Read Online You Belong With Me by Shannon Guymon - Free Book Online Page B

Alex’s smile stayed in place as he studied her, trying to gauge her for weaknesses he could take advantage of. Layla smiled back, using her social worker smile. The one that said, I’m tougher than you and I’ll take you down if I have to.
                  Alex shook his head in regret. “Well, I have to admit that I’m very disappointed then. I had a lot of plans for this property, but if you girls are determined to stay and run the bakery, then I want you to know there’s no hard feelings. As a matter of fact, I wish you all the luck in the world. We might not be able to do business, but I hope that as fellow business owners and neighbors here in Fircrest we can be friends. I would be happy to introduce you around and open a few doors for you. And my invitation for dinner still stands. There’s a great restaurant just a block away called The Iron Skillet. I know the owner and the food is amazing. What do you say?” he asked, looking past her and Kit to Jane.
                  Layla could almost feel Jane shrinking behind her and moved slightly to the left to block Alex’s view of her. Alex looked at Layla and frowned. Layla shook her head firmly, staring him straight in the eyes. “No Alex. Sorry, but like I said, we have plans and we had lunch there just this afternoon. We appreciate your offer of friendship but we’re going to be very busy getting everything up and running.”
                  Alex stared coldly at Layla and then pursed his mouth. “Well, I tried. If you ever change your mind, here’s my card,” he said and stepped forward to hand it to her. “Call me anytime,” he said and turned around and walked through the door, disappearing into the front room.
                  Layla watched him go and felt a cold shiver creep down her back. The man was a snake. She followed him into the front room just as the door shut. She hurried and locked it and closed the blinds too. She felt her sisters come to stand beside her and Jane’s hand on her arm. Layla turned and hugged her youngest sister and looked over her shoulder at Kit’s worried face.
                  “He’s icky,” Jane said, letting go of Layla and stepping back.
                  Layla tried to smile and nodded. “He’s the worst kind of icky. I don’t want him in our bakery again,” she said rubbing her arms.
                  Kit nodded and bit her lip. “Yeah, but we’re a business open to the public. What can we do if he comes here during business hours?”
                  Layla shrugged and walked to the window, peeking through the blinds. Alex was still sitting in his car across the street from the bakery. Just staring at their house. Ick was right. “Well, we can’t stop him from coming by. Let him spend his money if he wants to. But all he’ll ever get from us are cupcakes and donuts,” she said quietly.
                  Kit stepped toward Layla. “He wouldn’t stop staring at Jane, Layla. I’m worried.”
                  Layla looked at Jane sharply and she nodded. “It was freaky. He just kept staring at me like he’d just seen a new toy in the store,” Jane said, wrinkling her nose in distaste.
                  Kit nodded her head and she and Layla exchanged worried looks. Layla rubbed her hand over her face as she looked down at her feet. There were men in the world who only loved one thing. Innocence. Jane was pure and good and innocent. To a man like Alex, she would be fascinating.
                  “Well, he can’t have her,” she said in a voice as sharp as a blade, looking up at her sisters.
                  Kit sighed in relief and tried to smile. “You know, you might have trouble with good looking harmless men, but when it comes to men like Alex Foster, you sure come in handy. I was so glad you got here when you did Layla. You walked in and took one look at