Leaving my broken laptop in the back, I grab my purse from the front seat and climb out of my car, determined not to let anything get me down after the amazing news from earlier. It’s going to be a good day. I’m going to get a ton of tips. My boss isn’t going to notice I’m ten minutes late for my shift.And, my car’s gas tank is mysteriously going to be refilled. It’s going to be a good day. I can feel it in my marrow. Hell, it’s going to be so good, I bet?—
My heels dig into the pavement.
Well, shit.
I jinxed myself again.
Squinting, I scrutinize the figure across the parking lot, hoping I’m wrong. Nope. It’s definitely a Harden brother with a phone pressed to his ear.
Why is Ford here?
As if he can feel my stare, his attention snaps to me, and he says something into his cell, then ends the call. You’d think the sun is guided by God himself, because it peeks through the clouds, shining down on the Adonis in an olive green henley andjeans. Yup. The Harden genes are strong AF and hit harder than the caffeine I know is waiting for me inside. All it takes is one step in my direction for the same swirling nausea that hit when my laptop died to come back with a vengeance.
Why me?
His legs are just as long as Jagger’s, eating up the distance between us as he tosses a small handful of something into his mouth. My brows dip in confusion. When he reaches me, he spits something onto the pavement and offers me a small bag full of…sunflower seeds?
My nose scrunches in annoyance, and I shake my head in response.No, no, I would not like any of your sunflower seeds. Or your presence. So, if you could just…run along now, that’d be great. Oooo, or my money. If you want to give me back my money, or, at the very least, leave me alone and pretend like I don’t exist, I could get on board with that option, too.
One thing’s for sure. I need to wrap up this conversation as quickly as possible so I can clock into work before my boss fires me.
“What do you want?” I ask him. It isn’t rude, or at least I don’t mean it to be. I’m genuinely curious. It’s not like we run in the same circles or anything, so why show up at my work unannounced, let alone try to talk to me? I mean, if he was here for coffee, it’d be one thing, but something tells me there’s more to his visit, and it leaves me on edge.
“Hello to you, too, Violet.”
“Seems you’ve found my name,” I note.
He smiles but doesn’t comment. “Whatcha doing?”
What does it look like I’m doing?
I reel in my inner bitch and tilt my head toward The Bean Scene’s entrance, then glance down at the nametag pinned to my left boob.
“Working, huh?” he says, stating the obvious.
It takes everything inside of me to keep my eyes from rolling. “Yup. And I’m late. So, if you’ll excuse me?—”
He motions toward the red brick building. “Lead the way, Vi.”
Seriously?
I want to kick him in the shin but stop myself. It’ll only make me more late for my shift. Giving in, I march across the parking lot while Ford trails behind like a lost puppy.
“Did Jagger tell you about the deal?” he asks.
“Deal?” I ask over my shoulder.
“About the money?—”
“This again?” I shake my head and open the front door of The Bean Scene. “Not interested.”
“Not interested in earning your money back?” Ford tsks as he follows me in without an invitation. “Who are you, and what have you done with the Violet Reeves who kept cockblocking me all because she was so desperate for me to hand over my money?”
It’s official. The audacity of the Harden brothers is on a whole other level. “You meanmymoney?” I correct him. So much for having a good day. This guy is clearly the king of ruining things. Snatching an apron from behind the counter, I wave at a fellow worker, ignore my manager’s side-eye, and slip the navy blue fabric over my neck. I tug a little too hard on the straps as I tie them around my waist and cringe.
Okay,ouch. Note to self. Be gentle until the bruise heals. Got it.
Oblivious, Ford simply stares, not taking the bait, but not shutting me down, either. The question is, why? Why bring up the money? Why follow me inside The Bean Scene? Why talk to me at all?
