Chapter 26
Dax
“Dax!” Kai’s voice fills the shop as the door clamours and we jump apart fast. I drop down to quote-unquote organize the books on the bottom shelf and Dax walks out.
“Hey bud, what’s up?”
“What’s up is I have an idea for the cash wrap. Because we are going to need to rip this whole center thing out. It’s in the middle of the store which leaves no room for a line to form. And I can guarantee you that once we are Hemingway, there’s going to be a line. Am I right?”
“Right,” I hear Dax agree though it sounds half hearted, at least from where I am standing, or, sitting. I grit my teeth and tuck my hair behind my ears before standing up.
“You do know,” I say with a forced smile, “That this center desk here was made by–”
“Oh my god, Libby,” Kai lets out a frustrated laugh. “We can’t keep everything dad made just because dad made it. It’s not macaroni art.”
“No, you’re right, it isn’t. It’s more than that.”
“Jesus,” he says, still smiling bitterly. “Okay you know what? I can’t believe I have to do this. This isn’t and shouldn’t be a sibling rivalry conversation, yet here we are. Dax, please be the third vote and tell my sister here how things need to go.”
I look at Dax who is just staring. At me. My eyes widen and he smiles then realizes what planet he’s on and what the behavior needs to look like.
“Right. Yes. Sorry what?” he asks and I have to stop myself from laughing.
Kai blinks. “Have you heard anything I said?”
“No I uh, what’s up?” He clears his throat and I look away so Kai doesn’t see the smile on my face.
“Jesus Christ dude. Alright. You know what? I think you are spending too much time here and not enough time looking at the bigger picture. I swear to god, are you getting laid? I know you said you are but like…you spend half your time in this little time capsule and the other half playing dad and–”
“I’m not…playing. Dad. And like I said…I’m getting laid. You very much don’t need to worry about that.”
My mouth actually pops open and I can’t help but stare. When I glance over at Summer and Tom, their faces make it clear that mum is the word.
“Are you sure, Dax?” my brother goes on. “Because I can easily hook you up with–”
“I’m really good. So good. Better than ever actually.”
Kai studies him with slanted eyes and Dax’s face does not waver.
Finally, he loses the staring battle. “Alright well. I’m going to go.
Because I have a date, actually. Girl from that new dating app.
Really hoping it’s not all angle shots if you know what I mean.
But let’s talk soon. Because this maze here,” he points at the entirety of my store, “Is…it’s gotta go. I think you agree.”
Kai walks out and Dax just looks at me.
“Your brother is kind of a twat,” Summer says. “Respectfully.”
“No apology needed,” I say, going behind the register to grab my water. Dax walks over and rests his arms on the counter, staring at me with an easy smile.
“She’s not wrong. He’s a dick.”
“And you’re his friend,” I point out.
“It’s…complicated. But for what it’s worth, I like your cash wrap. I think it’s got character, it’s the center point and the woodwork really is beautiful.”
I offer a smile though I don’t really trust him right now. “You’re just saying that.”
“I’m not,” he holds up his hands. “I am being genuine. Tom. Summer. Back me up here. This desk is a masterpiece is it not?”
“I mean it’s much better than the factory produced crap in all those big box,” Summer starts but then stops herself. “Actually this feels like a lose-lose conversation.”
“I didn’t pick a lot of the interior for Hemingway. I hired people for that. But I mean it. I like the way things are.”
“My brother does not,” I state. “And you signed a contract. And he is still the actual owner so–”
“Anyone can be bought out of anything,” he says. “I think we need to reconsider what Hemingway owning the store really looks like.”
Dax’s phone dings and I can tell by the sound of the ringtone that it’s Delilah. He walks towards the back of the store to take the call and I can’t stop smiling. Meanwhile, Summer and Tom are watching me.
“I’m sorry,” Summer says. “But your life is like something out of a romance novel.”
“What?” I laugh, taking a sip of my water.
“She’s not wrong,” Tom, who stays very neutral on all things, chimes in. “You have major main character energy.”
“You guys are crazy,” I shake my head. The door chimes and I set the bottle back under the counter. Footsteps cross the floor and stop in front of the register. I stand up and my breath catches in my throat, my smiling slipping from my face immediately.
“Libby.”
Shane’s eyes lock on mine, a tight smile on his thin face.
“Hey. What are you doing here?” I stutter.
“I was in the neighborhood and I thought I’d stop by. You know, just see how things are going in the small business world.”
“Things are good,” I say with a smile. “We are doing really well.”
His eyes sweep around the room. “It hasn’t changed at all, that much is obvious.”
The first jab of the knife stings. But I take it, with a learned experience in the field of toxic relationships.
“It is exactly the way my parents wanted it to be.”
