Free Modern Arrangements: Complete Trilogy (Modern Arrangements #1-3) by Sadie Grubor Page B

for them. They’re like heroin." He chuckled and
stabbed a large bite. Celia sat next to Dixon and ate. Lilli hopped up on the
counter top with a plate in her lap.
    After Dixon and I both ate another plate
full, we finally pulled ourselves away from the counter. Lilli started picking
up the dishes but I swatted her away. She scowled at me.
    "You cooked, I’ll clean up." I
collected the dishes from the messy counter tops.
    "Did you hear that, Dixon?"
Lilli yelled as he stretched out in his chair.
    As I walked to the sink, Lilli spun
around and the smell of cherries wafted around me. At first I thought it was
the pancakes but then came the flowery smell. It was her smell, her scent. I
hadn’t dreamt it.

 
    Chapter Six
Dating For Dummies
Aidan
    I left Dixon’s apartment before noon so I
could get home to do some work. I needed to be showered and changed in time for
Maggie’s birthday party.
    I didn’t spend nearly as much time as I
used to spend with Maggie, having been around her since she was a born. She was
always more like a little sister than my cousin. Spoiling her had been a
favorite hobby of mine.
    After going through some emails, I
slipped on a pair of dark gray slacks and a light blue button down shirt. I
gathered all of Maggie’s presents and remembered I had one last thing to get. I
hurried down to the car so I could make a stop on the way to Viola and Liam’s
house.
    Pulling up to the curb in front of the
first bookstore that was along the way, I quickly got out and ran inside. After
I entered and looked around at the different shelves, I started to wander
around trying to figure out where I should look. Having no luck on my own, I
headed to the cashier’s counter and tapped the bell that was on the counter. I
wasn’t prepared to see a familiar face.
    I smiled and she stopped short as she
walked out from a back room.
    Raising an eyebrow at me, "Are you
following me again?" Lilli laughed.
    "You work here too?" I raised my
brow. She nodded.
    "What can I do for you?" She
walked up to the counter.
    "I need to find a book," I
started.
    "Really? In a bookstore? That’s
what you are looking for?" She winked. "Which one?"
     "Well, I’m not positive on the
name, but it has to do with Vampires, Werewolves, Faeries, Vampire hunters…you
know all of that stuff. Oh and it’s the second book that I am looking
for."
    "Wow, I never took you for the young-adult
fiction reading type." Lilli giggled.
    "It’s for my cousin, she’s turning
fifteen." Jesus, who knew sarcasm could be so hot.
    "Uh-huh, sure it is." With a
smile she pointed. "Young Adults section, Mortal Instruments series, City
of Ashes. They are in alphabetical order."
    After finding the sequel, I saw the
third book sitting right beside and grabbed it too. Lilli was standing at the
counter looking over something and writing as I approached with the books.
    "Find it?" She looked up.
    I held the books up and got a thumb up
from her. Placing the books on the counter, she reached for them.
    "So you have two jobs?" I
watched her long fingers caress the cover of one book, wondering what her touch
would feel like.
    "Yep, weekend day job." She scanned
the books and punched some keys on the register.  Now her mouth had my
attention.
    "So, how many jobs do you
have?" Her mouth was slightly wide with full lips.  With her high
cheekbones and almond shaped eyes, they made her look exotic.
    She hesitated, but then answered.
"Three." Her response coming out uncomfortably quiet.
    "Why? And how do you handle classes
with that kind of schedule?" The questions were genuine but I couldn’t
help sliding my gaze from her face down her long neck.  With her chocolate
brown hair pulled up, the slope of her neck was tantalizing.
    She sighed.
    "Did Dixon send you or
something?" She pursed her lips.
    I shook my head, "Nope, just
curious."
    "Well, truth is, I will be delaying
my classes for awhile, so I have plenty of time to work all three of them."
She huffed.
    "Oh." I