Pathway to my Heart

Chapter 1

One Year Later… 

The smell of leather and cleaning solution assaulted Kayla’s nose as she entered the Couch Potato, a little store she had created after the tragic moment of being left at the alter.  The little bell above the door jangled again as she closed the door and turned on the lights.

The store itself wasn’t very attractive but the contents within was.  Kayla carried everything antique, right down to the cash register she used to help people make their purchases.  She loved her little store but it had a way of collecting a thick layer of dust over night.  Kayla grabbed the cleaning solution from under the counter and began to dust furniture and other trinkets she carried.

Cody, her younger brother who had just turned sixteen, entered the shop and slammed the door.  Kayla had to remind herself why she had hired her little brother in the first place.  He had begged her for the job but now she regretted the flirtatious kid in her store.  If he wasn’t in the back watching the sports channel he was on the floor flirting with every girl his age who dared venture into the store.

“What’s up sis?” He asked in his cool, teenage, brotherly manner. 

“Grab a bottle and rag and start cleaning.” Kayla commanded before he could disappear into the back room.  Cody grabbed a rag and wrinkled his nose as he started to wash the windows. 

“I can’t believe you have me doing this.” He said. Even though Kayla secretly knew that Cody liked washing windows so he could show off his sixteen year old muscles he sure did know how to complain.

Cody brushed away the blonde hair that had flopped lazily over one of his eyes.  He needed a haircut but refused to go and get one, he felt haircuts in professional salons were for women.  Emma, their sister, used to cut his hair regularly but since she had moved out of state three months before his hair had not been touched by a pair of scissors.

Kayla glanced at the clock and realized her open sign was supposed to be flashing ten minutes ago.  It wasn’t like people waited outside the door to be let in, but occasionally people stopped by on their way to work or to get groceries.  She plugged the sign in and it flashed its neon colors into the early morning. 

The day went slowly.  Only five people stepped foot into the store and only one person had bought anything.  It was a fifteen dollar lamp that needed some serious work done to it.  Finally noon came around and Cody decided it was time to head home.

“Mom thinks I needed to spend more time on my homework.” Was his lame excuse as he waved goodbye and slipped out the door.

With the shop to herself Kayla had nothing to do.  At least when Cody was around she had someone to talk to, but without him who was she supposed to talk to?  The antique rug?  Kayla stared at the patterns woven into the rug.  She had just received it and hadn’t had it appraised yet.  It was supposed to be very old… or at least she hoped it was.

Lost in her thoughts about the rug she almost didn’t realize someone had entered the store.  If it wasn’t for the tinkle of the bell above the door she would have been clueless to anyone who stepped in.  The bell was a lifesaver.

She stepped around a shelf of antique books and saw a man standing with his back towards her.  His brown hair was combed perfectly into place and he was wearing a rather expensive suit.  He was tapping his toe impatiently.

“Can I help you?” She finally asked as the man checked the time on his watch...an expencive one she noticed.

He turned suddenly and Kayla was caught of guard at just how handsome the man looked.  His chiseled jaw line hinted at a day or two worth of stubble and his blue eyes seemed to be as glittery as jewels.  His brown hair was not only combed into place but the sun pouring in from the window seemed to make it glow in an almost eerie fashion.

“Yes, I’m looking for something.” The man said abruptly snapping Kayla out of her daydream.  It was men like this that she needed to watch out for.  He probably was aware that he was good looking… no, he was drop dead gorgeous.

“What are you looking for?” Kayla said as she rushed over to a corner desk that held a catalog of every item in the store.  “If I can’t find it in the store I’m sure I can get it elsewhere.  I'm a pro and finding items from other place.” She added as he followed her to the desk.  He seemed to be a bit disgusted with his surroundings, as if he'd never stooped so low before.

“I’m not sure what I need, I just need something.  You see, I’ve purchased a home on the outskirts of town as a summer cottage and I need something old to put in it.”  The man’s voice flowed from his mouth like silk.  Kayla scolded herself for noticing so much about him.

“We have a lot of items here to choose from.” Kayla said as she gestured to the rest of the store.  The man glanced around uninterested.

“My walls are white and beige and I need an item that can be the main piece of the room.  I’ll come by tomorrow to pick it up.” He said.  He looked at his watch again and turned to leave.

Kayla was caught of guard.  This man wanted her to pick out an item?  “I don’t shop for my customers.” Kayla boldly announced as the man grabbed the doorknob to leave.  Something about this man screamed arrogant and she didn't like it.  He turned and for the first time seemed to be noticing her.  His eyes fluttered across her body and it made Kayla uncomfortable.

“You said you could find any item if it wasn’t in the store.  Is that correct?” He asked.  His voice was lathered with cynicism.

Kayla knew where this conversation was going to lead.  He was going to tell her that she had already offered to shop for him.  “I’ll have your item ready by seven tomorrow morning.” She said in defeat.  The man seemed pleased and left the store.

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Scott closed the door of the little antique store.  His heart was still pounding at the sight of the woman on the other side.  He tired to think of other things but the slender woman with the striking black hair and emerald green eyes kept coming back to his mind.  She was someone he’d like to show off to his friends for a week or two.

He held back a chuckle as he remembered their little argument.  He knew she gave in because of his looks.  In fact, it shocked him that she had tried to contradict him in the first place.  Every girl he’d ever met melted at the sight of him and did anything he felt like commanding them to do.  That is, every girl had melted except one… June.

Scott looked at his refection in the window of the little shop.  Yes, he was a very good looking man.  He knew now for a fact that that was why the woman gave in so quickly.