Twilight Town's Whispers

What's with this town?

"Oh hello," Mina smiled up at the gloomy stranger.

"Did you not see the sign?" His deep voice growled.

"Sign?" Taking a step back she nearly jumped again when her back collided with a bookshelf.

"Upstairs is off limits," Crossing his arms the dark dress shirt he wore straining against his bulging biceps.

She had thought Liam was in great shape, but compared to this grumpy stranger, he was puny. Did everyone in this town have great bodies and look like Greek gods?

"Hello?" He snapped his finger in her face. "You aren't supposed to be up here."

"Sorry," Mina smiled, choosing to kill this big grump with kindness. "I didn't see any signs. I am very sorry I will just head on downstairs," quickly scooting around him, darting down the stairs and away from the giant grump.

What is it with this town and the men being so attractive? Rushing back into the main area, her heart pounding in her chest like it was trying to escape the very awkward situation she was just in.

"Mina," a voice mumbled. "Black coffee for Mina," the bored voice sighed.

"Coming!" Mina shouted, running into the café portion of the shop and over to the bored barista who was back leaning on the counter and playing with her phone.

"Two dollars and seventy scents," The barista held out her hand, her eyes still glued on her phone.

"Okay," Mina said, slowly pulling out a five dollar bill and handing it over to her. "Keep the change," She added, grabbing her coffee and heading back towards the books.

Taking a big gulp of her coffee, her shoulders slowly relaxed. A goofy grin on her face, Mina went back to perusing the shelves, the awkward upstairs encounter forgotten by the smell of books and the delicious bitter taste of her coffee. This was her new favorite place.

"Stacey, where is the sign?" A familiar deep voice barked, making her jump in surprise.

Turning, she quietly moved down the aisle poking her head out to find the big grump from earlier having a showdown with the bored barista.

"Sorry Mr. Cane I thought I put it out," The brunette batted her eyelashes feigning innocence while leaning forward in an attempt to give him a view of her ample chest. Rolling her eyes, Mina continued to spy on the showdown between the grump and the barista.

"This is your last warning," Mr. Grumpy growled, glaring down at the woman. "Next time you're fired," Grabbing a to go cup from the counter, he stormed out of the café and headed right towards her. If it couldn't get any worse, his eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that both excited and scared her.

Eyes widening, Mina ducked back into the aisle. Grabbing the first book she could reach, she quickly yanked it open, lifting it in front of her face, shielding herself and pretending to read.

"Enjoying the book?" His gruff voice rumbled in front of her, making her jump slightly.

"Oh yes it's very interesting," She said with as much cheer as she could muster.

"Really?" He scoffed.

"Yup," She said, popping the p just like her best friend and sister from another mister. Jay really was rubbing off on her.

The giant grump snorted at her. Lowering the book in disbelief only to nearly drop the book in surprise to see him smirking down at her. Wow, if she thought he was gorgeous while scowling it was nothing compared to him smirking. How hot was he when he smiled?

"You like reading the Karma Sutra?" One of his dark, perfectly shaped brows rose in question.

"What?" She squeaked, whipping the book over to find that she indeed had a copy of the Karma Sutra.

Hot flames licked up her neck, quickly rising to her cheeks. Embarrassment rose like a tidlewave ready to consume her. Why she wouldn't give for the floor to conveniently open up and consume her, relieving her of having to endure this embarrassing encounter any longer.

"Yup, that's what I was doing. You can never learn too much." Gripping the book like a lifeline, she put on her best fake smile.

"You going to buy it then?" He crossed his distractingly muscular arms, a smirk pulling at his lips again.

"I sure am," Stomping past the grump, Mina marched toward the café.

His deep chuckle faltered her steps. Glancing over her shoulder, his ice-blue eyes clashed with her green. Lifting his hand, his finger hooked as if to say come here.

"Book sales are over here." Turning on his heel, he didn't wait for her to follow and headed in the opposite direction towards a small dark oak counter she hadn't noticed before.

Biting her lip, Mina watched him walk away, her eyes quickly locking onto his drool-worthy rump. Since when did she like butts so much? Maybe she needed to get laid. This was the second man she ogled today. In her defense, Mina had never seen such hot guys before. She had spent time with celebrities and models and none of them compared to Liam and this grump.

Liam was a very attractive man, but he didn't compare to this giant grump. With his midnight tousled hair that looked like he ran his hand through it many times. Those striking blue eyes that both terrified and excited her in ways she couldn't understand. Unlike Liam's clean-shaven face, this tall, dark and grumpy, had a beard giving off alpha vibes. Like a bad boy pulling up on his motorcycle to kidnap and do naughty things to you. Wait what? Shaking her head from her naughty thoughts, she quickly followed after the grump.

Tall and grumpy walked around the counter slamming the book down. Holding the book under what looked to be a scanner, his eyes focused on the computer.

"That will be thirty-two dollars," he grunted, slamming the book back on the counter, the noise making Mina flinch.

Grabbing a forty from her purse she held it out, another fake smile plastered on her face. There was no way she was going to let him ruin her day with his rain clouds.

Plucking the money from her hand, he opened the cash register, putting it in before getting her change.

"Oh no, thanks, keep the change," grabbing the book, holding it tight to her chest, spinning around and rushing out of the store before he could respond.

What was going on with her? Her first day here and she had the unlucky fortune of meeting not one but two extremely attractive men. Both men made her weak in the knees and fumble with her words. She acted like a horned up teenager drooling all over the place. The one thing she didn't need was a man in her life, even if they were both mouthwatering.

"Get it together Mina," She scolded herself, pulling into her driveway. "Stop drooling over two strangers. Yeah, Liam was a big sweetheart, but he probably wants some girl next door type to settle down with and that's not me," Continuing to talk to herself, Mina parked and cut her engine hopping out. Walking around to the back opening the trunk and grabbing several bags of groceries.

"Then there's tall and grumpy. There was no way he had any interest. He looked at me like I was a leper," Shaking her head, she entered her cottage, dropping the bags down on the dining table before heading back to her trunk. Grabbing the last of her groceries, Mina closed and locked up her vehicle, rushing back inside.

It didn't take her long to unpack everything before heading upstairs to have a very hot and long bubble bath. Leaning back into the steaming water relaxed her muscles. Slowly relaxing a small sigh escaping her lips. Yes, this is what she needed a hot bubble bath to sooth her aches and pains.