CHAPTER FOUR

DOMINIC

The curvy little spitfire's glare could roast me alive.

Avery, that's the name Mike used, and I roll it around in my mind as I fight to get my body back under control. But if she's going to put her breasts on display, I am sure as hell going to take advantage of the view.

I forced myself to ignore her curves earlier, choosing to mess around on my phone rather than gawk at the unexpected beauty before me. Who knew Mike's prickly employee would be so damn alluring?

"Did you forget something?" Her cold words do nothing to make me feel bad about checking her out. If anything, it makes me want to melt that wall of ice she erected.

"Clearly, I forgot to request a view the first time." My eyes drop pointedly to her chest again.

"Excuse me?" Avery crosses her arms, which does the opposite of what she wants and emphasizes her lush tits even more.

"I'm returning Mike's key," I say, rather than repeating myself. The silver metal reflects the overhead lights from its position between my thumb and pointer finger.

"I'll take it." Our hands brush briefly before Avery jerks back, and I grit my teeth at her reaction.

I'm not fucking toxic.

Someone enters the store and without a word, she steps around me to greet them. I hate being ignored, especially when Avery transforms into a different person for the stranger—all sunshine and smiles versus the ice queen.

It shouldn't bother me since I barely know the woman. I've got bigger problems to deal with than a feisty hellcat, but damn if I can resist the challenge she presents. It's been a long while since a woman's captured my interest. I'd almost forgotten how exhilarating the push/pull between a man and a woman could be.

My phone vibrates with a call from Matt—proving that I have no business standing here covertly watching Avery pluck a couple of caps off a rack by the door and offer them to an older gentleman. Dragging my feet towards the door, I grimace when Avery stiffens as I pass by.

Like I'm a fucking pariah whose mere touch will contaminate her.

***

Matt and I decided to grab dinner at Daffodil's a few days later to discuss our next steps, since Stone Precision will have roots planted in Suitor's Crossing soon.

After touring the dusty dregs leftover from its previous tenant, Mike and I negotiated the terms of the lease, including him paying for a service to clean the space before we moved in. He apologized for the less-than-pristine shape of the office—blaming a hectic schedule—but it didn't bother me as long as it was taken care of before Stone Precision took over. The office had the best bones and location of any place I toured, so I could afford to be a little forgiving of its current state.

"Hopefully, you"ll be able to get the office in shape for opening by yourself, since I"m leaving for Houston after the lease is signed. Then I have presentations in San Francisco and Atlanta," Matt says, swirling a fry in his cup of garlic aioli before popping it into his mouth.

"I"ll be fine. It just needs our desks and computers. Maybe a few chairs."

He laughs like I said something ridiculous. "Yeah… That"s all it"ll need." His tone throws me off.

"What? You think I'm wrong?"

He shrugs as he takes a bite of his burger. "All I'm saying is we want this to look professional, right? Welcoming. That might take more than a few desks. We need to set aside space for a waiting area. Fill it with fancy shit, you know?"

Above the heads of other restaurant-goers, a riot of curls catches my eye. Avery. She weaves her way towards an old lady sitting at the bar. With pastel pink hair and glasses attached to a beaded chain, the woman looks to be in her eighties. Is that Avery's grandmother? Great-aunt?

"Fancy shit, huh?" I study Avery as an idea begins to form. "Something an interior designer could set up."

"Now you're catching on."

This is why Matt and I work well together. Sometimes he's able to see the whole picture while I'm stuck nitpicking details.

"I'll head down to Everton Friday or Saturday. Hopefully, I'll have our new designer by then, and we can make headway on what else the office might need." I make a note in my calendar, although I hardly need a reminder to talk to Avery—no matter how hard I've tried, she hasn't been far from my thoughts this week. Not after the way she worked her way under my skin.

While not technically a professional designer, anyone who works at a place called Design Time has to be creative, right? I'd be killing two birds with one stone: decorating the office on a budget and getting to know Avery. Which will either end with this sudden fixation fizzling out or running its course with her in my bed, and then fizzling out.

Because I never stay interested in a woman for long. Stone Precision always draws my full attention back to it.

"Sounds like a plan. Are you going to finish that? I"m starving."

I grunt in exasperation and push my half-eaten burger towards him. Matt would always rather eat than work. He"d actually prefer anything else over work, but he's damn good at his job when he has to be, which is why we're still business partners.

I don't tolerate lazy slackers—not in life and certainly not in my business. That's why we vet people before agreeing to take them on as clients. Make sure they're serious and open to advice and the potential for change. I'm not going to work my ass off for someone else to flush it down the drain because they have a terrible work ethic.

Pulling out my cell, I drag my perpetually straying gaze away from Avery to catch up on some emails while I wait for Matt to finish.

"It"s rude to be on your phone during dinner," Matt points out.

"We"re not on a date, moron."

