Page 9 of Entangled By You
She doesn’t look any better; if anything, she seems worse. She’s disheveled, with dark circles under her eyes, and even her usually shining blonde hair, befitting of her nickname, looks unruly and lusterless in the early morning sun.
I watch as the hours tick by. She opens the shop and mills about, waiting for customers to stop in. With a small town likeours, it’s a miracle businesses like these survive. Her work just happens to be where upper-class wives like to do their shopping.
It’s nearing her lunch hour when she typically locks up and heads across the street to grab an iced coffee and something they package in a little white paper bag, when a patrol car rolls to a stop a few spots down from me. This is the second time this week.
I’m not exactly disguised, but I’m hidden enough on my bike parked between the two buildings across the street from Lexi’s work. She mentioned the cops had been bothering her the last time I couldn’t stop myself from following officer assface inside. Looks like we’re about to have a repeat.
An officer steps out of his patrol car and watches her through the front windows, just as I’ve been doing for the last few weeks, even before our unexpected night together. It’s easy to do since the shop is lined with floor-to-ceiling windows, and they don’t have much displayed in the way. When he shuts his door and steps up to the entrance, I pop off my bike and make my way slowly across the street, never losing sight of her inside.
I don’t want to tip her off to the little habit I’ve picked up, but I’m also not about to leave her to the wolves and let him harass her more than he already has. This is becoming a problem that I might need to handle. The question is, do I bring it up to Si or handle it myself and make no one the wiser? Then again, a missing golden boy and a cop for our little town will definitely cause an uproar of concern.
His big frame steps up to the front counter just as the little bell announces my arrival. Her eyes skate past him to mine and bug out slightly before she fixes her gaze, and it turns stony.
“Hey Princess, you ready for lunch?”
“We’re in the middle of discussing something,” Assface says to me directly, puffing out his chest in his uniform.
Hate to break it to you, buddy, but you’re not intimidating in the least. More like an annoying roach that keeps crawling back to places it shouldn’t be.
The side step gives Lex the time to recoup her typical sass. “No, we weren’t discussing anything, and itismy lunch hour. So, if you’ll excuse us, Officer, we’re just headed out.”
“Miss. Kane, I don’t think I need to remind you about the severity of the situation.”
I lean against the counter, invading his personal space, and stare him down as he refuses to budge at her request. “I think the lady was kindly telling you to fuck off, Garret.”
“That’s Officer Thorne to you. And you better watch it, boy, or I’ll take you in for harassing an officer of the law.”
Boy? This moron realizes we’re the same age still, right? That didn’t change because he’s a nepo baby and was handed a badge right out of high school.
“Great, and how does one go about reporting harassment from said officer of the law, because that’s about where we’re at with your little visits every couple of days, Officer Thorne,” Lexi cuts in, and I can’t stop the shit eating grin from taking over my face.
He lets out a huff and storms out of the shop, knowing damn well he won’t be getting anywhere with her while I’m standing here.
“What the fuck, Pierce? Why are you here, again?” she bites out the moment the door falls back into place.
Well, shit. She did notice.
“Coincidence?”
“Nice try. You can go. It really is my lunch hour, and I have zero intention of spending it with you.”
“Mmh, is that why you disappeared on me after attacking me the other morning?”
“I didn’t attack you,” she says, rolling her eyes at my choice of words.
“What would you call fucking me awake from a dead sleep, then?”
“I’m pretty sure most men call it a wet dream come true. Just say thank you and leave me alone.”
“Thank you,” I say and drop her a smirk.
“You’re not going to leave, are you?”
“I will.”
Her eyebrow rises in question.
“After you lock up.”
