Page 42 of His Secret Obsession
“So, Maddison, where are you currently working?”
“Zamora’s Home Décor.” My shoulders tense, and I run a finger around the edge of my wine glass.
He leans forward, his eyebrows pulling up. “Do you own it?”
“No.” I give a quiet snort-laugh. As if I would ever own something that pretentious. “I’m a sales associate.”
“Oh.” His smile slips. “So, you’re like a cashier then?”
The way he says the wordcashierwith obvious disappointment, like it suddenly makes me less valuable, has me tapping my foot under the table. “For now. Until I can find something better in my field of work. Interior design jobs are sparse in small towns.”
He nods thoughtfully. “Right. You said you have a bachelor’s in interior design.” He takes another careful bite of his pasta before releasing a breathy chuckle.
I watch him carefully. “What’s funny?”
He swallows his food before answering, one of his shoulders hiking up in a flippant shrug. “I think it’s just kind of funny how colleges make degrees for everything. I mean, they teach people a few home decorating tips and then give them a bachelor’s for it.” He shakes his head, a mirthful expression on his lips. My jaw tenses with a flash of irritation.
His amusement fades when he notices my flat stare, and he clears his throat. “But of course, many people make successful careers out of it. And I’m sure you will, too.” He folds a napkin in half, dabbing at the corners of his lips like a pompous jerk. “In the meantime, Zamora’s Home Décor is quite prestigious. Ifyou have to be a cashier, then at least you are somewhere known for its luxury and quality. I have to admit, they have some really great pieces.”
I hum noncommittally.
I’m going to throttle Hazel. Better yet, maybe I’ll ensure that Irene comes across the secret stash of cookies she keeps hidden behind the register. The thought fills me with a wicked sense of satisfaction, and I grin.
Interior design is about so much more than throwing a few pieces of décor together. And if this dimwitted—
A sudden, ear-splitting siren begins going off nearby.
My heart rate spikes as I jump in my seat, and I jam my hands over my ears. Red lights flash through the room of white, linen-covered tables. Nearby diners pause mid-conversation, many of them looking around in various states of alarm and confusion.
Richard—Rick, whoever he is—looks around with a wrinkled forehead. When people at nearby tables begin making their way to the front entrance, I stand on shaky legs.
“Maybe we should go outside.” Giving my date a pointed look, I mentally prompt him to get up. Is he always this slow to react?
He opens his mouth. “What on earth—”
When the front doors suddenly burst open, he nearly knocks over a glass of water. They slam against the wall so hard, I half-expect the glass to shatter. It makes my pulse hammer, and I shift on my feet.
Everything looks perfectly normal. There’s no fire and no emergency that I can see. But I’m itching to get out of here. Something about the sound of a blaring fire alarm makes me want to run. But I will calmly and collectively—
My stomach swoops.
“What ishedoing here?”
My date shoots me a perplexed expression. “Who?”
Jax stands on the other side of the door, wearing an intense look as his gaze sweeps across the room. The vision makes my heart skip a beat. His muscles are taut, his entire body vibrating with tension. His mouth is set in a hard line, his dark eyes reminding me of the ominous roll of thunder that comes right before a lightning strike.
I don’t know what or who he’s searching for, but I feel a wave of pity for the poor soul that’s going to be on the receiving end ofthat.
Then his eyes lock with mine, and…Shit.
Mouth, meet foot.
He begins stalking towards me, his steely gaze holding me captive. I gasp when a group of firemen come rushing in behind him. Jax opens his mouth to speak, his attention remaining on me. His voice booms across the room, and something about his harsh tone makes my knees knock together.
“This building is under immediate evacuation! Everyone remain calm and begin making your way towards the nearest exit!” He gestures towards the exits closest to him. The firefighters disperse behind him, many of them guiding people towards different exits. In the meanwhile, my date finally stands up. He looks like he’s ready to bolt now.
But I’m frozen in place, watching as Jax eats up the space between us with long, determined strides. A shiver lances down my spine. He looks like an avenging god, and a very sexy one. The way his navy-blue shirt molds to his chest makes my mouth water. And the dark cargo pants with reflective strips that circle his leg? The last time I saw those, he was standing in my bedroom doorway, those emerald eyes silently commanding me to watch while he touched himself.
