“Yup, got that from the emails.”
“That you refused to take seriously. Instead, you counteroffered with trying to buy me a conscience.”
“Because I wasn’t interested in selling out.”
“The hundred and twenty is free and clear. Good as cash.”
I swallowed. “Still not interested.” In the money. The more I said no, the angrier he got, and if I wasn’t mistaken, he looked like the type to enjoy some angry sex too.
“Why? Is it not enough? I’ll double it.” He crumpled the check in his fist. “A quarter of a million dollars, if you clear out by this weekend.”
That took me by surprise. My heart thudded in my chest. If I worked twenty more years, I’d never see that much money. I could get a house, pay off my credit cards, and open a new store. I started to tell him he had a deal—
Then Millie Carter came in and the jingling bells broke the spell.
Millie flinched at seeing such a large man looming over me. Cringing against the wall, her big brown eyes filled with tears. Millie had been abused by her father, her brothers, her boyfriends, and her husband. When her husband died in a storm off Montauk, she realized she didn’t have to be anyone’s punching bag anymore. She had been a loyal customer ever since. I really saw a difference in her confidence as she bloomed into her potential. And she did it because of this store. Still, she had triggers. And whatever energy she was sensing between Rory and me had sent her to that dark place.
Not on my watch.
Reaching up, I grabbed the back of Rory’s head and kissed him on the mouth. I needed to take back some control here. He froze. I slipped my tongue into his mouth, rapping him on the teeth with the stud in my tongue until he opened up. Slitting my eyes, I saw Millie slump in relief and take a shuddering breath. I stood up on my tiptoes to deepen the kiss. Rory was frozen in shock, but I kind of liked that. Dragging my tongue over his, I smiled when Millie recovered and puttered to the back of the store. She darted a glance at us over her shoulder, to make sure I wasn’t in danger.
It’s okay, Millie. He wasn’t threatening me. I got this. I’m in control.
I was about to release Rory when he tangled his fingers in my hair, deepening the kiss. My eyes flew open in shock and then fluttered closed in bliss. Wow. Rory Parker could kiss once he had his wits back. Slanting his lips over mine, his hot mouth was frantic while our tongues dueled. Three months of flirting emails and sexual innuendos burst into real life as we made out over the counter in my bookstore.
My fingers bunched in his shirt as pleasure shot down to my toes. Pretty Boy tasted like mint and smelled even better close up. Too bad the counter was in the way; I was horny enough to grind on him right here and now. Ever since Jack took my money and went on the road with the band, it had put a dent in my sex life, and I was feeling my long abstinence now.
The bells jingled again and I sprang away from him, looking down. Suddenly I was too shy to meet his eyes. He wasn’t supposed to have turned the tables on me.
The couple who had just come in had their noses in their guidebook, so they hadn’t witnessed me frenching one of my customers.
“Well?” Rory said, his breathing audible.
I forced myself to look into his scorching hazel eyes. I felt like purring. “I’ll think about it.”
Tossing a twenty onto the counter, he scooped up the book. “Keep the change. I’ll be back later for your final answer.”
He had an incredible ass. I savored the taste of him in my mouth and found that I was looking forward to seeing the billionaire douche bag again.