Page 39 of Falling for the Wrong Guy

“I don’t understand.”

“Are you kidding? That madman who walked in this morning—he was a complete stranger to me. Honestly, for a few seconds, I thought he might do something physical. That’s why I was so relieved after he walked out.” I dropped my eyes. Shyness wasn’t usually in my character, but something about the way Dex looked at me made me want to melt into a warm blush.

“Trust me, he wouldn’t have gotten within five inches of you before I stopped him.” Dex’s expression showed just how serious he was about that claim. It would have sickened me to know that I caused two brothers to physically fight. “Kellan does have that side, the short-tempered side. It’s definitely not his best side. I feel bad that this arrangement, me working for you, pushed him to show it. I was ready, but honestly, I don’t think he would have done anything to hurt you. You hurt him—his pride, mostly—and I have no doubt he cared deeply for you. Can’t blame him there. You’re someone who deserves only the deepest, most honest affection.”

It was hard not to smile at his words. “Not entirely sure about that. And now I’ve hurt him. But I think he’ll get over it soon. He’s got everything most women are looking for. Just not me. I’ve been independent for too long.” I took a deep breath for the next question. “Are you done here? You told Kellan you’d just finish the day.”

Dex stared down at the cup of coffee in his hand. “I wonder if it’s for the best. I like this job, and I have a particular fondness for my boss.” He punctuated the last part with one of his devastating smiles. “But it sort of feels as if this whole arrangement was cursed from the start.”

I shook my head. “Doesn’t feel like a curse to me. But if you think it’s for the best. I suppose it’ll be easier on me when you suddenly pick up and leave.” As I said it, my throat tightened. The thought of him leaving town and me never seeing him again made everything ache. “Well,” I said with forced airiness, “I’ve got some tables to clean.” I turned away, but he took hold of my hand. I didn’t have the courage to look at him as he held it, but static-filled warmth raced up my arm.

“I think you’d be a hard person to walk away from, Aria Lovely.” His tone was deep and slightly hoarse. I stood there frozen, hearing the words and playing them over and over again in my head, all while his big hand was wrapped around mine.Don’t be crazy, Aria. He’s the last thing you need, especially after the rough ending to your last relationship—a relationship that Dex was tangled in whether he wanted to be or not.

I finally lifted my gaze to meet his, and I could have sworn the floor moved under my feet. “Stay.” The word croaked out of my throat. I knew this was crazy, and it would only end with me being heartbroken, but the thought of Dex leaving town sent a deep loneliness through my bones. I couldn’t remember ever feeling this way about anyone, and as much as it scared me, it also felt exciting … and daunting. I didn’t need to feel this way. I had too much to take care of in my life. I didn’t need someone who’d make my head spin or lift those cement blocks off the ground. Still, I wanted him to stay.

He finally released my hand, but I could still feel his touch. “Are you sure about this, Aria?” The question was simple, but I knew there was more than one meaning behind it.

The flutters returned, and I felt lightheaded. “Yes, Dex, I’m sure.”

ChapterTwenty-Five

Dex

Aria and I only spoke about orders and café business the rest of the day, but there was so much communication between us whenever she slipped past me to the storeroom or office or whenever our eyes met under the lights of the order window, something that always brought a sweet smile to her face. It felt as if we’d spoken volumes. I couldn’t remember the last time I felt this way about someone, but then, maybe it wasn’t all that surprising. I’d felt a connection even out on the dock, both of us dripping with cold seawater. Me, red with shame about what my bird had done, and her, red with anger about what my bird had done. It seemed I now owed Gus another can of sardines instead of a harsh lecture about manners.

Neither of us stopped for our lunch break. Without verbally planning it, we were both waiting until after the café closed for the day to sit for lunch. I started on tomorrow’s prep, and Aria helped with cleanup so Terry and Linda could go home. I kept my ears peeled for the front door to open and shut for the last time and then for the light footsteps that followed.

Even her sigh of exhaustion made every inch of me react. “Good business today?” I decided to start with non-sexy conversation, mostly out of self-preservation.

She stopped at the work counter and picked up some of the celery I’d just chopped. “I haven’t added up the receipts, but yeah.”

“There’s still some quiche and salad,” I said.

“Hmm, sounds good. People were raving about your quiche, by the way.”

We were having a casual chat that was so fraught with romantic tension, the words were practically getting caught in it. I plated some quiche and salad, and Aria poured us two glasses of blueberry lemonade, a café favorite.

Another round of awkward silence surrounded us as we sat down at a table with our food. One of the lights above the table kept flickering. “There’s that darn fickle light again. I’ve got a spare bulb in the back.”

“I can change it after we eat,” I said.

“I don’t want to eat under a strobe,” she said with a laugh. It was tinged with nerves. “You eat your lunch. You haven’t taken a break all day. I can fix it quickly.”

Aria disappeared in the back and returned quickly with a lightbulb. She turned off the light strand and pulled over a chair.

“I could do it without the chair,” I pointed out.

“Nobody likes a braggart,” she teased as she stepped up on the chair. She removed the bulb. I got up to take it from her. Her sweater inched up to show the smooth skin of her stomach as she reached up to screw in the new bulb. It went in crooked. “Shoot.” She turned the bulb to unscrew it and start again, but it was stubborn.

“Aria, let me do it,” I said.

“Got it,” she said triumphantly. She hadn’t expected the bulb to release so quickly. She flailed and grabbed at the strand of lights to keep from falling. I shot behind her, and as the light string broke loose, she fell off the chair … right into my arms. A few of the bulbs broke as the light strand hit the counter and other obstacles. We both sat there stunned for a moment assessing the damage, which, considering it started as a flickering bulb, was quite extensive.

Aria started shaking in my arms, and I worried that she was crying until a laugh seeped out and then another. Within seconds, we were both laughing hard.

“Of course, I’m enjoying this whole thing far too much,” she said, kicking her feet up and down as they hung over my arm, “but you can put me down now. That way I can face my humiliation for being so stupidly stubborn with both feet on the ground.”

I lowered her feet. “You know what? Let’s eat first.” She took my hand and led me back to the table. We sat down to eat. She sipped her lemonade and licked her bottom lip, a gesture that had my full attention. “So, tell me about yourself. I know you were in the army and you can cook and you have a pet gull and a friend named Quinn, who is in desperate need of your help, but tell me something I don’t know.”

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