Page 22 of Dirty Little Secret, Baby
But it’s not Alex.
And I hate myself for being almost a little disappointed about that.
But who is he and why does he want to talk to me? He looks good, but not like Alex and—oh God, did I really just think that? Do I still like Alex? I can’t actually think that, can I? The two of them could be brothers, because he’s got that typical playboy grin too, which—in his case—leaves me completely cold.
"Jake Smith," he says, coming toward me, his gaze lingering on my breasts longer than necessary. I fold my arms across my chest, and even though my outfit is embarrassing enough, I don’t want him undressing me with his eyes.
"Are you the owner?" He offers me his hand; I take it briefly, and he kisses it. Almost like Alex back then, only this does nothing to me. I pull my hand back and cross my arms again.
"What do you want?" I ask.
"Easy there, pretty lady," he says, clearing his throat. "I’ve got a proposal you might like."
"I’m not your lady," I snap.
"Listen up, here’s the deal. You’ll see—you simply won’t be able to say NO."
Oh, I can, I think, as I listen to what this two-bit playboy has to say and wonder if there’s a farm where puffed-up rich boys are bred and taught that the world has been waiting for them.
"Well? What do you think?" he asks, leaning his head a little closer. I breathe in his smell, which somehow reminds me of rotten avocado, and I just want him to go away. Besides, the proposal was downright shameless. A date for money? Who does he think he is?
I’m about to show him what my answer is.
Chapter 8
Alex
It feels like New York’s streets are, once again, chronically jammed and traffic is crawling along at a snail’s pace. In reality, though, I made it here in record time, pull up double-parked in front of Beth’s little shop, right next to Jake’s flashy ride, and roll down my window. But the car’s empty.
I quickly peer into the shop, squint, and I’m pretty sure I see Jake in there kissing Beth’s hand and...
"All right, all right. I’m moving," I bark at the driver behind me through my rearview mirror, his horn making it crystal clear what he thinks of my pit stop. I’d love to get out and tell him exactly what I think. I’d love even more to yank Jake out of that store and... My knuckles go white on the wheel, because the thought of losing Beth and the shop to Jake drives me crazy. TheBeth part a little more than I want to admit. In general, I can’t stand the idea of him winning. I should be the one who wins. That’s how it’s always been, and that’s how it damn well needs to stay.
About a hundred yards down the street I find a tiny parking spot in a city where parking is always in short supply. It takes some doing to shoehorn the Bentley in, which of course earns me a few more honks and wild gestures from the driver behind me. I don’t care. I’ve got more important things to do.
I hop out, jog toward the shop, and wonder if Jake managed to wrap her around his finger. The thought is hard to stomach, and in my head I’m picturing myself pulling them apart, appealing to Beth’s conscience first, then going for Jake’s throat and...
No, that’s complete nonsense. That would only earn me an even darker look from her. I needed to do something, but I had no idea what. I wanted to go all in: for the shop and for Beth.
But maybe... I stop short, because the shop door swings open when I’m only a few steps away. Jake comes out. Alone. He spots me, shoots me a sullen look, and rubs his reddened cheek.
Inside, I’m doing a silent victory cheer. She slapped him. Beth is just brilliant, she’s...
Then I remember she shoved me back then too, and we still ended up in bed. Maybe I’m celebrating too soon.
"Good talk?" I ask anyway, grinning wide because I want to look as triumphant as possible in front of Jake.
"I hope she hits you even harder. Tough little thing," he says, surprisingly curt this time, heads to his car, and drives off without another word, which really isn’t like him.
I take a deep breath and feel my fingers tremble just a little. Is it possible I’m nervous to face her again because I don’t know what’s going to happen? That doesn’t happen to me with any other woman. But Beth...
Yeah, she’s just different. Fiery different, and I like that. But maybe I need to ease my way back to that fire if I want it again. Maybe the usual conquest routine doesn’t work with her. If I remember right, it didn’t a year ago either. So why would it be different now?
Jake’s red cheek was a glaring example of that. Maybe I should just take it slower. Be careful. I inhale again, climb the three little steps, and open the shop door.
As I step in, I wonder why I’m even doing this, because Jake’s attempt failed and I only came here to stop him. So there’s really nothing left for me to do. And yet I’ve walked into the shop on autopilot and...
Oh shit!
