.
“Nothing.” He sipped his coffee and ignored Fox as he shoved the plate closer.
“Then eat.”
“Not hungry.”
“Suit yourself.” Fox grabbed a roll and ate it in three bites. “Thanks for meeting me this morning. There’s, ah, something I want to talk to you about.”
