Find Me Alastar

The doorbell rings to notify us of someone entering the shop and I feel them walk over to us. I smile

broadly and turn as I lift my eyes I stop dead in my tracks.

My eyes widen.

A tall man with olive skin and dark wavy hair stands in front of me, his hands are in the pockets of his

expensive jacket.

Holy shit.

Every hair on the back of my neck stands to attention.

He smiles softly. “Hello, Em.” His eyes search mine.

My heart starts to hammer; my eyebrows instantly rise by themselves as he takes a step toward me.

“Hello,” I murmur as I fight the urge to step toward him.

His eyes look down at my new ring. “Beautiful,” he whispers in a thick Northern Irish accent, his

voice deep and inviting. That accent… holy fuck.

My brow furrows. Who the hell is this? I turn to look for the old lady who is now standing smiling as

she watches our interaction and I turn back to him.

No words come out of my mouth but I can feel myself blushing as my face hits a tropical heat.

I am tongue-tied. Never has a man affected me like this. Is this what they call a physical attraction?

No words will leave my mouth and I look back to the old lady for some much needed guidance.

“The ring, dear.” She smiles. “Do you want to take it?”

“I…” I shake my head as embarrassment fills me. God, I bet every woman he meets reacts this stupid

to him. “Umm.” I shake my head, this is really too expensive to buy, just for the sake of it.

The tall man takes out his wallet and slides his credit card across the counter. “I will take it, thanks.”

He smiles.

I frown at him. He will take what?

“What did you want to take, dear?” The old lady asks him.

He gestures to me. “I will take the ring that she is wearing.”

My face drops. What?

“Excuse me? I-I haven’t even made up my mind if I want it yet,” I stammer in a fluster. Is he kidding?

Is it international rude man day today?

His eyes roam across my face as if memorizing every inch of it. “I have been looking at this ring for

weeks and I have just come back to get it,” he replies curtly.

I frown. Oh, the hide. “Well, I’m sorry, but I’m taking it,” I snap. I wasn’t going to but damn him, he’s

not getting it now for being so rude. “It will look stupid on you, anyway.”

A trace of a smile crosses his face. “The ring is for my mother.”

I fake a smile. “You snooze, you lose.”

He glares at me.

I turn back to the old lady. “How much is it?” I ask her again as I shuffle around in my handbag for my

wallet. Damn this fool for making me break my budget.

“Four hundred and twenty pounds,” The kind old lady reminds me.

“I will give you double that,” he interjects.

Is he kidding? “Excuse me, Mr. Rudeness. This ring is already sold. Go. Away.”

“I will not go away until I have my ring,” he snaps.

For the love of God, how did I think this guy was hot just a few minutes ago? He’s a damn pig.

“It’s not your ring. It’s my ring now.” I quickly hand over my card. Shit, I hope the old lady sells it to

me and not to my outbidding counter buyer.

“Fifteen hundred pounds,” he interjects.

I cross my arms angrily in front of me. “Oh, you are really something, aren’t you?”

He narrows his eyes at me. “Like I said, I have wanted this for a long time.”

I screw up my face in annoyance. “Well, you should have bought it then. Back when you had the damn

chance.”

He rolls his eyes. “Shouldn’t you be sightseeing or something?” he mutters, annoyed. “Where are you

from? New Zealand or somewhere?”

I narrow my eyes. “Australia, actually. You know, criminals and all,” I snap. “And besides, I am

sightseeing with my boyfriend, actually.” My eyes flicker outside to the other rude pig sitting waiting for

me. God, it goes from bad to worse around here.