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“It’s a deal that would benefit us both.”
“The only thing that could benefit us both is you hearing what I’m saying.”
“I’m hearing it, I just wonder if you know what you’re doing.”
My eyebrows shot up. Did he really just say that to me? Did he just imply that I don’t know how to run a bar? “Excuse me?”
If he’d recognized my anger, he didn’t let on. He rested his right foot on his left thigh and gripped his ankle. “You’re awfully young to be running a bar. You’re only twenty-five and barely out of college.”
“That happens when you go back to complete your Masters.”
“Fancy degrees don’t run businesses, Ms. Lloyd.”
“I didn’t think dumb people could either, but here I am, looking at you.”
He stared at me.
“I’m not quite sure who you think you are, Mr. Fox, but I can assure you, I’m sure as hell not who you think I am.” The sharp edge to my voice made him sit up a little straighter. “While you seem pretty certain that a Masters in Business Studies won’t run a business, you’re neglecting to realize that I’ve been running this bar with and for my father for the past seven years while I’ve been studying. My age has nothing to do with my ability to keep this bar as successful as it is. I’m telling you that I’m not selling the bar, and even if I were, to sell it to someone who has zero respect for me would be an insult to my parents.” Not to mention to myself. “I can’t possibly see what else is there is to discuss, so I apologize for you wasting your time coming here this morning, but I think you should leave now.”
I was furious. I’d known he was rude from the phone calls, but to sit in front of me in my building and tell me I was incapable of running the very thing I’d grown up being taught to run was beyond anything I’d ever known. The audacity of him was on another level.
He didn’t move until I stood and held the door open pointedly. Then, in the same silence he’d adopted for the past few minutes, he followed me to the front doors where I unlocked them and held that one open, too.
Damien Fox stepped in front of me into the doorway and stopped. With his attention on me, he ran his gaze along the length of my body, not pausing to linger anywhere until our eyes met. Dark brown with hints of gold, his eyes were mesmerizing.
It was a shame his personality didn’t match his looks.
“You’re really quite fascinating, Ms. Lloyd,” he said in a low voice that probably would have made me shiver if I weren’t so angry.
“So is the Crime and Investigation channel,” I shot back. “It would be a better choice of your time.”
He laughed.
He actually laughed at me.
“You would think.” A wry smile stretched across his full, pale pink lips. “I’ll see you soon, Ms. Lloyd.”
I sincerely hoped not. “We’ll see.” I returned the smile and was about to shut the door when I saw Abby heading our way.
A scowl formed on her face when she realized who was standing in front of me. Ignoring him completely, she said, “Morning, Dahlia.”
“Morning, Abs. The coffee’s on.”
She gave me a thumb up before disappearing inside.
“Abs,” Damien mused. “Abby, right? Your manager.”
I couldn’t help my smirk. “She doesn’t like you much. And now, I understand why.”
That smile reappeared on his face. It was a cross between a cocky grin and a sexy smirk, and I had a feeling it was one he saved for difficult people. “There’s plenty to like about me, Ms. Lloyd. You’ll find that out soon enough.”
God, he was arrogant.
“Ten points for trying, but I have to get back to work now, so…” I trailed off and gave him a pointed look.
So, get lost now, please.
He inclined his head toward me, and then, I noticed something I’d missed before.
He had a scar, right beneath his right eye. It was faded, but it had caught in the sunlight that bounced off his face. About two inches long and relatively thin, it added a ruggedness to his overly-polished appearance.
How had he gotten that scar?
And why did I want to know?
“We’ll speak soon.” His voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
“No, we won’t. We’re done here.”
“We’re far from being done,” he murmured, his eyes dropping to my lips.
My answer was to shut the door. Slam it, actually. In his face.
If only the door were soundproof, I wouldn’t have to listen to that rich laugh of his through it.
I turned to find Abby standing next to the sweeping, circular bar, shaking her head.
“He’s such a jerk.”
It was hard to argue with the truth.
Three
Dahlia
I hefted the heavy box of paperwork off the desk of my dad’s old office. The home office was just as bad as the one at the bar, and I felt like I’d already shredded an entire forest’s worth of paper.
