Rich and Bossy (Rich Boys)

19. Paxton

CHAPTER 19

Paxton

This seemed like such a good idea when I first had it. Now, standing at the front of this modest little house with six eyes staring at me when the door opens, I’m beginning to rethink this approach.

“Can I talk to you?” I turn my full attention to Hazel, since she’s the person I came here to see. Let everyone think what they will. Only her opinion matters. “Privately?”

Her chin juts out, confirming I’m in for a fight. Not that I would expect anything else. “No thanks.”

“Fair enough.” I say the words, even if I think her reaction is anything but fair. I’m willing to be the bigger person, so long as it means getting the opportunity to say what I want to say. “Can you come over here?”

She glances back at the woman behind her, who doesn’t look familiar, as if asking for her approval. The other woman has to be her mom. They look alike. Her nostrils flare when she huffs out an exasperated little sigh. “Fine.” She yanks a coat down from a hook beside the front door so violently, I’m surprised the hook doesn’t come along with it. “I’m busy, though, so this will be quick and you won’t be wasting my time.”

“I would never dream of wasting your time.” I’m not sure how much of this I can put up with before my temper gets the better of me, but I have to try. I can’t help it. I just need her not to hate me. I have to try to do this, to get John to back off.

I back up a little ways from the door, descending the front steps until I’m standing in the front yard. It’s a cute, tidy little house, one that reminds me of the sort of place I grew up in. I would tell her about that, but that would mean risking her accusing me of pandering. Like I’m trying to be one of the common people.

She punches her fists through the sleeves before marching down the steps. To their credit, her family closes the door, giving us some semblance of privacy. I have no doubt they'll be watching from that Ring camera, but I would expect nothing less after the way I showed up out of nowhere. If anything, it means they’re looking out for her, caring about her best interests. I have to respect that.

The air is a few degrees below chilly, but it’s nothing compared to the iciness radiating from Hazel. And even now, she’s stunningly gorgeous. Damn, I want to kiss her so bad. Maybe more so with the color in her cheeks and the fire in her eyes.

Man, it’s so good just to see her, even when she’s pissed.

“Well?” She makes a big deal of tapping her foot on the pavement, arms folded. “Say what you need to say so I can get back inside. It’s cold.”

“I didn’t want to leave things the way we left them back at the warehouse. I was…”

“A jerk?”

“Yes.” I nod.

“Is this still about you wanting to look like the good guy? Why do you care what I think?” She unfolds her arms only long enough to make air quotes. “I get it. You want me to like you. I don’t. Can we move on? Your employees are working themselves half to death, but all you’re concerned with is what I think of you.”

“I don’t care what you think of me.” I take a step toward her. “I just want you to know that I didn’t have anything to do with that meeting.”

“Terrific. You didn’t know about it. Thanks for stopping by.” She gives me a fake salute and turns.

“You don’t believe me, though.”

She spins around. “You’re right. I think you’re full of crap. And you’re wasting your time.”

“What do I have to do to convince you?”

“Why does it matter?” She glares right at me.

“Because I do care what you think of me.” There. I said it. I wish I hadn’t, since I don’t enjoy the sense of being reduced to admitting weakness, even something as seemingly inconsequential as that.

She doesn’t so much as flinch. “No, you don’t.”

“That’s not true. I’m sure it makes you feel better about yourself, believing that, but it isn’t true.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“You’re mad you enjoyed your time with me. It makes you feel like a traitor.”

“You don’t know how I feel.” Her rising shoulders tell another story. They’re practically covering her ears.

“I think I do. And that’s why it’s so important to you that I remain the bad guy. You’re looking for a reason to push me away so you can keep thinking of yourself as the hero.”

She arches an eyebrow before giving me a slow golf clap. “Wow. Congrats. You really have me all figured out.”

“The sooner you realize that’s actually true, the easier this will be.”

“The easier what will be? Exactly what do you think is happening here?”

“Stop kidding yourself. You know just as well as I do what could be happening if you would stop being so damn stubborn.” I run a hand through my hair, grappling with the sense of everything slipping through my fingers. “How do you do this to me?”

“What am I doing?”

“I came here knowing exactly what I wanted to say, but it’s just so damn frustrating. You’re so frustrating.”

“Wow. Sorry I’m making it so difficult for you to manipulate me.”

“See? You’re doing it again!” I shout loud enough for her to cringe.

She recovers quickly, but I register her reaction and I’m instantly sorry.

“Look. I’m not trying to manipulate you. That’s the last thing I want to do. All I want is for you to understand how much I like you.”

