“Because I’m not the kind of man who can just kiss you.”
“And I’m not the kind of girl that you can just sleep with.”
They stared at each other for a long, hot moment. Mike parted his lips to speak but he never got the chance.
“Kids,” Phillipa called. “Come inside. It’s time to eat.”
*
The following morning a detective called Ellis to tell her she could return to her store. Ellis took the long route to work, not knowing why she chose it. It wasn’t planned but after leaving her parents’ house and stopping by her place to shower and change, she got in her car and took back roads. She got stuck behind a school bus, and for the first time she didn’t mind. Thoughts that she had put off all day yesterday came rolling into her brain.
Her store.
Was it a mistake to keep going? Had it been a mistake to open it in the first place? To take Belinda away from her higher-paying job? To give those women false hope? What if she couldn’t deliver? What if she was a fraud? She hated doubting herself. Doubt was for the old Ellis. The one who lived and breathed on a kind word from Jack.
Look at you, Ellis. Do you have any idea what people think when they see us together?
“Stop,” she said aloud. She wouldn’t let Jack enter her brain, poison her self-worth. She loved her store. It was the right decision. This robbery was just a tiny bump in the road, not a sign from God. She had to continue. There was no other choice.
She parked her car in the alley beside the store and got out slowly. Normally she rushed inside, eager to start her day, eager to update her blog. But today was different. She could still remember the feel of the man’s hand as it connected with her face. She could still hear the sound of the glass shattering.
“Hey.”
Ellis looked up at the greeting. She was surprised to see Mike there. Last night was torturous. Sitting beside him all night, knowing how his lips felt, knowing that he wanted her and that she could never be with him made movie night almost unbearable. Her parents thought it was the ordeal at the store that caused her to be so quiet, but it wasn’t. She could barely think about that when he was near her.
“I didn’t think I would see you so soon.”
“Is it because you turned me down when I asked you to come home with me?”
There he goes, totally knocking the wind out of me again.
“I wasn’t sure your fragile ego could take it.”
“It almost couldn’t.” One side of his mouth curled. “I cried a little.”
Ellis laughed even though she didn’t want to. “I have that effect on men sometimes.”
He came toward her, a tool belt in hand and heavy-duty black garbage bags in the other. It was then she took him all in. He was in ratty cargo shorts and a faded blue T-shirt. His hair was still damp as if he had just gotten out of the shower and come straight to the store.
“Don’t you have to work today?”
“I do, and I’m ready to take orders.”
“Really?” How was she supposed to stay away from him if he kept coming close to her? “Drop and give me twenty.”
“Shirt off or on?” He continued to grin at her then sobered, his eyes passing over her face then resting on her lips. He looked into her eyes, regret filling his voice, “I shouldn’t have asked you to come home with me last night.”
He shouldn’t have but she didn’t mind that he did. “We seem to lose all sense around each other.”
He shook his head. “I had all my senses, Ellis. I meant what I said—the timing just wasn’t right.”
Would it ever be? “I’m sure I’ll be fine doing the cleanup alone. Belinda and Cherri are coming this afternoon. You’re absolved of any guilt.”
“I don’t feel guilty.” He handed her the garbage bags and placed his hand on the small of her back, guiding her toward the door. “I just don’t want you alone in the store today.”
“It’s not like I’m going to get robbed again. That would be statistically impossible.” She walked toward the door, her heart pounding. Why couldn’t she be as confident as she pretended? “Has that ever happened?”
“Do you always have to argue?”
“I was a lawyer. I still am technically. It’s in my nature to argue.”
Through the window Ellis could see glass scattered across her floor. A physical ache entered her. She tried to ignore it and turned to Mike. “I’m thirsty. I think I could go for a frozen lemonade. You want one?”
“Yeah,” he said. “I’ll buy us both one later.” He stood behind her at the door. “Open it,” he insisted.
Her hand shook slightly as she turned the key in the lock. Mike increased the pressure of his hand on her body, a little reminder that he was still there. She pulled the door open, walked in, and looked around. It almost looked the same as when she’d entered yesterday. The clothes were still neatly arranged on the racks. The red dress still hung on the form. The display case was the only difference, broken beyond repair, all of the items it held gone, shoved in some criminal’s pockets.
“Where do you keep the broom, Ellis?” Mike asked, breaking her trance.
“In the back.”
He gently squeezed her shoulder. “It’s time to get back to normal.”
*
“You have a nice day, too!”
Mike watched Ellis slam the phone back into its cradle as he finished sweeping up the last remnants of glass on her floor. He could feel her frustration rolled together with the love for her store. To him the place was just a bunch of clothes, but to her it was her life. He never had anything he cared about as much as she cared about this place. Something inside him wanted to make this all better for her.
“Stupid, cheap assholes,” she muttered to herself. “If I didn’t pay my premium every month I could afford to have five display cases by now!”
“I take it that things didn’t go well with the insurance company?”
“No.” She grabbed the discarded broom and furiously swept the clean floor. “They’ll only cover the jewelry that was stolen, not the display case.” She blew a strand of hair from her face as she swept the same spot on the floor over and over. “The display case cost a fortune. I don’t have any money to replace it. I can’t leave it like this.” She stopped her furious cleaning and looked at him. “Maybe my mother is right. Maybe I should go back to being a lawyer.”
