Chapter 3
Chapter Three
MADDIE
T his guy has got to be a mix of the cutest human I’ve ever met and also the hottest. He’s like a cinnamon roll MMC with a dash of age gap, and I’m slightly into it.
It’s just a shame I swore off men a while back.
Parker’s stunning green eyes hit me right in the chest as soon as I saw him.
He’s tall, at least 6’2”, and built like a linebacker.
His winter coat only adds to his bulk. His dark, wavy hair looks messy, like he washed it and couldn’t be bothered to run a comb through it, but it works for him.
The sides and a few strands on top have a hint of gray, and I have to stop myself from wanting to run my hand through them.
“What can I do for you?” I ask again, seeing as the first time he only gave me his name.
Breaking out of his stupor, he starts, “Oh shit, yeah, sorry. I’m looking for books about Christmas or the holidays for my daughter.”
I give a small chuckle before I deadpan, “I don’t sell holiday books.”
He blinks, then blinks again. “Books about Christmas?”
“Nope, don’t sell those either,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest. I’m enjoying this encounter a little bit too much. His pinched lips and furrowed brow make him look like he’s just sucked on a lemon.
“Why?” he asks incredulously, his eyebrows raised enough to hit his hairline. “I’ve never known any bookstore not to sell them.”
I shrug. “I’m not most bookstores.”
“I can see that,” he murmurs, his eyes darkening.
Even though I’ve only been in his company for less than five minutes, there’s something about him. Something that has me relaxing for the first time in forever… but that’s weird, right? You don’t feel that way about someone the minute you meet them, do you?
“Can you get any in? I know my mom buys online, but I’d rather use a local store than go through one of the bigger chains if I can help it.” He grins, and my heart flutters slightly, but I lock it down tight. I will not let this man get to me.
“Nope, sorry. Christmas books don’t enter my shop. Ever,” I tell him, leaning against the back counter and watching a look of horror spread across his face.
His mouth drops open, eyes going wide as he says, “Ever, ever? As in never?”
That earns a quirk of my lips. “That’s right, Parker. Never.”
For an older man, his bouncy energy is kind of endearing. He’s like a cute puppy dog.
“We need to change this immediately,” he exclaims, throwing his hands in the air. “It’s like you hate Christmas or something.”
“Or something,” I mumble to myself .
Rounding the counter, I grab the books off the top of it and head to the shelves where they need stacking.
I had a ton of new books shipped in this morning, ready for the Christmas rush, and I need to make sure they’re out on display.
The irony of hating the holidays but needing to keep the shelves stocked isn’t lost on me.
Out of the corner of my eye, I watch as Parker picks up a book and puts it in the completely wrong place.
Normally, that would’ve been something that annoyed the shit out of me, but with him?
I have to bite my lip to stifle the smile that’s threatening to break free.
The look of concentration on his face is almost my undoing.
I put him out of his misery and take the book he’s currently holding so I can return it to its rightful place. Spinning around, I go back to my previous position and begin taking more books out of the box.
“Maddie, please,” Parker groans from behind me. “You’re breaking my heart here.”
I bite my lip and glance over my shoulder at him; his puppy dog eyes and hands held together in prayer almost get to me, but I shake my head and stand firm.
“Sorry, but I refuse to have anything remotely Christmas-related in this store,” I reiterate, wiping my hand down the cover of a book and removing the dust that’s accumulated.
“What if I were to say please?”
I choke on a laugh as I place a book on the shelf. “You can say please all you like, but it won’t change my mind. I. Hate. Christmas.”
He suddenly becomes serious, all joking aside, and his eyes bore into mine with an absolute certainty. “Who hurt you?”
“You got all day?” I quip before turning my back on him and walking through the stack of shelves, arms laden with more books.
I hear Parker follow behind me as he calls out, “For you, I’ve got the rest of my life.”
I burst out laughing. I can’t help it. When I’ve composed myself enough, I wipe the tears from my eyes and pick up the discarded books from the shelf.
Glancing at him, I say, “That’s three times in the space of ten minutes you’ve made me laugh. I think that’s a new record.”
He gives me a shit eating grin in return. “I aim to please.”
I’m sure you could definitely please me.
Shaking my head of my errant thoughts, I keep walking, reminding myself that the men in my life have always hurt me, and I don’t need another one to add to the list.
“Let me change your mind about Christmas and the holidays,” he says, following behind me again.
He’s like a bad smell that won’t leave, except… his cologne is pretty nice.
“Parker, I just met you. Why on earth would I let you change my mind about the holidays? You could be some weird stalker guy for all I know,” I exclaim, rounding on him, my eyes wide.
“Okay, fair point,” he muses, a hand to his lips as he assesses me. “I’ll just have to come back each day and convince you.”
“You do that,” I drawl, trying to give off a nonchalant vibe when, in fact, a thrill of excitement runs through me.
He taps the bookcase he’s leaning against, declaring, “It’s a date.”
“Wh-what—” I stammer, but he’s already halfway out of the shop .
“I’ll see you soon, Maddie,” he calls over his shoulder.
The doorbell chiming tells me he’s left, and I scoff. There’s no way he’ll come back, and even if he does, he won’t change my mind.