Perfect for Me by Claudia Burgoa
Chapter Seventeen
Hazel
You always have two choices: your commitment versus your fear. —Sammy Davis, Jr.
Planning keepsmy mind moving and my body grounded. That doesn’t mean that my plans come through every time. It’s been more than a week since I decided to renovate the house in Santa Cruz—by myself. Today was the first evening I had free to go shopping for tools. I’ve discovered that a hardware store is like Sephora, but instead of getting things to beautify my body, these are to enhance my house. I should go back home and watch YouTube videos to learn about the best tools on the market and how to use them. My list is obsolete. A drill isn’t just a tool.
“Who knew there are so many kinds of drills?” I compare the black and orange box versus the blue one.
“You could’ve asked me,” Scott says, serving me with a smug smirk.
Apparently, he knows all about tools. I glare at him in return and continue shopping.
“Tools, I’m buying tools instead of food and toys for my puppy.” I pick the black box and place it in my shopping cart.
He takes it out of the cart and replaces it with another brand.
“Stop switching what I buy,” I sneer at him.
“Quality, you want high-quality power tools,” he explains, adding two pairs of protective glasses and a double-blade electric saw.
“No, what I want is a dog.” I let out a frustrated breath of air.
I stop in front of the table saws. “Should I buy one?”
He shakes his head. “If you need one, we can order it online. It doesn’t fit in your tiny car. Can we talk about buying an SUV?”
“Dog,” I repeat. “I want a d-o-g. Not high-quality lifeless products that won’t bring me any joy.”
I pull out my phone and look at the picture of Rosie. “She was beautiful but what did they say?”
Scott presses his lips tightly. His face is turning red, and he’s doing his best not to laugh in front of me.
“I blame you for this.” I poke him in his hard chest.
“She’s with a nice family,” he adds, tilting his head. “The lady at the shelter offered you other dogs.”
Someone adopted the dog I wanted. We’ve been too busy to look for houses, dogs, or start the renovations. “I don’t want a small dog, and I didn’t like that woman.”
His brows rise, and his smirk widens. “Are we talking about the volunteer?”
“Yes, the one who was flirting with you, and you were playing her game.”
“Jealous?”
“Curious,” I lie, adding a sledgehammer into my cart. I busy myself with reviewing my list before I smash the hammer against my head for showing him how I feel.
“Did you like her?” I suck on my bottom lip. “I can set you up with her. You know I like doing the matchmaking shit. So far all the couples I’ve brought together are still happy—and married.”
His eyes become two slits. “We’ve talked about this before. I don’t need you to find me someone.”
“Well you were getting a little too cozy with her,” I retort, which makes little sense to what he said.
His jaw clenches. Those eyes darken, and my mouth salivates because I’ve seen him do this before he takes me. He pulls the two pins holding my hair up, letting it all loose. Running his hand through it, he secures it and removes it, gently exposing my neck. Bending over, he touches his lips to my neck, trailing all the way up to the back of my ear. “The only woman I want to be cozying up with is you. After I fuck you. Hard. All. Night. Long.”
My lips part. I gasp as his voice makes my core clench. “Scott.” The thought of him between my legs makes me wet. Needy.
He releases me, taking the notebook I hold. “But I won’t because you have another man’s last name. And he wears your ring.”
Scott rips the list in half, looks at what I already have, and leaves.
Scott: I’ll buy the rest. Meet me at the exit when you’re done.
Hazel: Why did you leave like that?
Scott: I need to cool down. I can’t fuck you in the restroom. But I bet you’re ready for me.
Hazel: Shut up!
Scott: Are you going to miss me tomorrow?
Hazel: As much as you’ll miss me.
I sigh, waiting for an answer, but after a couple of seconds, I put my phone away. This is a dangerous game we are playing. I’m thankful and upset that he’s leaving for the next couple of days. He has a few meetings in New York. But having him so close and not being able to touch him is getting harder. I focus on my list. Starting tomorrow, I’ll spend my evenings in Santa Cruz cleaning the house. The dumpster arrived today, and Operation Spring Cleaning will be in full gear.
