Page 23 of Picture Perfect Love

Joshua

While I was delighted to see Abby’s beautiful face in front of me again, with her adorable little nose and tempting plump lips, she did not look quite as happy to see me. With one hand on her hip she cocked her head to the side with a sort of “what the hell are you doing here, not this guy again” look.

“Aren’t you happy to see me?” I asked cautiously.

“What are you doing here?”

“That sounds like a no… but I had to see you. Couldn’t stop thinking about you,” I explained.

“I’m working,” she huffed, crossing her arms. “You have to go, Joshua. You can’t keep showing up like this while I’m at work. And you can’t keep harassing my friends to find out when and where I’m working either.”

“It’s hardly harassment,” I defended. “Doesn’t anyone believe in romance anymore?”

“There’s a fine line between stalking and romance… or that seems to be the opinion of my friends anyway.”

“And, in their opinion, which side of this fine line do I fall on?”

“Their opinion isn’t the one that matters here. It’s mine. And I’d say you’re definitely leaning towards stalker at the moment.”

I grabbed her by the arm and pulled her into a quiet corner, away from the other servers pushing past us.

“I don’t mean to be a pain in your ass, Abby. Really. But… well, you may just have to get used to it. I came here because I needed to tell you… I’m falling for you. I can’t stop thinking about you, and if I have my way… I’m not going anywhere any time soon.”

Her mouth flinched with a smile she was trying to contain. “It’s not up to you. It’s up to me, and I’m telling you… you have to go. My boss is still pissed at me for playing hooky with you that one night, not to mention the other time you barged in on my shift at the club.”

“Let’s have dinner again tonight,” I proposed. “Say yes and I’ll get out of your hair.”

“Blackmailing me into dating you is starting to get old too,” she laughed, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

“If you didn’t play so hard to get, I wouldn’t have to revert to such extreme measures,” I winked. “But I have to admit… the way you keep trying to act so indifferent towards me is incredibly sexy. If I thought begging you on my knees would help, I probably would.”

“Into that sort of thing, are you?” she grinned.

I leaned in close to her ear and groaned, “You know exactly the kinds of things I’m into, and you do them all so well.”

“Abby!” her boss fumed from the kitchen. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Not again. Do you actually want your job? Or should I start looking for someone off the street to finish out your shift?”

“I’ll be right there!” She shouted back. “See,” she turned back to me with a hiss. “You’re going to get me fired.”

“Quit,” I blurted out.

“I’m not rich like you, remember?”

“Hey, there was a time not so long ago when I wasn’t rich either,” I reminded her. “I’m serious, Abby. You shouldn’t have to work so hard. And not just for my own selfish reasons of wanting more time with you. Since you mentioned it… I do happen to be rich now, and I can afford to support you. Quit your job. Come live with me. Just focus on going to law school full-time and become that bad ass lawyer you were destined to be.”

“You’re insane!” she shrieked. “We barely know each other, Joshua. We’ve been on the equivalent of two dates, and whether or not I should have agreed to either of those is questionable. I’m not going to quit my job and move in with you! Do you actually hear yourself right now?”

“If you had told me a few months ago that I’d be standing here saying this kind of thing to any woman, I would have thought you were crazy. But that was before I met you, and now the only thing that seems crazy to me is not being with you.”

“You don’t know me,” she stressed again.

“I know how I feel and that’s all that matters.”

“Feelings change. And if you ask me… you’re just not used to not getting what you want at the drop of a hat. That’s the only reason you’re so crazy about me. I’m a challenge, and you’re not accustomed to challenges.”

“I’m not accustomed to actually caring enough about the challenge to try and win it. That much is true. But that just proves how much of an impact you’ve had on me.”

She narrowed her eyes, once again trying not to smile or let on just how much she was really enjoying all of this. “Balance or moderation of any kind really aren’t your strong suit, you know that?”

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