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When she leaves, I take a long, deep breath, not missing the way Apollo’s eyes skim over my outfit and hair.
“If you tell me that I clean up nicely, I’ll punchyouin the stomach.”
That makes him smile. “You look pretty tonight, but you were no less pretty this afternoon.”
That takes me off guard, so I frown and glance out the window to the darkness beyond. I know that there’s a view of the ocean here, but it’s too dark to see it.
“What did he say?” I glance his way again, and he keeps talking. “To make you get up and leave?”
“Well, aside from being a jerk in general, I didn’t like the way he spoke about Huckleberry Bay.”
That makes Apollo’s eyebrows climb in surprise, so I settle in and tell him about what Eric had to say, pausing only to place my order for meatloaf with Darla.
“What an asshole. Who is he that he thinks he can come in here and change the town?” he asks.
“Apparently, he thinks he’s come kind of mogul.” I shrug, wishing I’d punched the asshole in the face instead of the stomach. “But the worst part is that he says he’s going to put Luna out of business.”
“Absolutely not.” Apollo shakes his head.
“I don’t want him to buy the property next to my chapel,” I reply, thinking it over. “If it’s the lot I think it is, which I’m pretty sure it is, the same people I bought the chapel from own it. I’ll go talk to them.”
“Has he made an offer yet?”
“It didn’t sound like it, and I didn’t think it was even for sale.”
“Let me know if you need help with that.” He sighs and sips his water. “Okay, let’s not talk about the asshole anymore—unless, of course, you’re still upset and need to continue to vent. Then, I’m all ears.”
“I’m fine.” I wave him off and unwrap my silverware from the green cloth napkin. “He was a jerk. I’m over it, and I still get this amazing meatloaf. How was your day?”
“It was busy,” he says with a smile that I swear to Christ lights up the whole room. Apollo smiles at me all the time, but usually, it’s because he’s trying to needle his way under my skin. He hardly ever genuinely smiles at me. Well, except for that one night, which I absolutely shouldn’t be thinking about right now. I like it more than I should. “I had a job up in Lincoln City this morning, and then I helped out Luna until just an hour or two ago.”
“And then you came here for dinner?”
He pauses and then shakes his head. “No. I was driving by on my way home, and I saw you storm out the door toward your truck with that asshole hot on your heels. I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“It’s always good to know that I have backup in case I need it.” I chuckle, but he doesn’t laugh with me. His lips twitch, but he’s watching me so intently that it makes me want to squirm in my seat. I refuse to do that. “I appreciate it, and for the record, I’m not bitchy.”
He raises his eyebrows again in surprise. “You’re not?”
“I don’t mean to be.” I do squirm in my seat this time and hate myself for it. “You just irritate the hell out of me, and when I talk to you, I end up sounding like a complete ass, but it’s your fault.”
Now hedoeslaugh. “It’smyfault that you’re in a bad mood every time I’m around you?”
“Absolutely. Yes.”
“Why?”
I take a bite of meatloaf, thinking it over. “Damn, this isso good.”
“Don’t do that.”
My eyes fly to his. “Do what?”
“Moan like that.” He shifts in his seat and frowns, as if he’s uncomfortable. His jaw clenches. “Answer the question.”
“Because you’re too much,” I say and take another bite. “You’re too handsome, you’re too nice, and you’re tooApollo.”
“Those things irritate you?”
