Page 29 of The Lies You Love
I sigh again, louder this time. “I hate that you think I don’t trust you or that I’m some weird fuck who wants to get into your business. I promise that’s not it at all.”
She narrows her eyes. “What is it then?”
When I don’t respond, she nods. “Another lie.”
“No. Not a lie.”
She pulls out of my grasp and opens the fridge. “As long as you aren’t gay, I don’t care, Beck. Also, I’m still starving.”
Thank God she seems to be over my dumb-ass move quickly. “Let’s order in. What’s your favorite kind of food?”
A shadow crosses her face. “Anything but Chinese.”
I swallow down the lump in my throat. “Pizza it is.”
My phone chimes from my jeans pocket on the floor and I fish it out. It’s Grey, but I ignore it and order pizza instead. I’m sure he’s found something on the Rifts and wants to talk more. My heart races. “Hey, so I was thinking,” Auden says, testing with the tone of her voice. “The whole bonfire thing got me thinking about a bunch of camping gear I bought a while back. Do you want to go with me? There’s a lake and a pretty campsite a few hours outside of the city I was going to check out. It’s a double tent.”
“Yes,” I return. “I want to go with you. When?” Another pang nags at my stomach. Was my answer so fluid because I want her so badly, or because now I think she needs protection?
She shrugs once, taking out a bottle of orange juice and grabbing a bourbon glass from the cart. After she fills the glass, she drinks a few sips and stares at me. “Does next weekend work? I need to hire another employee at the pet store. I finally have enough liquidity to get more help.”
“Sure,” I say. “I might know someone for the job.” And then I know you’re safe from hiring someone with ulterior motives.
“Yeah?” she asks, tilting her head to the side. Her look is one of utter delectation—standing there so casual, in my shirt, like she can own me by wearing a single piece of my clothing.
Fuck, maybe she can.
I nod, scrolling through my contacts. “Tess is Ronan’s fiancée, and I think she’d love working there. She’s been looking for something part-time. They have a few dogs and no kids. She’d be the perfect employee.”
I send her the contact information. “Tell her I told you so.”
Auden nods, crossing her feet at the ankles. Another move that makes my cock twitch. “What are you thinking about right now? Can’t be the pet store,” I say.
She shakes her head. “Nah. I’m trying to decide where I want to put the pizza. When it gets here.”
I lick my lips. “Not in your mouth then?”
Her eyes turn to slits. “No, not in yours either.”
I can’t help the stunned look that crosses my face. Auden laughs so hard, she can barely breathe, and the remnants of her orange juice splashes across her body. Oh, well. Just going to have to lick every drop off to clean her up.
CHAPTER TEN
Auden
Today was an insane day at the store. I ran a sale and hordes of folks descended like vultures to purchase things for their pets. I ran out of leather leashes and took two dozen orders for my new personalized dog dishes. There are always certain moments that stand out in time and memory. Opening the store for the grand opening was one, and today was another. Everything seems to be falling into place, and dare I say, I’m feeling optimistic about my future for the first time since he left. Because I was swamped, I was only able to fire off a quick text to say hello to Beck, he confirmed we are still on for tonight and now I’m locking up the store. I have at least another hour to get everything stocked and ready for tomorrow. Ramsey’s face appears in the glass in the front display before she bangs on it with a fist.
I unlock it and let her. “You’re gonna clean that window. I don’t have time for Windex, Rams. Do you see this place? It’s like a tornado ripped on through.”
She grins. “A tornado of sales! Congratulations! I came to help. After your text this afternoon, I figured you might want a couple extra hands, and then we can ride together over to the property.” Ramsey waggles her fingers at me like she’s a magician. “For some fun!”
I rattle off a few tasks she can help me with, and as she begins to fold dog shirts on the circular table in the center, I begin. “Do you know the person? The guy that owns the property or whatever. It seems kind of weird to be going to a party in the woods instead of his house.”
Ramsey shifts her gaze from me at the cash register, balancing today’s book, back to the shirts. “No, I mean. Kind of. I know of him. I got an invite from an old friend.”
I wince. “An old friend? Ramsey does not do old friends, she only does new friends,” I heckle. “Who exactly?”
“Someone I used to know.”
