She stops in her tracks, turning to look at me. I can't tell what Elia’s thinking right now, but I want to know.
“I’m looking to expand my investment portfolio into bookstores. I’m hoping to buy up all the indie bookstores in one region, and then expand to another. Most indie stores are suffering when it comes to sales and profits but I’d like to fix that with the money my trading and medical practice afford me.”
I’m not sure what Elia thinks of my words, but she looks like she’s considering them. My plan is to give it my best shot, and if it’s entirely impossible, I’ll back off. Oh, and you don’t think I’m just talking about the investments anymore, right? Because even though there’s the conflict of interest coming if and when I buy this bookstore, I know that I plan to pursue Elia beyond teasing her inside the store.
“Are you sure that you spoke to the owner, Ryan?” Elia didn’t sound frustrated but concerned. I’m intrigued. “He wouldn’t want to see his bookstore, the one that’s been in his family for years get turned into a fidget spinner store.”
Oh, well Elia seems to assume that the owner will assume I’m going to slash apart everything that makes a bookstore good when I buy it, which I guess is fair. A lot has to be done in the name of profit, but I’d make a wiser investment than a bookstore if I wanted to do that much of an overhaul.
“No, he was too busy worrying about the fact that you weren’t at work,” I say with a smile. We both know that Ryan’s not involved in the day-to-day operations. That’s one of the reasons I think he’ll sell to me. He isn’t selling to a big box giant, just the friendly neighborhood billionaire doctor. Wouldn’t you?
“Well, I’m here now,” Elia says. Despite me teasing her again, I can tell she’s done with the flirting portion of our conversation.
Well, she thinks she is.
Elia’s moving away from me. Probably too scared of what I’ll say next. She has a fucking answer for everything and I find it sexy as hell. I should stay away from teasing her, but I’m already hooked on getting to know her and hearing more of her sassy comebacks.
“Your accent.” She points at my lips and then flips her dark hair.
Mmm, maybe she isn’t done flirting after all.
“It’s not from here. It’s a Yankee accent.” Elia narrows her eyes at me again, but this time she’s smiling, and she’s teasing me all over again.
I nod my head.
Elia cocks her head to the side. “Now, tell me, Dr. Bookstore, why would someone from New York want to buy a store in Texas? It just makes no sense.”
I lean closer to Elia, expecting her to move away from me.
She doesn’t.
“Maybe you won’t make it through the new company’s payroll, then,” I say just to mess with her. “After all, you have difficulty coming to work on time, which isn’t fair to all the other employees. Is it?” Not that I’ve never been late a day in my life, but punctuality is something I look for in people that work for me. I can see it bothers her that she’s late, though. I sort of moved beyond teasing with this one, and I wonder if I have gone too far.
Elia doesn’t move back an inch. “Maybe I have better plans. I can think of doing something more interesting than working for a fidget spinner owner.” I see her breath catch in her throat.
Elia wants to have the last word and I let her get away with it, and not just because I’m loving watching her walk away.
I watch her walk right out of the store.
Damn, this girl is kind of a wild, crazy mess. I want to know where she's going…
Elia
My eyes narrow at Eric. Why is he still hanging around in the bookstore? Surely he must have better things to do than hang around all day here. Besides, I saw his Rolex watch when he looked at the time earlier. He’s rich. And a doctor. Surely he’s got patients or basically anything else to do but bug me.
“Is there anything else you wanted?” I ask. “If you’re done, I should probably get to work.” I want him to go...but I feel that odd tinge in my stomach where I kinda also want him to stay. Ugh!
His eyebrows go up. “Well, actually, there were a few things. But you’re late anyway, so I don’t want to keep you.”
God, he keeps going on about that!
He smiles politely, but I can see the mirth in his eyes. I grind my teeth in annoyance.
“It doesn’t happen all the time.”
“Is it a rare thing? How often are you late in a month?”
“Hardly at all.” I don’t give him an exact figure. I haven’t got a clue what that figure is, in all honesty. To save face, I blurt out, “And if you’ll excuse me, I have things to do.”