Read Online Downpour (Alpha Love - A Paranormal Werewolf Shifter Romance Book 1) by Olivia Stephens - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Olivia Stephens
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say.
“Your friend seems...interesting,” she notes cautiously, running her fingers through her wet hair in a vain effort to dry it.
But, instead of replying, Ashton turns around and walks towards the back of the shop, disappearing through a door.
“Guess that means you’re not in the mood for small talk,” she says under her breath, as she prepares to go out into the unforgiving weather again.
“You’re dripping on the floor.” Ashton’s deep voice comes from behind her, and she spins around, wondering how he’d managed to move without her hearing him. He hands her a small hand towel. “It’s all I have,” he says simply, shrugging and looking mildly apologetic.
“Thanks.” Sofie takes the towel and starts patting her face and drying out her hair.
Ashton watches her with a hungry look that immediately makes her fumble and blush to the roots of her hair. “Don’t worry about Gus. He’s not so good around new people.” He nods in the direction that his friend left in.
“I’m getting the sense that might be a recurring theme round here.” Sofie hands the damp towel back to Ashton, collecting herself together and giving him a questioning glance.
His face immediately hardens. “We don’t like being played.”
His words hit their mark, and Sofie winces despite herself. “Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to play you. But there are rules that we have to follow. It’s just business.” The explanation sounds lame, even to her own ears.
“So, your company makes you lie for them. Doesn’t sound like a great way to do business.” Ashton folds his arms over his broad chest and looks down at Sofie, assessing her reaction.
“It’s just the way it is.” Sofie shrugs, not wanting to betray her employer; but likewise, not wanting to let them off the hook completely either.
Ashton looks at her, like he’s waiting for her to say something else—perhaps something a little more satisfying. She can’t help it; but, whenever he looks at her, she feels like he’s seeing right into the depths of her soul. There’s something about his blue eyes, an intensity that she has never experienced before. It touches her in ways she couldn’t have expected.
Sofie squirms under his gaze, wondering what he’s seeing as he looks at her and hoping that it’s something more than just a girl who appears to have enrolled in a wet t-shirt competition. She says the first thing that comes to mind, “So you seem to have a habit of showing up wherever I am. If I didn’t know better, I would think that you were following me.” She crosses her arms over her chest, mimicking Ashton’s body language, and she’s glad to see that there’s a shadow of mild embarrassment that passes over his face, but it disappears almost instantly and is replaced with the sexiest smile she’s ever seen.
“Well, running girl, this is my town, that’s my canyon, and this is my store. So technically it’s you that seems to be following me.” There’s a challenge in his look, but also amusement. He clearly enjoys having her off-balance.
“Well, birdwatcher, as far as I can tell there’s no one’s name on that canyon, and this town isn’t yours, not unless you have a different interpretation of ownership to me.” Sofie looks directly up at him, not shying away from his gaze. She’s had enough of being his punching bag, and she’s never been one to let someone walk all over her. She’s been looking after herself for a while now, and she’s experienced at standing up for herself, especially now that there’s no one else to do it for her.
“Trust me. That canyon is ours, and there is no way that is going to change anytime soon. My name might not be on it, but it’s not on this store either.” Ashton nods, as a customer suddenly walks through the door, breaking the tension between them.
The middle-aged woman looks between Ashton and Sofie, clearly curious
“Your friend seems...interesting,” she notes cautiously, running her fingers through her wet hair in a vain effort to dry it.
But, instead of replying, Ashton turns around and walks towards the back of the shop, disappearing through a door.
“Guess that means you’re not in the mood for small talk,” she says under her breath, as she prepares to go out into the unforgiving weather again.
“You’re dripping on the floor.” Ashton’s deep voice comes from behind her, and she spins around, wondering how he’d managed to move without her hearing him. He hands her a small hand towel. “It’s all I have,” he says simply, shrugging and looking mildly apologetic.
“Thanks.” Sofie takes the towel and starts patting her face and drying out her hair.
Ashton watches her with a hungry look that immediately makes her fumble and blush to the roots of her hair. “Don’t worry about Gus. He’s not so good around new people.” He nods in the direction that his friend left in.
“I’m getting the sense that might be a recurring theme round here.” Sofie hands the damp towel back to Ashton, collecting herself together and giving him a questioning glance.
His face immediately hardens. “We don’t like being played.”
His words hit their mark, and Sofie winces despite herself. “Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to play you. But there are rules that we have to follow. It’s just business.” The explanation sounds lame, even to her own ears.
“So, your company makes you lie for them. Doesn’t sound like a great way to do business.” Ashton folds his arms over his broad chest and looks down at Sofie, assessing her reaction.
“It’s just the way it is.” Sofie shrugs, not wanting to betray her employer; but likewise, not wanting to let them off the hook completely either.
Ashton looks at her, like he’s waiting for her to say something else—perhaps something a little more satisfying. She can’t help it; but, whenever he looks at her, she feels like he’s seeing right into the depths of her soul. There’s something about his blue eyes, an intensity that she has never experienced before. It touches her in ways she couldn’t have expected.
Sofie squirms under his gaze, wondering what he’s seeing as he looks at her and hoping that it’s something more than just a girl who appears to have enrolled in a wet t-shirt competition. She says the first thing that comes to mind, “So you seem to have a habit of showing up wherever I am. If I didn’t know better, I would think that you were following me.” She crosses her arms over her chest, mimicking Ashton’s body language, and she’s glad to see that there’s a shadow of mild embarrassment that passes over his face, but it disappears almost instantly and is replaced with the sexiest smile she’s ever seen.
“Well, running girl, this is my town, that’s my canyon, and this is my store. So technically it’s you that seems to be following me.” There’s a challenge in his look, but also amusement. He clearly enjoys having her off-balance.
“Well, birdwatcher, as far as I can tell there’s no one’s name on that canyon, and this town isn’t yours, not unless you have a different interpretation of ownership to me.” Sofie looks directly up at him, not shying away from his gaze. She’s had enough of being his punching bag, and she’s never been one to let someone walk all over her. She’s been looking after herself for a while now, and she’s experienced at standing up for herself, especially now that there’s no one else to do it for her.
“Trust me. That canyon is ours, and there is no way that is going to change anytime soon. My name might not be on it, but it’s not on this store either.” Ashton nods, as a customer suddenly walks through the door, breaking the tension between them.
The middle-aged woman looks between Ashton and Sofie, clearly curious
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