“Stop.” Mike confiscated the broom before Ellis had a chance to use it as a weapon. “You’re being dramatic. It’s broken glass. You aren’t going to let that make you want to give up on this place.”
“No, not give up. I would die before I’d do that, but maybe I could start taking on a few clients here and there until things pick up.”
“And when would you have time to do that, Ellis?” He grabbed her by her shoulders and gave her a little shake. “You spend fifteen hours a day here as it is. You need to take a breath and prioritize.”
“Sleep is entirely overrated,” she grumped. “And when did you become so sensible? Detective Hot Pants giving sound advice. Who would have thunk it?” She sighed. “It’s your fault I’m in this situation as it is.”
Mike frowned at her. “How did you come to that conclusion?”
“Because you’re here. Duh! Who else am I going to blame?”
He grinned at her. “I’m glad you’re being logical about this.”
She gave him a wobbly smile, and it caused him to want to kiss the side of her mouth. Why was he here? He’d told her that he didn’t want her to be alone at the store today, and that was true—but it wasn’t the whole truth. She got on his nerves. She snapped at him, teased him, drove him crazy, and was more trouble than she was worth. And yet he went out of his way to be near her.
Maybe because he kept thinking about his mother and her little shop that was just as much a home to him as the house he grew up in. He could only imagine how she would feel if somebody had desecrated her store. He would want somebody there for his mother.
&
nbsp; Or maybe he was full of shit. He liked Ellis. He liked her little store and being here, helping her clean up, made him feel a hell of a lot better than sitting behind his desk doing police work. When he was with Ellis that restless feeling disappeared. He didn’t need to be reflective, he didn’t need to think about the direction his life was taking because he could only think about her.
“I’m being a brat,” she said softly, meeting his eyes. “I would have left a long time ago if I were you.”
Mike shrugged. “I think I’ve developed a fetish for having pain inflicted upon me.”
“Kinky.” She gave him that naughty grin that always got to him. But it caused the nasty bruise on her cheek to shift upward and Ellis to wince slightly.
If he ever caught the guy who’d hurt her, the man would suffer. He wasn’t surprised he had been pulled off the case. His captain told him he was way too close to it, and she was right. All rationality left his brain when he was around Ellis.
“I think we can have your case fixed for cheap.” He dragged his eyes off her pretty but damaged face and back to the object they had been discussing.
“Are you a glass supplier in your free time?”
“Nope, but Colin is a restoration expert. I’m sure if we get him the measurements and take a few pictures he could find us a deal and do the work for cheap.”
“You really think he would do that, Mike?”
Mike nodded even though he hadn’t asked. Colin wouldn’t mind. At least Mike hoped he wouldn’t. “Do you have a tape measure?”
Two minutes later Mike was on his knees measuring the busted case when the bell over the door sounded.
“Ellis?” a man called to her.
Ellis, who was standing beside Mike jotting down the measurements, froze for a moment and took a step closer, her bare leg brushing his arm.
“What’s wrong?” Mike started to stand up but Ellis’s hand on his shoulder kept him where he was.
“It’s my ex,” she whispered as Mike angled his head around her legs to see the man coming toward them. He wore khakis and a pink polo accompanied by a watch that cost more than Mike made in a year. “Stay right there. Please.”
Mike nodded even though he wasn’t sure that he wanted to respect her wishes. He immediately disliked the guy. He had pompous jackass oozing out his pores.
“Get out, Jack. I have nothing more to say to you. I thought I made that clear yesterday.”
She talked to him yesterday? When?
“My aunt told me that you got robbed.” Jack stepped closer to Ellis. Mike stopped pretending to measure and looked up at Ellis, who held her body stiff but her head high as if she was expecting to be knocked down. “I needed to see for myself that you were okay.”
“I’m fine. You can go now.”
“You’re not fine.” Jack’s eyes zeroed in on Ellis’s cheek. “Fucking animal,” he cursed softly. “Did he do that to you yesterday?”
“No, I’ve taken to castigating myself for dating you.”
Mike had to repress his smile. He cheered Ellis’s quick and caustic comeback.
“Enough, Ellis! This robbery should prove my point that leaving me and your old life behind was a mistake. It’s time for you to give up this foolish dream and come home. It’s time for you to stop being stupid and realize what a huge mistake you made when you left me.”
Mike was halfway off the floor, ready to smack this asshole in the mouth, when Ellis dug her fingers into his shoulder. He knew she could handle herself so he stayed where he was. But if this guy said one more nasty thing to her he was going to get a fist in his face.
“You better watch how you talk to me, Jack. I will not be disrespected by you anymore.”
Good girl.
“I’m sorry, honey.” Jack’s expression softened immediately. “I always say the wrong thing to you, but I can’t accept the fact you are going to let a bad six months get in the way of the great year and a half we had. I know I hurt you and I’m willing to change but I can’t do it alone. You have got to help me through it.”
Ellis shook her head. “You hurt me, but my quitting my job and moving away wasn’t just about you. Couldn’t you see that I wasn’t happy being a lawyer? Couldn’t you see that I wanted more out of my life?”
