Page 127 of The Charmer

But I'd gotten a new delivery today. My "Surprise Book Boxes" had been a success in the past, so I thought I’d try them again.

Customers came in, told me what they usually read, and also what kind of TV shows they usually watched, and I made a box with twelve books pertaining to their interests. So far, I had a perfect track record—zero complaints. Before starting it, I'd been terrified that I would get too many returns, but that hadn't been the case. Today, I’d sold a record number of thirteen boxes. I was over the moon.

If only my heart weren't so heavy. I’d kind of hoped that Julian would call me again sometime in the afternoon, but he hadn't. I’d probably been too honest and scared him away, but I didn't want to hide anything from him. I realized now that I'd been hoping deep down that he would tell me it had just been a figure of speech, and of course he saw a future together for us. But that hadn't happened.

Then again, it was unfair of me to hold him to that. He and I had been so caught up living in the moment that we never even discussed the future.

Georgie, always count your blessings, I reminded myself. I had a man who spoiled me rotten. At least I hoped I still had him. And if not, I had some really, really good memories to look back on.

My store was doing a lot better than I'd expected for the lull after Mardi Gras. My clients trusted me enough to actually call me when they heard the nasty things Kyle was spreading about me. Everything was going perfectly. I had many things to be grateful for.

I was about to go in the back when the front door opened and the bells chimed.

"We're closed,” I yelled, then turned around. “Oh! Hi, Julian."

"Hey." He flashed me his trademark lazy smile. Was I imagining it, or was it a bit more reserved than usual?

"I was about to lock up," I said nervously.

He stood by the doorway for a bit before taking a few steps inside the store. "I've wanted to come here quite a few times today."

My heart grew a bit lighter at his words. "You did?"

He came even closer. I wanted to round the corner and meet him in the middle just to feel him near.

"But you specifically said not to, and I figured waiting was better. Now we get the place all to ourselves."

I stayed put, taking a deep breath. I exhaled in relief when Julian walked up to me.

"I apologize for the way I reacted this morning. I apologize for last night too. I didn't realize how callous I sounded."

I shrugged, looking down at my feet. "It wasn't callous, just not what I wanted to hear."

He touched my jaw with the back of his fingers. “What was it that you wanted to hear?"

I shook my head. "I don't know," I whispered. The truth was that I simply wasn't ready to open up my heart like that again. I already felt far too vulnerable.

"Then I'm going to tell you what I should've said. How I really feel. I love you, Georgie."

I glanced up so quickly that he had to pull back. I'd been millimeters away from bumping my forehead into his nose.

"I love you so fucking much. I should've told you that a while ago, but...”

"Things have been moving too fast," I finished for him. I was smiling with my entire face.

And would you look at that? My heart was no longer heavy.

"When you were at my house, I realized how strongly I feel about you. I simply didn't want to let you go."

"Watching me puke made you reach that conclusion?" I giggled.

"I liked taking care of you, Georgie. I want to do it forever. I liked having you there: in my bed, in my house, on the patio, you smiling in the sun. All I could think about after you left was how to lure you back in. This isn't my forte. It has never been. I honestly never thought I’d want to be in a relationship. But now I'm thinking my grandmothers were right. That I simply hadn't met you. And now that I've found you, Georgie, no way in hell am I letting you go.”

I narrowed my brows. "Wait, your grandmothers know? What do they have to do with us?"

"Long story. I don't want to get into it right now. Let's just say that they did give great advice. And," he said, reaching into the pocket of his pants, "I also brought you this."

I immediately took the bottle from him. "Is this a refill? I've been meaning to ask for one." I uncapped the little dark red container and sniffed it. It wasn’t my perfume, but it was the most delicious thing I'd ever come across. This one was light and seductive at the same time. It was fresh but also had a certain gravitas that I loved.

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