Chapter 23
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
KNOX
Igrin stupidly as I bring the cream and blue mug to my lips, relishing the taste of the bitter roast.
Though the coffee I sip on is scalding, it’s not the only thing that’s got me hot.
It’s Lottie’s determined face, her furrowed brow and stern expression as she speaks to our contractor.
The authority and respect she commands has me dying to take her into the office, bend her over the desk, and fuck her crazy while the entire crew hears us from the site.
I smirk at my fantasy and pull the camera hanging from around my neck, quickly snapping a couple of pictures of her, focusing on her chocolate eyes, fierce and fiery.
“We can’t do it by the end of the month, Lottie. It just isn’t possible.” I watch as Luke, a six-five beast of a man, wider than a linebacker, cowers under the glare of the beautiful brunette before him.
“I think you’re lying, Luke. Or not trying hard enough. Either way, it’s not my problem. It’s yours. We already agreed on when the project was to be completed—check the contract—and you’re going to stick to it. Or else.”
He grinds his teeth before speaking. “I understand, but that was before you asked us to redo the shelves and knock down the bay in the middle of the—”
“Luke,” Lottie sighs and closes her eyes, placing a hand on his shoulder.
For a second, I feel the slightest bit territorial—that is, until I realize she’s patronizing him.
I stifle a laugh, and shake my head, because no one can stand up to this powerhouse of a woman.
If only she were able to see that herself sometimes.
I snort as he recoils, causing him to look in my direction for the first time since my arrival. Luke sizes me up before asking, “Can I help you? We’re in the middle of a meeting, here.”
“Luke.” Lottie sighs, and squeezing her eyes shut, pinching the bridge of her nose in exasperation. “Can we not have a rehash of last time, please? You guys were working so well together up until now.”
“Barely,” he growls back at her. “Your guy caused more trouble than help during the demo.”
I scoff and take a sip of my coffee.
“We both know you’d be even more delayed if it hadn’t been for my help.”
“Especially seeing as you were two men short, and he saved your ass by stepping in during the demolition,” she adds.
Trying to intimidate me, Luke shoots me a killer glare. I laugh at his attempt, which only seems to piss him off and make me happier. He can try and come at me, but it’s agility and finesse that wins fights, not always strength.
“Luke, Luke, Luke. Can we get back to the topic at hand? You keep telling me no and it’s not possible, but we both know you could finish by the previously agreed-upon date if you wanted to, right?
” She looks up at him, squeezing her grip on his shoulder.
Unconsciously, I take a step forward. “Don’t lie to me and tell me you can’t just because you want to take extra long breaks—” Luke opens his mouth to interrupt her, but she holds a hand to stop him.
“Ah-ah! Don’t try to deny it. I saw it when you did my loft, and I’ve seen your boys in action this week. ”
He’s been to her loft? He’s seen her bedroom?
Suddenly, I look the man over once more, no longer appraising him as the contractor to our business endeavor with the problem with authority, but as a potential opponent in the battle that is obtaining Lottie’s affection.
I know she says they dated a long time ago, but I don’t like the way he stares at her sometimes.
Like the last time they were together wasn’t over a decade ago.
She’s mine, asshole.
And I have the scratches on my back and she has the love marks on her chest to prove it.
“So, are you going to deliver what we talked about by the date we agreed upon?” She asks, voice sweet but laced with lethal venom.
He pauses before licking his lips and surrendering with a nod.
“Good. Remember, as per our contract, we get a ten percent discount every week you delay the project further.”
He sighs in defeat and removes his backwards hat to run his fingers through his blonde hair. Luke clutches his Red Sox cap to his chest and says, “Fine. Walk me through what you want for the build again, then.”
Lottie shoots a victorious grin over her shoulder at me with a wink, making it impossible not to smile back. My chest tightens when I think how amazing she is, how commanding and intelligent. She knows exactly what she’s doing and has no idea how sexy she looks doing it.
I’m an absolute goner for this woman.
After an hour of torturing Luke, she finally makes her way back to the front of the store, where Jenn and I have been going over our remaining inventory.
“I’ve spoken to a few bookstores in nearby towns, and many have agreed to buy some of our books at cost, but not all. Unfortunately, since Walter didn’t like to purchase best sellers for the store, it’s not a lot.” Jenn frowns, looking down at her printed inventory sheets.
“What percentage of our inventory is it, though?” Lottie’s brow, pull together, she crosses her arms in front of her chest—all business.
“Roughly forty percent?” Jenn winces, but Lottie nods in encouragement.
“That’s not bad, Jenn. I’m actually surprised you managed to sell so much of it, considering.
” Jenn’s grin is wide and splitting, her chest filling with pride.
“As for the balance, we can donate to local libraries, which could give us a tax break—we’ll have to double-check with an accountant or something—or include it as part of the sale of the store itself. ”
Jenn nods seriously, reviewing the charts again. “Sweet. I’m gonna go back into the office and keep calling stores, though. Just in case. If I can’t sell more inventory by the end of the day, then I’m gonna call it.”