Jack reached for Ellis’s hand but she pulled away. “I don’t accept that. We were fine until you found me with Louise. You never said anything about being unhappy with your job.”
“That’s because you were too self-centered to see the signs!” She turned away, trying to compose herself. “Can’t you see that I’m not alone? I have company. I don’t want to rehash our failed relationship right now.”
“Do you think I care if the help hears this?” he hissed. “I want to talk to my girlfriend.”
“You’re wrong again, buddy.” This time Mike stood with no interference from Ellis. “I’m not the help and she’s not your girlfriend.” Mike wrapped his arms around Ellis and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “She’s moved on and it’s time you do. Don’t call her. Don’t come by here. Tell your aunt the same thing. I’ve been understanding these past few weeks but now you’re starting to get on my nerves.”
Jack puffed his chest up. “Who do you think you are?”
Mike let go of Ellis and took a step toward Jack. He backed away. Mike had this guy pegged. He was all talk, the type of man who put others down to lift himself up. “I’m Detective Michael Edwards and I’m the only one she’s coming home to from now on.” He took another step toward Jack. “Get out.”
“You traded down, Ellis,” Jack said, giving her a disgusted glance as he backed away. “You’ll have to learn your lesson the hard way. You better hope I’m around when he moves on to greener pastures. He will eventually. I’m your best shot.”
Mike lunged toward Jack but the weasel was quick and darted away before Mike could lay his hands on him. He could kill the man.
“I could have handled him myself,” Ellis said from behind him. He turned to face her. His blood still simmering. “But I’m glad I didn’t have to.” She wrapped herself around him and held tight for a moment. “I’m sorry you had to see that.” she said into his ear. “But thank you for being here, Mikey. I’m not sure I could make it through this day without you.”
“Don’t mention it.” He hugged her tightly, ignoring the huge lump that formed in his chest. He was starting to feel something for this girl, something way bigger than lust, and it scared the shit out of him.
*
Ellis watched Mike all day while he played handyman around her store. He helped her put out the new stock and took out the trash. All of her current and fulfilled orders were now on the computer thanks to him. He even came through with his promise about her display case, calling Colin soon after Jack left. At the moment he was on a ladder changing a bulb that had gone out the day before. She hated to admit it but she liked having him around. He was helpful and efficient and free.
She knew why he was here. The man was a fixer, a caretaker, a protector by nature. If she ever met his mother she would have to thank her for raising such a nice boy. But Ellis felt his presence in her store was more than just being there for her. He seemed to like being there. He seemed to like discussing numbers and merchandise. He seemed like he was in his element. She could have kicked him out long ago. She could have assured him that Cherri and Belinda would help her clean up her store but part of Ellis felt like Mike needed to be here.
It made her wonder if maybe he was more attached to that little flower shop in Buffalo than he let on.
“I can see smoke coming out of your ears.” Mike climbed off the ladder and came to stand before her. “Stop thinking so hard. You’re making my head hurt.”
“I’ve got a lot on my mind,” she answered.
Mike pulled her close and slid his hands down her back. “You want to talk about it?”
“No.” She rested her head on his shoulder, unable to describe how surreal it felt to actually have him to lean on. Four ye
ars ago she had written him off as a self-centered asshole. Now every moment they were together he was proving to her he was not.
“Want to talk about the proposed tax hike for the upcoming year?”
“What?” She looked up at him. His eyes were twinkling. It made her smile. She looped her arms around his neck and reached up to kiss him.
But before her lips touched his, the bell over the door sounded and a harried brunette came rushing in. “Oh, Ellis. It was awful!”
“Karen, what was awful?” Ellis looked at her very good customer’s red blotchy face. “What happened?”
“I can’t find a wedding dress.” She collapsed against Ellis’s chest and wept. “I lost thirty-five pounds and I still don’t fit into any of the dresses. I went to six stores. Two of them didn’t carry any dresses over a size twelve and the stores that did carry my size … Everything looked like something my grandma would wear. My wedding is in less than a month. What am I going to do?”
“Oh Karen, I’m so sorry.” Ellis knew how she felt. When she was in high school she couldn’t find a prom dress that fit her unconventional body. She, too, had gone to many stores and ended up empty-handed and sobbing into her pillow. That was when Ellis learned to sew. If there wasn’t a dress for her to buy, she would make one.
“I couldn’t think of anyplace else to go. Do you know of a bridal salon that would help me?”
Ellis gently removed the weeping bride from her chest and squeezed her shoulders. “Take a deep breath, babe. I can’t think of any places off the top of my head but we are going to put our heads together and come up with a solution. Because you need to look hot on your wedding day.”
“Forget about hot. I just don’t want to be naked!”
“We could try the city. There’s always the Internet. We could search the Internet for a dress and then I could alter it for you.”
She took out the pad of paper that she kept behind the register and studied Karen. “Tell me how you envisioned yourself looking on your wedding day. Forget about size. Forget about what you think a fat girl should wear and tell me how you dream of looking.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
Dangerous Curves Ahead: A Perfect Fit Novel Page 12
