“Call Sutten dingy again and you’ll get a knee to your manhood.” I smile sweetly at him, remembering the second time we ever ran into each other—literally. I’d joked about his size and how it felt like he was overcompensating. He didn’t take it well.
The look on his face tells me he may not take my threat very well now either.
He lets out a long, aggravated sigh, even going as far as to drag his fingers down his perfectly sculpted face.
It’s really a shame he’s such an asshole because he’s easily one of the best-looking men I’ve ever seen. Everything about his features is perfectly proportional. Eyebrows are supposed to be sisters, not twins, yet his are clones of each other. Straight eyebrows with a slight arch at the ends frame the clearest, bluest eyes I’ve ever seen. To top it all off, the man has thick, dark eyelashes.
I hate him. For so many reasons. For being an asshole. For buying the space I wanted to expand my business. For ruining my jeans. For being blessed with such good looks when he has such a terrible personality.
“I don’t have the time to go back and forth with you,” he confesses. He sounds agitated, but not necessarily at me for once. More like at the circumstances.
“Sounds like you don’t have much time for anything, considering you might need to borrow an apron and cook some food up for your guests.”
“That won’t be necessary if you help me.”
“Big emphasis on if. The shop closes soon, and I have a date with a bottle of wine and some reality TV.”
“Whatever you want, I’ll do it. Just say yes. Help me. I’m begging.”
“Anything I want?” I ask, my mind filling with so many terrible things I could make him do if I agree to this.
One single piece of gelled hair falls into his face, making him seem a little more…normal.
“Yes, anything.”
7
CAMDEN
She beams at me. Her smile is so wide and vibrant that my stomach drops at the sight of it.
It’s probably because that smile can’t be good for me. But I’m a desperate man. If she tells me no, I’m going to have to serve Lay’s chips with sour cream dip because I have no other option. Or fucking hot wings from the dirty bar down the street.
I refuse to resort to either of those options. Which means all my eggs are in one basket—Pippa’s basket. The woman who hates me—for good reason. The woman who irritates the hell out of me, but somehow, the one person I need right now. The only one who can get me out of my current dilemma.
It’s ironic. She’s the last person I want to have to be around in this town, and yet, she’s the only one who can help me.
“So anything, anything?” Pippa prods. Her voice is giddy and full of amusement. This can’t be good.
I clear my throat, trying to think if I have any other option than having to agree to whatever stupid, tragic idea is going through her head.
“Yes, anything. But please be professional.”
“You said anything. You didn’t say professional.”
My groan ricochets through the small kitchen space. “Fine,” I clip, growing more frustrated by the second. “But the offer expires in two seconds because I don’t have the time to do this with you anymore. I need food, and I need it now.”
She bites her plump bottom lip in excitement. I know by the glint in her eyes I’ll despise whatever’s about to come out of her mouth.
Feeling on edge, I pull out my wallet and open it up. “Why don’t you just name your price? That seems more professional anyway.”
A loud, dramatic snort comes from her mouth. She shakes her head, pieces of her hair falling into her eyes with the movement. She tucks one of the stray locks behind her ear, looking at me like I’m the funniest guy she knows. Which I know isn’t the case because I’m not a particularly funny guy. Especially under circumstances like this.
“Care to tell me what’s so funny?”
Her cheeks are flushed a perfect pink from her laughter. Even her nose gets pink. I avert my eyes, finding myself paying too close attention to the perfect shade spreading over her skin.
“I’m sorry,” she wheezes, pressing her hand to her chest. She takes a shaky breath, trying to gain her composure. “It’s just hilarious you think I want your damn money.”
My eyes narrow. “Everyone has a price. What’s funny is that you don’t know that.”
She puffs out her cheeks as she lets air out from the small opening of her pursed lips. “Not me.”