Page 29 of Vicious Little Darling

“Weren’t your parents like friends forever before they got with each other?” Megan throws it out, and I cringe.

“That was different though. My mom always had a crush on my dad, and vice versa. They just didn’t realize it until they were older. Idon’thave a crush on Josh. I never have and I never will.” I say the words with confidence. Joshisa handsome guy by all standards, but… It’s justnotthere for us. “He’s just like my family.”

“Yeah, family that wants to fuck you,” Megan snorts, just as the doors to the bookstore open. A couple of older ladies enter, heading for the historical fiction section, and I let out a sharp breath.

“I’m going to go grab that box of new releases and set them out,” I tell her, taking a sip of my coffee and walking away.

She makes another off the wall remark, but I don’t catch it—nor do I want to. Megan is one of my closest girlfriends, but there’s a reason I don’t let her in on the really personal stuff. In fact, I can’t think ofanyoneI let in on the personal stuff. If I did have someone I could trust with that kind of information, I would be blowing up their phone over my new stalker problem.

I glance over at the ladies, giggling as they pull out a novel I don’t recognize. I open up the door to the back, weaving througha few boxes. Rich keepswaytoo much on the floor, but I’ve learned to just deal with it. Then again, maybe if he hyper-focused less on his inventory, he would be able to pay Megan and me better.

Then I wouldn’t have to work for Josh.I frown at that, feeling guilty. I should be more thankful to Josh, but Ihate itwhen someone harps on about the two of us being together. It used to happen a lot more to him—back when he hadn’t grown into himself—and he would complain about it constantly. Now, I never hear a word.

I lean against the break-room table in the drab, dimly lit room as I finish the rest of my coffee, and then I reach for the small cardboard box with today’s date on it. It seems as if there’s a box of new releases for damned near every day. I keep wondering when the store is going to run out of room.

My phone buzzes in my pocket and I fish it out, seeing Josh’s name lighting up the screen.Ugh. You know I’m at work.I almost don’t answer it, but then force myself to—just in case it’s an emergency.

“Hey,” I answer.

“I just wanted to make sure you made it into work,” he chimes on the other end. “I know I had you out late last night. I think I’m going to put you on an earlier shift. I’ll stay behind with one of the new guys to close up. I’ll pay for you to Uber home.”

I let out a sigh, instantly annoyed by his parental tone. “I’ll work whatever shift you’d like for me to, since you’re my boss.”

“I just don’t want you out that late on a regular basis. You won’t get enough sleep.”

I press my lips together. “Well, it’s not as if I’m a kid—or that I’m going to be doing this long term. I just have to make it work until I can move.”

“Why is that you’re suddenly so determined to move?” The question leaves my stomach churning, and the pain I feelbetween my legs with every movement is the real answer. However, I’m not so sure it would solve the problem.

“I’m just ready to move to a better neighborhood,” I lie. “I thought I told you all of this?”

“Yeah, I just…” He pauses for a beat or two. “What if I paid you just as much as you make at the bookstore? Then you could just work here, and it’d be a hell of a lot easier on you.”

I squeeze the cup so hard the Styrofoam cracks. “I don’t want to leave here, and not to mention, I think it’s illegal to do something like that.”

“It’s not,” he laughs. “But I get it. You want to keep working at the bookstore. It’s fine. Meet me for lunch at least?”

I smile. “Yeah. I can do that.” With that he hangs up, and I try not to let myself feel offended by his offer. It’s as if he heard the exact fucking conversation between Megan and me. Honestly, he’s so dead set on helping me out of my situation, it’s probably all he ever thinks about.

After tossing the cup in the trash, I scoop up the box and carry it out into the store, eyeing the women who arestilllingering by the shelves. I mean, I could spend all day long looking at books, too, but it’s a luxury I don’t have anymore.

“Some guy came in here looking for you,” Megan says as I set the box down at the foot of the main new release table. “He was hot as fuck.”

I furrow my brow. “What’d he look like?”

“Uh… Not your type.” She bursts into laughter, but my heart flipflops.

“Come on, just tell me,” I urge, thinking of how little time has passed between then and now. “Why didn’t you tell him to wait?”

“I told him he could, but he didn’t.” Megan shrugs. “But, um, he had this pretty boy look about him, I think. I don’t know. Tall, broad shouldered. Maybe a little creepy? He was in a hoodie, soI couldn’t make out much else. Clean shaven. Reeked of money trying to hide money.”

“Odd description,” I mutter, turning back to the table as my cheeks flood with heat.

It almost sounds as if all he was missing was the mask.

Chapter Fifteen

JAXTON

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