“Quirky,” he notes. Then his eyes trail back to me. “You changed your hair.”
“I cut it.”
He nods. “Long hair looked good on you.”
Twist of the knife number one.
Then his eyes drag down. I’m wearing a yellow dress with ruffled sleeves. “And you look…well. You haven’t changed.”
The second twist is the leveling one. As much as it shouldn’t be. But let's be honest, narcissists have some tricks up their self centered sleeves for the whole water off a duck’s back thing. And unfortunately, they often work.
“Yeah well I don’t know who else I can be,” I say with a forced smile but my words come out choked.
Suddenly, I feel someone behind me. Right behind me. As in…up against me.
“Can we help you?” Dax asks, towering over me and looking down at Shane.
“New employee?” Shane asks with his cocky smile still stupid enough to stay in place.
I don’t know if I am supposed to talk but before I can make the call, Dax goes on. “Something like that. Now, did you need help with something? Finding a book maybe or the door?”
“Do you always talk to customers like this?” Shane asks loudly, looking around to see who he can draw attention from.
“Only the ones who insult the owner of the shop.”
Shane studies him, shifting his weight a little. I have to admit, it’s something I’ve never seen before. Shane uncomfortable. Shane intimidated. Shane backing down.
“I see how it is. Well. I guess that’s my cue to leave.”
“I guess it is,” Dax answers.
Shane turns to walk out but stops. “I’m sorry. Who did you say you are? Just in case I decide to leave a Google review or something like that.”
“Dax,” he says, holding out a firm hand. Shane takes it. “Daxton Hemingway. Of Hemingway Books.”
It wipes the cocky smile clean off Shane’s face and I can physically see his hand go limp in Dax’s. With that he pulls away and walks out. It isn’t until then that I remember to breathe, though my heart is still racing in my chest.
“What a dick,” Dax shakes his head with a chuckle. Then he turns to me. “Are you okay? Has he always talked to you like that? The fucking nerve.”
“Dax. Supply room. Now.”
I march to the back of the store, not bothering to look at Summer or Tom who I know are staring.
I also offer a friendly smile to the couple of customers in the store as they glance over.
As soon as we are in the back room, I shut the door and flip on the lights.
It’s not a large room and it’s mostly overstock so there isn’t much room to move around.
But I don’t need to move around. I need him to stand in one spot and I need room to stand in front of him… on my knees.
“Listen, I’m sorry if I overstepped but that asshole was way out of line. Coming in here just to make you feel like—oh shit.”
He stops talking when I drop to the floor and literally yank his slacks down, hard enough I think I might have broken the button. I don’t care.
“That was the kindest, sweetest, hottest fucking thing any man has done for me literally every and I feel like I owe you a little thank you.”
“You don’t owe me anything, sweetheart. I’d tell that guy off every day of the week if I had the opportunity and—fuck me.”
He stops when my mouth wraps around his dick. Even though he’s tall and I’m average, his cock is long enough, hard enough, that I can reach just fine.
“Should we…should we be doing this here?” he manages to ask as I swirl my tongue around the tip of the head.
“Asks the man who has literally eaten me out in front of the window.”
“Yeah but that was…the middle…of the night…Jesus fucking Christ you’re good at that.”
Dax grips at the wall but there’s nothing to grab.
Finally he lowers to sit on a pile of boxes, making my job easier.
I can sit on my knees and enjoy him. Every delicious inch of him.
With my hand around the shaft and suck and swirl and draw circles around him, lapping up the precum and teasing the sensitive spot on the inside of the head.
I have to be honest. I have always enjoyed a blowjob. I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s the act of it. Maybe it’s the taste. The feel. The fact that the moment your mouth makes contact, the man buckles. Power trip maybe? Honestly, I am just going to go with all of the above.
As Dax’s thighs tighten, he grabs my hand, gripping it in his fist. “Fuck baby, that feel so good.”
I run my tongue from the base to the tip, up and down again before gripping the girth of it in my hand, pumping to keep the blood flowing. Then when I can feel him getting close, I cover the head with my mouth, stroking harder, faster, more firmly all while sucking.
“Fuck! Baby girl…I’m going to–” Dax covers his mouth with his own hand to stifle the groan as I finish him off. I aim towards the corner of my mouth and swallow hard, taking him in until he is finished.
Dax’s muscles go limp and I pull back with a smile, wiping a single drop of him from my lip with my thumb.
“Fuck…” he says again. “That was…”
“Good?” I ask, standing up.
He lets out a little laugh, still winded. “Yeah, I’d fucking say so.”
“Good,” I say, bending down to his face. “Don’t forget it.”
I give him a kiss. And then I walk out, feeling hotter than ever.