The Blonde Barnacle Returns
Griff
I should've known the make-out streak couldn't last.
Before the jingle of the bell, I'd been in heaven – with Maisie's lips pressed to mine and her hands roaming like they were on a treasure hunt and I was the prize.
But let's be honest here. The real prize was her.
Lucky for me, a dumbass named Devon had let Maisie slip through his fingers like a drunken sailor trading gold for gravel.
Maybe I should've been grateful. And yet, as I spotted him, standing just inside the door, with the blonde barnacle clinging to his side, gratitude was the last thing I felt.
What I felt was annoyance.
That fucker.
I wasn't jealous. Maisie wasn't the cheating type.
But her ex was bothering her.
And that was bothering me.
Next to me, Maisie whispered, "Let me handle it, okay?"
I gave her a look and didn't bother to lower my voice. "Why?"
She kept whispering. "Because you look mad."
I grinned. "Yeah, but not at you."
From somewhere near the door, Sierra called out, "You do know we can hear you, right?"
I gave the empty box a small shove, sending it tumbling off the counter. It hit with a soft thud that made Devon jump like I'd dropped a brick instead of cardboard.
What a pussy.
Today, he was decked out like a dude in a yacht commercial – white jeans, no socks, boat shoes, and a baby blue polo that clung too tight to his chest.
His hair looked freshly shellacked, and his sunglasses were perched on his head just right, like he'd used a mirror to place them. The only thing missing was a sweater knotted around his neck and a nametag that read, Richie McDouche.
At his side, Sierra looked ready for caviar, cocktails, and maybe a side hustle at a brothel. Her lashes were still too long, her heels were still too high, and her skintight dress looked ready to strangle her thighs.
She was clutching Devon's arm like she thought someone might try to steal him, which was pretty damn funny, considering that on her last visit, she'd been offering to swap.
The thought had barely crossed my mind when she dropped Devon's arm and stepped away like the guy had the plague. She gave me a sultry smile, complete with fluttering lashes and a cock of her hip. "Oh, hey."
What the fuck?
Moments ago, she'd admitted she could hear us. Now she was acting all surprised?
What a phony.
It made me appreciate Maisie all the more – a real girl with honest emotions that didn't change on a dime.
Maisie reached for my arm and gave it a small squeeze that felt a lot like a silent plea to be nice.
I wasn't feeling nice – not toward them, anyway. Still, I gave a slight nod and kept my lips sealed – for now.
This was her shop, her ex, and her decision – at least until things got ugly. And, if it came to that, I didn't care whose shop it was.
I wasn't going to let Maisie be abused, especially by two dipshits with more money than class.
But then, Maisie surprised me by giving Sierra one hell of a glare. "What are you doing here?"
I couldn't help but grin. That's my girl.
But Sierra wasn't grinning, and neither was her sidekick. They both looked shocked and a little insulted, like a fancy restaurant had just declined their card.
Sierra recovered first. "Oh, chill out. We're just here for an appointment."
But Maisie looked anything but chill. Her mouth tightened. "For what? To rent a bike?"
"Don't be ridiculous." Sierra pointed to her own shoes. "These are Louboutins."
Maisie squinted toward Sierra's feet. "So?"
Sierra smirked. "So I'm not gonna ride a bike in these . "
Maisie and I shared a glance. But it was Maisie who finally said it. "You do know this is a bike shop, right?"
"Of course I know," Sierra said. "Do I look stupid?"
I couldn't help it. "Do you mean with those lashes, or…?" I didn't bother finishing the sentence, but let it trail off naturally, leaving the rest of it unsaid.
Incomplete or not, the message landed just fine. With a sudden scowl, Sierra looked to Devon and demanded, "Well?"
He frowned. "Well what?"
She put her hands on her hips. "Aren't you gonna stick up for me?"
"For what?"
"He just insulted my eyelashes!"
Devon took a step back. "Yeah, but they're not really yours."
She looked like a viper about to strike. When she spoke, she practically hissed. "What did you say?"
He shifted. "I just mean…it's not like you grew them yourself."
She threw up her hands. "Oh, for God's sake. You don't get anything, do you?"
Devon's gaze drifted to Maisie, and it lingered longer than was decent. Softly, he said, "No. I guess I don't."
Judging from the look in his eyes, I wasn't the only one who saw Maisie as the real prize.
I felt a grin split my face. Sorry, fucker . Maisie was mine now.
Not Devon's.
Dumbass.
I slipped an arm casually around Maisie's waist before returning my attention to Sierra. "So, why are you here?"
Watching us, Sierra yanked Devon tight to her side, like this was a contest she was determined to win.
Whatever. It wasn't like I cared. The way I saw it, those two deserved each other.
In answer to my question, Sierra replied, "For the appointment, just like I said."
Maisie's brow furrowed. "Yeah, but you never said with who."
Just then, the door jingled, and Chad strolled in, holding a clear plastic cup with a long red straw. He gave the drink – something pink and frothy – a long, noisy slurp before looking to Sierra and saying in a half-hearted way, "Sorry I'm late."
Her eyes narrowed. "You don't look sorry."
She was right about that. Mostly, Chad looked annoyed. "Look, I'm here, aren't I?"
She gave him a stiff smile. "Yes. But we could've met at the coffee shop like I wanted."
"Yeah, but I wanted to see Shark Bike."
"But you can see it any time." Her tone grew snotty. "Why don't you just buy it if you love it so much?" But then, she brightened. "Hey, I know! We'll buy it."
Chad frowned. "What?"
And now Sierra was on a roll. "And we'll give it to you." Her chin lifted. "In return for wedding coverage."
He snorted. "Sorry dude. The Chadster's not for sale." He looked to Maisie, and his gaze grew speculative. "But that's got me thinking…you wanna sell the Shark?"
Maisie blinked. "You're joking, right?"
"Me? Nah, I'm legit. Name your price."
Maisie stared. "Seriously?"
"No joke," Chad said. "Make it fair, and I'll take it today."
Maisie opened her mouth to reply, but Sierra cut her off. "Hey!" She gave a stomp of her foot. "Forget the stupid bikes! We're supposed to be talking about me!"
A stunned silence settled over the shop until Devon said, "You mean us."
Sierra rolled her eyes. "Sure, whatever." She turned back to Chad. "So about the wedding, are you gonna cover it or what?"
He took another noisy slurp of his drink. "Nah. I don't think so." But then he turned to me and Maisie. "Now if you two got married? That , I'd livestream."
I grew very still. So did Maisie . I wasn't sure what she was thinking, but I knew what I was thinking, and it wasn't half-bad – well, except the part about inviting an influencer along for the ride.
Sierra gave a loud huff. "Don't be silly. They're not gonna get married."
"Why not?" Chad asked.
"Because he's a billionaire," Sierra said. "He could have anyone. So why would he marry her?"