“Sandy, wait.”
She kept walking. He jogged the few steps, stopping in front of her.
“What do you want?” she asked.#p#分页标题#e#
Never had she sounded so annoyed to see him.
“What’s the matter?”
“You’re going to ask me that after the other night?” She moved around him.
“Where are you going?”
“Home.”
Neal kept up with her until she finally stopped. The defiant look in her eyes turned him on.
“What do you want? I’m tired. I’ve had a long day at work. I want to go home and have a bath.”
“Why has it been a long day?” Neal wanted to know about her life. Usually he wanted women to just shut up.
“You really want to know? Fine. A spineless bastard left me high and dry at the bar. Since then, the gossip about us has been going off the charts. I’m fed up with constantly throwing myself at a man who doesn’t give a shit about me. I’m done. Congratulations, Neal Haney. In the space of a day I’ve decided you’re more trouble than you’re worth.”
My God, she looks amazing.
Her cheeks were flushed, her chest heaving. The small top she wore wouldn’t keep those tits in for long.
“I’m here, Sandy,” he said.
“What?”
“I’m ready to go the next step with you.”
Silence met his request. There seemed to be a lot of that going around, pauses after he spoke.
He waited for her to give in.
“Nice try. Thanks for the offer.” She pushed past him. Neal was surprised to see they were already at her front door.
“What?” She’d been chasing after him so long, he’d expected her to bow down and date him.
Sandy opened her front door. “If you’re really ready for me, then prove it because I’m tired of this half-assed attempt from you.”
“I don’t know what that means.”
“What I mean, Mr. Haney, is you’ve got to prove you want me.” She slammed the door in his face.
Shocked by her reaction, he took a step back to assess her door. After all this time of her teasing, tempting him to want her, she was going to make him work for it?
“Sandy, open the door,” he shouted, banging on the hard wood.
No answer. He knew causing a scene would be useless. Growling in frustration, he walked back to his truck and drove home.
Slamming his front door, he went straight to the fridge in the kitchen. He pulled out a much-needed beer.
He sat at his table and thought about what she’d said. Did she mean gifts? What did she want from him? Searching his mind for the right thing, he latched onto his previous thought. Presents and trinkets showed a woman they were appreciated.
Starting Monday, he’d show Sandy what it meant to have his full undivided attention.
Let the games begin.
Chapter Seven
On Monday, his family finally started to talk to him and he began with his gifts. A simple bouquet of red roses. Neal felt happy with his purchase as he gave his card details. They were due to be delivered at lunch time. He sat down with his family at lunch happy in the knowledge come the evening, Sandy would be his.
A knock at the door disturbed them. His mother went to answer the door. Seconds later, she returned followed by the delivery boy with his bouquet of flowers.
“What’s the matter?” he asked.
The boy—whose name he couldn’t remember—handed him the roses.
“I thought I told you to take them to the salon?”
“I did, Mr. Haney. Miss Breeden paid me to deliver them to you. She told me to tell you that you can stick them where the sun don’t shine and hopes the thorns sting. She said a lot of other stuff too but I don’t wish to repeat them. They sounded awful the first time.” The boy looked genuinely disturbed.#p#分页标题#e#
“She refused my gift?” he asked.
“Yes and I’ve been told to tell you from my boss that he won’t be taking any more orders from you. He isn’t in the market of harassing women.”
The boy took off, leaving Neal to deal with his family. They all sniggered. He handed the flowers to his mom.
“Enjoy them. Some woman should get enjoyment out of them.”
“You really thought Sandy would like flowers?” Luke said, amazed.
“Yes. You got a problem?”
They shook their heads.
* * * *
The next day began the same way only this time he called the jewelry store. He knew a bracelet of some kind would appeal. When he sat down to his lunch and no one returned with the bracelet he knew he’d won. He drove into town that night for a beer with his brothers. The bar was hosting a charity auction event.
Neal watched each piece being sold. What caught his attention was the slender looking bracelet.