Page 75 of Accidental Blind Date

“I was in the neighborhood and I thought I’d stop by. You know, just see how things are going in the small business world.”

“Things are good,” I say with a smile. “We are doing really well.”

His eyes sweep around the room. “It hasn’t changed at all, that much is obvious.”

The first jab of the knife stings. But I take it, with a learned experience in the field of toxic relationships.

“It is exactly the way my parents wanted it to be.”

“Quirky,” he notes. Then his eyes trail back to me. “You changed your hair.”

“I cut it.”

He nods. “Long hair looked good on you.”

Twist of the knife number one.

Then his eyes drag down. I’m wearing a yellow dress with ruffled sleeves. “And you look…well. You haven’t changed.”

The second twist is the leveling one. As much as it shouldn’t be. But let's be honest, narcissists have some tricks up their self centered sleeves for the whole water off a duck’s back thing. And unfortunately, they often work.

“Yeah well I don’t know who else I can be,” I say with a forced smile but my words come out choked.

Suddenly, I feel someone behind me. Right behind me. As in…up against me.

“Can we help you?” Dax asks, towering over me and looking down at Shane.

“New employee?” Shane asks with his cocky smile still stupid enough to stay in place.

I don’t know if I am supposed to talk but before I can make the call, Dax goes on. “Something like that. Now, did you need help with something? Finding a book maybe or the door?”

“Do you always talk to customers like this?” Shane asks loudly, looking around to see who he can draw attention from.

“Only the ones who insult the owner of the shop.”

Shane studies him, shifting his weight a little. I have to admit, it’s something I’ve never seen before. Shane uncomfortable. Shane intimidated. Shane backing down.

“I see how it is. Well. I guess that’s my cue to leave.”

“I guess it is,” Dax answers.

Shane turns to walk out but stops. “I’m sorry. Who did you say you are? Just in case I decide to leave a Google review or something like that.”

“Dax,” he says, holding out a firm hand. Shane takes it. “Daxton Hemingway. Of Hemingway Books.”

It wipes the cocky smile clean off Shane’s face and I can physically see his hand go limp in Dax’s. With that he pulls away and walks out. It isn’t until then that I remember to breathe, though my heart is still racing in my chest.

“What a dick,” Dax shakes his head with a chuckle. Then he turns to me. “Are you okay? Has he always talked to you like that? The fucking nerve.”

“Dax. Supply room. Now.”

I march to the back of the store, not bothering to look at Summer or Tom who I know are staring. I also offer a friendly smile to the couple of customers in the store as they glance over. As soon as we are in the back room, I shut the door and flip on the lights. It’s not a large room and it’s mostly overstock so there isn’t much room to move around. But I don’t need to movearound. I need him to stand in one spot and I need room to stand in front of him…on my knees.

“Listen, I’m sorry if I overstepped but that asshole was way out of line. Coming in here just to make you feel like—oh shit.”

He stops talking when I drop to the floor and literally yank his slacks down, hard enough I think I might have broken the button. I don’t care.

“That was the kindest, sweetest, hottest fucking thing any man has done for me literally every and I feel like I owe you a little thank you.”