Mister West by R.J. Lewis (animal farm read .TXT) 📕

on to every word, making myself overly available.

Besides, I’m still trying to get over him being at the salon a few days ago.

Not too long ago I was close to being the next girl thrown under the bus. Now the girls want to be my best friend. Even Melanie has been at my beck and call, fetching me supplies in the middle of my appointments.

“Just so you know,” she’d told me, voice lowered, “I’ve grossly misjudged you, Ivy. I think you’re essential to this salon.”

Even Connie backed that up that very morning. “You are essential to this salon.”

I was essential to that salon.

I let out a chuckle and take a sip of my coffee.

My phone dings and I swipe the screen.

A.W.: What’s so funny?

I freeze mid-sip. My head shoots up and I look around. This is a Mom and Pop coffee shop and filled with regulars. If Aidan is here, he’d stand out like a bullseye –

He’s at the counter, talking to Nadine, the owner’s daughter. He's making an order.

My heart hiccups. I quickly run my fingers through my hair and fluff it up around me. Summer is ending and it’s been cool outside, so I’m wearing my everyday black tights and a pink crop sweater. If I had known he was coming, I’d have worn something far more flattering.

My last conversation with Ana on the phone runs through my memory. I’d let her know about the salon visit. She was over the moon. “I’m still reeling that he’s in deep with you, but I totally get it after seeing the kind of people that were in his life.”

“What people?” I’d asked, curious.

“The guy’s been seen with these elegant looking women. One of them put up an Instagram post a while back, gloating that she’s moved on to greener pastures and is sunbathing in Monaco in the nude. I think she was salty he wanted nothing to do with her.”

“Oh.”

Yeah, oh. That was my response. Because I’d had no insight before into the kind of women he was interested in dating.

“Don’t sound deflated,” Ana had consoled me. “He’s obviously not interested in that because look at you.”

Ouch. I know she didn’t mean for that to sound mean. Ana is too nice for that.

As Aidan waits for his order, he looks at me, a cocky glint in his eye. I stare back, rolling my eyes at him. He smiles in response. Customers are staring. He’s doing that thing again, dominating the space around him. Only Aidan can fill out a suit, look muscular in it and broad. Even his hands are sexy as he drums his fingers on the counter with one hand and brushes his thumb idly along his bottom lip with the other.

Fuck, he's hot.

I resume finishing off my study list, pretending I am not at all bothered by his presence. But I am. I am pulsing right now.

He slides into the chair across from me. I take a moment, reading a line three times in a row to stall. Then I drag my eyes away from the iPad screen and look up at him.

“To what do I owe the pleasure?” I ask.

“Was in the neighbourhood,” he answers lightly.

My brows shoot up. “Wow, that’s been happening a lot lately.”

“Yeah,” he nods. “I definitely did not cruise this street for fifteen minutes, poking my head in every coffee shop.”

I play along. “You would never.”

“I’m not so desperate.”

Grinning, I set the iPad down. “You’re lucky I’m done, Mr West. I may have dismissed you otherwise.”

He looks amused. “Another discard?”

I pretend not to know what he’s talking about. “Has that been happening a lot lately?”

“Only by you.”

“How does that make you feel, Mr West?”

“Humble,” he says on a smirk.

I keep my eyes away from his mouth. It’s too distracting. “Humble suits you.”

“Good, because I’ve been going for a new look.”

I narrow my eyes, fighting back a laugh. “I don’t believe you. I think you’re showing up on purpose.”

He feigns surprise. “Now why would I do that?”

“You want to tempt me.”

Now his face relaxes. He licks his lips, looking down at my mouth. “Ivy, you’ve been taking the lead lately. I’m simply the passenger.”

“Oh, so I’m the one tempting you?”

“Yes. In fact, that’s what I’ll call you. Temptress.”

He’s fucking me up, this guy. If he genuinely feels as tempted as I do, I need to high five myself. I fight to show my giddiness, though.

“Fine,” I relent in a bored voice, “you can call me that, but only if you give me a heads up next time that you’ll be hunting me down and forcing me to endure your company.”

His eyes flare. “Forcing you, am I?”

“Too strong a word?”

“No, because I don’t give a fuck. I’m here and you can’t hide behind your screen and pretend you’re unaffected.”

I tilt my head to the side. “You just want to know you’re getting to me.”

“Am I right to think I am?”

“You won’t get an admission out of me, Mr West.”

He grins, watching me intently. “You won’t admit I make you go crazy, but you’re happy to drop hints of your location.”

My lips part in surprise. This guy. “You thought I was dropping hints? Were you born this arrogant, or did you learn it along the way?”

“You love it.”

“I’ll be sure to be vaguer next time.”

He leans over the table, lowering his voice. “It’s more fun this way, isn’t it? I’m tired of wondering what you look like. Tired of waiting for your texts. Tired of staring at your lips in that picture you sent me and wondering what they taste like. Fuck, they must taste like sunshine. I need to see you more, Ivy. Tell me I’m not alone in this.”

Heart attack.

My cheeks burn, but I shrug dismissively. “You’re pretty good company, I guess.”

He makes a groaning sound, looking pained. “You’ve gotta give me something, beauty. I’m fucking panting over here.”

“Now why would I do that?” And then I use his words against him. “It’s more fun this way, isn’t it?”

The look he shoots me