She reacts again, this time widening her eyes until they’re almost bulging from her head. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me.” Now that I’ve said it, it’s easier to say it again. “I like you. A lot, in fact. Why the hell do you think I’m in this freezing-ass cold weather making an idiot of myself? You think I do this? I don’t, Hazel. Ever. I feel like an absolute moron right now, and I don’t care.”

She stands there, teeth clenched, shaking her head. “How can I trust you?” Though there’s not nearly so much bitterness to her now. Her voice is softer, her body language not quite as forbidding.

“Can you please believe me, one time?”

She rolls her eyes, but I press on because I think I’m starting to get through.

“You make me insane. This isn’t me. I don’t do things like this. I don’t follow employees around at warehouses. I don’t take chances, risking having a door slammed in my face or, worse, having the cops called on me.”

“That would’ve solved this much easier.”

“I came here knowing very well that was a possibility. Why would I take a risk like that? Why would I risk any of this if I didn’t care? It’s because I like you, a lot.”

I swear I see a light smile trying to poke through.

“I saw that.” I point at her mouth. “It happened.”

Her brows knit themselves together and she points over at the Charger. “You need to go, and you’re a bigger jerk for parking that where I can see it.”

“Not until you agree to go on a date with me.”

For the second time, her eyes bulge. “You know I can’t do that. You’re insane.”

“I know I am.”

“Why would I want to complicate my life like that?”

“Because you like me too.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t deny it.” Goddamn, I just want one date with her. I just want her to not hate me. “What could it hurt? Go on a date with me.”

She blurts out a laugh. “What could it hurt? You can’t be serious.”

I can tell by the way she’s rocking on her heels, trying not to smile. I’ve got her, and I’m not letting go now. I have to have her.

Her face hardens. “Why are you doing this? You already got me to give up. That wasn’t enough for you? You just can’t stop until you get everything you want? Is that it?”

I take a step toward her, sick of these games and the guilt trips. “Just do it. I know you want to. I can tell.”

“No, I don’t. You don’t know me.”

I get right up next to her, lean down to her ear, and lower my voice in case the camera on that doorbell is recording. “I’ve been inside you, Hazel. I know every sound you make. So that’s a lie. I know you.”

She bites her lip and looks away. Then, her voice sounds like she’s pleading. “Please, I can’t do this, Paxton. Not right now. Not here.”

“I’m not leaving until I get a yes. I just want some of your time. Please?” I ask as earnestly as I can, hoping it’ll be more effective.

She glances back at the house again, then up at me. “I can’t.” Her voice is pleading with me.

“You can, and you will.” I glance toward the house. “Don’t make me kiss you in front of your mom and your friend in there. I know they’re watching.”

A smile appears, then it’s gone, like a comet cutting through the sky. “Please, Paxton. Please, leave and go home.”

“Tell me you don’t like me. Be honest. Tell me there’s not something between us.” I lower my brow, staring into her gold-flecked eyes. “Be honest with me, and tell me that’s not true, and I won’t bother you again.”

“Somehow, I doubt you would do that.”

“Then you don’t know me as well as you think you do.” My tone is so sharp she jolts a little. “You look me in the eye and tell me you seriously don’t like me, that none of this is real between us, and you won’t see me again.”

She bites down on her lip harder than before, her forehead creasing as she ponders this. It’s so obvious she’s full of shit. The fact that she has to think about it at all confirms what I’ve always known; that I’m not alone in this. She feels the exact same way I do.

“Look.” She shrugs with a sigh heavier than anyone her age should heave. “I don’t want to like, never see you again, I just want you to go right now. Please.” Her voice goes higher on the please .

“So you’ll go out with me?”

“I swear to God, Paxton, why are you…”

“Tomorrow night? A real date?”

She stands there with her arms crossed, bouncing on her heels, lips quivering. “Seriously, can you just…”

“Tomorrow night.” I take a step toward her. “Say yes or get kissed.” When I start to move in, she smiles and shoves me away, glancing back at the door.

She lowers her voice and through her teeth says, “Fine, okay? Yes, I’ll go out with you. If you leave, now. God, you’re so annoying.”

I back away, smiling from ear to ear. “Alright, then.” I point right at her. “You said it. No take backs.”

She grins at my antics. “Just go, you idiot.”

“I’ll send you a time, that’s a promise.” I walk away from the house on top of the world. No professional victory will ever feel as sweet as this.

It’s a huge mistake.

It’ll probably end with both of us getting hurt—badly.

I can’t stop though. I know it’s right. I’ve never had a feeling this strong.

It’d be wrong to ignore that. Hazel Strous is mine.

She’s fucking mine.