Read Online Down London Road by Samantha Young - Free Book Online Page B

north. His arms were crossed over his chest as he leaned against the doorframe and I couldn’t work out what his expression meant at all. He was worse than Joss. If Joss didn’t want you to know what she was feeling, she’d slam down this blank maskover her face. It seemed Cam had bought his mask from the same store as Joss.
    ‘Hullo.’ I waved.
    I actually waved.
    Oh Jesus, let the floor open up and swallow me.
    Cam’s lips twitched. ‘Hi.’
    Why was this so awkward? Usually, I could flirt and charm the pants off any man. I’d suddenly reverted to acting like a reticent seven-year-old. ‘So you got the job, then?’
No, Jo, he’s just here for the banter.
I rolled my eyes inwardly at myself.
    If he had an equally sarcastic thought, he was gracious enough not to verbalize it. ‘I did.’
    What was with the one-word answers? My mouth twisted as I remembered his wordy assault on me last time we’d met. ‘You were a lot more loquacious last time we spoke.’
    Cam raised an eyebrow. ‘ “Loquacious”? Does someone have a Word of the Day calendar?’
    So much for gracious
. I tried to ignore the wince of hurt at his teasing remark. But that was hard to do when someone’s teasing felt a lot more like mocking. I glared at him. ‘I do.’ I brushed past him, my elbow hitting him in the arm as I headed into the staff room. ‘Yesterday’s word was “asshole”.’ As I opened my locker I felt a sense of pride at having stood up for myself with him again. My body still trembled, though. I was not good at confrontation and I didn’t want to have to be. I resented his presence in my life already.
    ‘Okay, I deserved that.’
    I shot a look over my shoulder and saw that he’d followedme into the room. In the brighter light, his cobalt blue eyes glittered at me enigmatically. He was sporting stubble. Did the man ever shave? Damn him. I dropped my gaze and turned away from him.
    ‘I actually wanted to thank you for giving Su my number.’
    I nodded, balancing my bag half in, half out of my locker, pretending to riffle through it for something.
    ‘She said you recommended me.’
    My bag was exceptionally interesting.
Receipt for Mr Meikle’s sandwich and soup, chewing gum, tampons, pen, a leaflet a street person had given to me about some band …
    ‘She said, and I quote, “Jo’s right – you are hot.” ’
    I flushed, just barely choking back the groan of embarrassment. I shoved my bag in the locker and slipped my phone into my pocket. Taking a deep breath, I told myself I could do this. I could work with this annoying asswipe. I spun around and almost lost my footing at the playful grin on his face. It was quite possibly the ‘nicest’ look I’d received from him yet.
    I hated him then.
    Not once in my life had I ever been physically attracted to a guy who was so utterly horrible to me. I knew, though, that once I spent more time with him, his bad attitude would shave the attraction down to nothing. It was just a matter of patience. For now, I threw back my shoulders, inserting a little flirtation into my smile as I passed him. ‘I said “
pretty
hot”.’
    ‘There’s a difference?’ he asked, following me into the bar.
    It occurred to me that it was Tuesday night. A slownight. That meant it would be just the two of us working together.
    Great.
    ‘ “Pretty hot” is a few levels lower on the scale than “hot”.’ I didn’t look at him as I tied the tiny apron around my waist, but I could feel his gaze warm on my face.
    ‘Well, whatever you said, I appreciate it.’
    I nodded but still wouldn’t look at him. Instead I slipped my phone out of my pocket just to double-check that I didn’t have a message from Cole. Nothing.
    ‘Are you allowed to have that?’
    I glanced over at him now, a furrow of confusion between my eyebrows. ‘What?’
    Cam gestured to my phone.
    ‘I keep it on me. It doesn’t seem to bother anybody else.’
    He smirked and reached for the napkin and pen he’d left on