Matt almost chokes on his food at the comeback. "Yeah, because you haven"t been with a woman in over a year. Since what's her name… Lydia, Lisa? No wonder you have no manners. You"re out of practice."

I take a gulp of my beer. This is one of Matt"s favorite topics: me and women. Because he travels so much, he takes that as an opportunity to also sleep with as many women as possible. He's never understood why I'm not the same way.

It never occurred to him that I've been busy building the company. I don"t have time to date, and frankly, it doesn"t interest me. Or it didn't, I think as I stole another glance at Avery. She's laughing, her face completely open and free of tension—a way she's never been with me the two times we've met.

"I told you we weren"t going to discuss this anymore." I don't need Matt meddling in my affairs. Especially now that I'm considering letting someone into my life.

Avery and her companion gather their things to leave after only ordering drinks. It's time to make a move and put my hastily made plan into action.

"I"m ready to go. Here"s money for my meal." I throw some cash on the table and leave. Matt's probably going to text me asking why I was in such a hurry, but I'm not about to let him know I'm chasing a woman—a beautiful but icy Avery.

The two women hug goodbye before Avery heads to the crosswalk at the corner. Jogging to the light, I lean around her to press the button for the pedestrian walking signal as if this is a casual run-in rather than me following her outside like a damn stalker.

All casualty flies out the window, though, when pain erupts in my cheek after Avery's arm whacks me in the face. Her short scream rents the air, and she almost trips over her feet in the swift twisting panic of her body. "Who—Dominic? Are you trying to scare me to death? You don"t run up behind a woman like that at night!"

"Sorry, I wanted to make sure I made this light." There's not a car in sight, but that doesn"t mean I can"t use the crosswalk like a good citizen.

Rubbing my jaw to ease the sting of her unexpected assault, I ask, "What was that? Some kind of ninja move?"

"You're lucky I didn't have my katana or else you'd be—" She slices her hand across her neck, and unbidden, a chuckle works its way through my disgruntlement at her theatrics.

"Please tell me you don't really have a katana stashed away at home."

"Let's hope you never find out," she warns, crossing her arms and turning away from me.

Determined not to let her dismiss me, I pushed. "I saw you at Daffodil"s tonight. Who was your friend?"

"None of your business."

"Not up for friendly conversation?"

She doesn"t respond.

Is she trying to ignore me now?

Grinning, I continue, "How long have you worked for Mike?"

The light changes and my long strides match her short, stomping ones as we cross the street. I'm not sure she's going to answer when she snaps, "Four years. Why?"

"Like I said, making friendly conversation. Mike gave me a tour of the machines. Intimidating stuff. Did you always want to become an industrial embroiderer?" Maybe if I keep her talking, she'll relax, and I can broach the topic of her helping me decorate the Stone Precision office.

"Hardly. I applied for a graphic design position, but it obviously never materialized." A tinge of bitterness adds an edge to her tone. "Since we"re playing Twenty Questions, why did you move to Suitor's Crossing?"

As I suspected, Avery's full potential wasn't being used at Design Time, making my plan seem more tangible.

"How do you know I haven't lived here for years already?" I tease, flattered by the prospect of her asking about me. During my first conversation with Mike, I mentioned how I only moved to town a few months ago. Did he share that with Avery?

When she doesn't confirm my suspicion, I shrug. "For business. Suitor's Crossing has a thriving economy while maintaining its small-town appeal. A good fit for what I'm looking for."

"Not gonna lie, I'm surprised you were looking for a small town to settle in. Doesn't seem your type…" A black Nissan comes into view after we turn down a wide alley. It's dark here. The closest light is by the street, not behind the building where her car is parked, and a sense of unease rises in my gut. She must have left it here after work instead of driving the short distance to Daffodil's.

"What's my type?"

"Oh, you know… the stereotypical glass skyscraper at the heart of a bustling city." Her hand waves forward. "This is me. Thanks for stalking me to my car," she quips.

White lights flash with the push of a button as she attempts to slam the door in my face after slipping inside. Instinctively, I stop it with a hand wrapped around the edge.

For some reason, our breaths are heavy, filling the otherwise silent alley. It sounds like we raced to her car rather than walking at a sedate pace.

"What are you doing?" Her voice trembles, but it's not fear I detect. No, it"s an obstinate attitude. A grin threatens to break free, and it's an odd sensation. I'm not a masochist. I don't find charm in a woman hating me.

Except for when it comes to Avery, apparently.

Numerous temptations pop into my head as I stare at her features lit by the small overhead car light. Testing the softness of her cheek. Tasting the plump lower lip she's currently biting.

But none of those are appropriate.

Not yet anyway.

"Next time, park closer to the light. It"s safer," I mutter, releasing my hold on the door before backing off.

I'll bring up the idea of her decorating the office another time—when she's in a better mood. A harsh bark of laughter erupts into the night, probably making me look like a lunatic as Avery drives away.

Fat chance of that happening.

Avery's mood nosedives every time I'm around.

A fact that fucking stings.