“Great. Knox, you should go over the balance of rare books that Walter has upstairs. We still need to pay off the rest of Luke’s fees eventually, plus the electrician.
Once you’re done with your coffee, of course.
” She shoots me one of her smiles, the ones she saves just for me.
“I have some paperwork to go through today, so I’ll see you guys around.
” She walks away, leaving me a nice view of her ass on the way out.
“Oh, man, you are so far gone it’s hilarious.” Jenn shuffles her paperwork, gathering it up in her arms before starting for the office. She chuckles and starts to head for the office, but I follow.
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about you being a total smitten kitten. A love bug. A complete—”
“Alright already. I get it. You think I’m into Lottie. And I am. It’s not like it’s a secret or anything. We all know I’ve been dying to go out with her again. And we’ve been… kinda seeing each other. Casually,” I add nervously. “It’s… It’s casual.”
“Oh no, my friend.” She laughs, dropping the stack of papers onto the desk and taking a seat. “You are way past being ‘into’ her and ‘casual’,” she air-quotes. “I’m not sure that I’d use the L-word yet, but I think you’re for sure on your way there.”
I could try to deny it, tell her she’s insane. But something inside me repels the idea of saying so. So instead of trying to deny her claims, I laugh, a bit bashful. “In all honesty, what’s not to like? She’s incredible.”
Jenn grins smugly, eyes shining. After a few seconds, though, her expression shifts. “Just be careful with Lottie. Because she may act all tough, but she’s been hurt a lot, and I will mess you up if you hurt her.”
I frown, disappointed in Jenn for even thinking for one second I’d ever do that to the only woman who’s ever had this hold on me. Though of course, she doesn’t know that, does she?
“I have no intentions of hurting Lottie. I really, really like her.”
“No one starts a relationship off intending to hurt the other person—unless you’re like a villain, or something.
But it happens. People end up hurt by love more often than not.
Happily Ever Afters aren’t as common as we’d love to believe.
And, despite her addiction to reading romance novels, unfortunately Lottie has been at the forefront of the deepest of heartbreaks. ”
“I’m not divorced or anything, but we’ve all had our hearts broken. I’m not naive enough to think—”
“I can assure you, you haven’t been hurt in the same way she has.” She presses her lips together, eyes narrowed at me in warning.
I pause and watch Jenn turn the computer on, typing away as I stand there like an idiot just staring at her.
I know Lottie is amazing and beloved, but the protective instincts she seems to inspire in everyone around her gnaw at me, making the hunger and curiosity to find out more even stronger.
She said her ex-husband didn’t hurt her that way—meaning he didn’t get violent with her—but I’m sure there’s so much more to the story.
I want to pry, to ask what really happened because I feel like I’m just getting small pieces from everyone around us.
Lottie’s told me what happened in her divorce, but I’ve always known there was more she was hiding the night she barely opened up.
But after our argument that night, I haven’t wanted to push.
And though some might make the assumption that I could probably ask her now seeing as the nature of our relationship has changed, I’d gather it’s the exact opposite.
I’d stake my life that if I were to press her now on her past relationship, she’d end things with me in an instant.
By closing time, Jenn, Lottie, and I have discussed next steps for the upcoming weeks.
Between shipping out sold inventory, helping out the construction crew, restoring and reselling Walter’s books, and then repainting the store, we definitely have our work cut out for us.
But I’m not worried about it—Lottie’s at the helm of this boat.
She knows what she’s doing and this whole project seems to have breathed a new life in her.
The entire day, I’ve watched her in awe. Eyes bright, shoulders back, commanding respect and attention from everyone around without even having to say a word. It’s inspiring, and admirable. Most of all, it’s sexy as fuck.
“You going home already?” I ask as she shuts down the office computer.
She smirks, shoving some folders into her purse. “It is closing time, after all.”
“Yeah, but as that song goes, we don’t have to go home; we just can’t stay here.” She throws her head back and laughs, giving me a look.
“Aren’t you a little young to know what that song is?”
I repress the urge to wince. “C’mon. What’re your plans for tonight?”
“You want the truth?”
“Always.”
She grimaces a little. “I was going to go home and read something spicy on my e-reader, but I guess that plan is shot to hell now, isn’t it? Thief.” She smiles.
“You want it back? I’ll give it back to you right now if you want.” A small part of me falls, regretting the offer. I kind of liked looking into her collection, a little piece of her soul, always giving me hope for something more.
She considers my offer for a second and shakes her head. “You can keep it a little longer, so long as you’re actually using it.”
“Oh, I plan to use it alright.” I smirk smugly, not wanting to tell her just how much I’ve been able to get through. I’m not a fast reader by any means, but I suddenly found myself getting sucked into these stories, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to read a couple more.
“So what are you up to, then, now that some evil person has taken away your e-reader?”
“I guess I’m just going to have to find someone to do all those things in real life. Keep me occupied.” She smiles and walks out the front door, leaving me slack-jawed.
I don’t hesitate to follow her.