The guy's age looked double that, maybe more. Even so, I would've paid a small fortune to watch him ride that thing.The bike was nearly as ridiculous as he was.
"Fine." She gave him a smile that looked downright desperate. "Do you like bumble bees? Or maybe disco?"
His expression curdled like bad milk. "No. Anddoubleno. Why?"
"I'm just wondering if you'd like a different bike. Maybe something more…dazzling?"
At the suggestion, he looked anything but dazzled. "Sure, if it has a motor."
"Which it won't," she said. "Because they're not allowed. I already told you."
"I want to talk to someone else," he said. "Your manager. Or the owner. You know…your boss."
"Thereisno one else," she said through gritted teeth. "Iamthe boss." She was holding steady, but I could see it – the flicker in her eyes, the crack in her patience.She needed backup. And the way it looked, none was coming.
He rolled his eyes. "Come on. That's adorable, but I'm no idiot."
The hell he wasn't.
As far as the brunette, I still didn't know her name. I hadn't come here to get involved. But suddenly, I found myself moving toward her at a pace that wasn't exactly casual.
I was nobody's hero. But watching her hold the line alone, I couldn't exactly stay put.
Whatever else I was, I wasn't that kind of guy.
11
Knight in Basic Black Shirt
Maisie
Violence.It was never the answer – not even when dealing with an entitled asshat like Chadwick Kensington the Third. I mean, sure it would feel terrific to whack the snot out of him with my clipboard, but I was better than that.
Hopefully.
I plastered on what I hoped was a smile. "Thereisno one else. Iamthe boss."Sure, like that was something to brag about.
All morning, I'd been running my ass off, pulling double-duty and still falling behind. Andwhowas in charge of this circus?Oh, right.That would be me – hungover, understaffed, and pondering murder by clipboard.
But since I'd spelled everything out, maybe the guy would finally see reason.
Right on cue, Chadwick Kensington said with a laugh, "Come on, that's adorable. But I'm no idiot."
Oh, boy.I didn't have the energy to unpack all of the ways that statement was both ironic and insulting. What I needed now was a muzzle, because I was half a second away from saying something I would surely regret.
Lucky for me, the guy kept on talking. "You're too young to be the boss."
The guy knew nothing. Already, I'd spent a dozen summers working at the shop. The only thing Ididn'tlack was experience. "I'm twenty-six," I said. "How old are you?"
He drew back. "That's none of your business."
Okay, on this, he had a point. After all, hewasthe customer. And he deservedsomecredit. At least he hadn't said I was too girly.
But then he ruined it all by saying, "I'm not messing around. I want to see the guy in charge."
My fingers twitched on the clipboard, and I looked down, trying to get a grip. Maybe alittlewhack wouldn't hurt. Much.
I took a deep breath, preparing to saysomething– I wasn't even sure what – when I heard someone call out, "Sorry I'm late."
