Page 4 of A False Start
I swear he growls at me in response, which just annoys me more. He talked enough to tell me I was a mistake, or an accident, or whatever, the other night, but now he won’t talk to me at all? Rich. Really fucking rich.
“Listen.” I use the most condescending tone I can drum up. “I can’t read whatever kind of sign language these dirty looks are saying. You’re going to have totalkto me. Or write it down or something.” I hold up a finger and pretend to check under my desk. “Wait, let me grab mycrystal ball.”
It’s at that moment Mira pushes through the swinging door and waltzes into the reception area with an accommodating smile on her face.
“Griff! Good to see ya. You got those samples we talked about?”
Dirty bathroom guy nods at her, but he doesn’t take his eyes off me. It’s honestly a little unnerving. I lick my lips and hold his gaze, refusing to drop his gaze. He drops the paper bag on the front desk countertop and then swaggers back out the front door.
“Piece of work,” I spit out, rolling my eyes.
Mira stays suspiciously silent. When I glance at her, she’s a million miles away, staring just past me.
“Do I have something on my face?” I rub at my mouth and wave a hand in front of her.
She blinks and shakes her head. “No. No. Sorry. Just tired. I zoned out.”
“What the hell is wrong with that guy? He walked in here like he’s some sort of celebrity, like I should know him. Wouldn’t say a goddamn word. Manners leave something to be desired.” I shake my shoulders out and scoff just thinking about it.
“Griff? He used to live around here.”
I turn back to the computer screen and mutter, “Still a dick.”
Again, Mira barely notes what I’m saying. “I need to go check on the foal,” she blurts out, changing the subject entirely. “I, uh, won’t be back. Can you lock up?”
She’s acting totally weird. “Of course.”
“Thanks.” She grabs her coat and takes off, leaving me thoroughly confused, in a terrible mood, and stuck at work for another fifty-seven minutes.
Just great.
* * *
“Good morning.”My brother smiles at me from where he stands at the coffee maker as I slide onto a stool at the expansive island in the middle of his kitchen. The smell of him cooking some sort of gourmet breakfast and making a fresh pot of coffee drew me out of bed early on my day off.
This man loves to feed people, and I amhere for it.
Within moments, he slides a plate of smoked salmon eggs Benedict across the island toward me, followed by a cup of piping hot coffee.
Best brother ever.
“Fuck yes,” I groan, almost inappropriately.
“You’ve been hanging out with those Gold Rush girls too much.”
He’s referring to the swearing. “So have you.” But he has to know I’ve noticed how much time he and Mira spend together. That I see them both staring off into space like love-sick fools. They think they’re subtle. It’s adorable.
I dig into the meal before me, savoring every flavor and just generally feeling happy and at peace for a hot minute. Things have finally started turning up Nadia in life, and it has me invigorated like I never knew it could. I have family, friends, school, and I don’t live with an abusive shithead.
Life is good.
“Ready?” Stefan asks, and my eyes flit open in confusion.Ready for what?
I turn, following my brother’s gaze. And that’s when I see him.Him.Hot bathroom guy.
Fuck this guy for showing up everywhere. Can I not just masturbate to him in peace?
I must look startled by his presence because my brother pipes up with, “Sorry, Nadia. This is Griffin. The guy I bought this place from.”
