Page 68 of Love Without Demands

“But you’re not sure if she’d be into it, right?” I nodded, and Everly smiled. “I get it. I was so scared to talk to my husband—well, he was my boyfriend then. I was afraid he’d think it was silly or something. Come on. I think I have some resources to help you.”

Following her through racks and racks of every costume imaginable, I listened as she pointed to the various sections. “Over there we have anime and cosplay. Then there’s your fairytale stuff over on the other wall. In the center, we haveoccupation-related costumes, such as cops, nurses, your classic French maid, schoolgirls, and military. That’s the most popular area for people who are just looking for a Halloween costume or something.”

“Wow, you have a little of everything.”

“Yep,” she agreed, leading me toward the back as she continued pointing around the room. “Over there is historical stuff like Renaissance, Vikings, and pioneer costumes. Animals are near the fairytales. And here,” she said as we walked around a corner and found an inconspicuous black door, “is the bookstore.”

She opened the door, and I walked inside. It was a small room with only four sets of bookshelves, but they were jam-packed with books.

Everly thumbed over her shoulder. “I’ve got to stay up front, but you’re welcome to browse. That green book on the first set of shelves is the one that really helped me a lot. Take your time and let me know if you have any questions.”

“Thanks,” I said. “You’ve been a huge help.” When she was gone, I pulled the green book from the shelf and read the title.Effective Ways to Talk to Your Partner about Role Playing.

Tucking that one beneath my arm, I checked out the rest of the library. There were books on ideas for scenes, communication, and even a few that gave instructions for do-it-yourself costumes.

My phone rang, and I pulled it from my pocket to see that Auburn was calling, which was weird. He was supposed to be on his way home from upstate after speaking to students at a business college.

“Hey, everything okay?” I answered.

“Yeah, I’m on my way home. Shouldn’t be more than an hour. Where are you right now?”

I came to a sex club with our brother, but he’s upstairs in a BDSM room with his old flame.

“At a bookstore.”

“Listen, I know you’re not on duty, but the girls are at a club and saying they plan to walk home.”

“Which girls?” I asked, my ears perking up like a dog smelling a steak.

“Gia, Lehra, and… what’s the one with glasses?”

“Nicolette.”

“Yeah, her.”

“I’ll go get them. Which club?”

“The Blue in Midtown. Are you sure about this? They looked a little tipsy, and I just worry.”

“I don’t mind a bit. I’m not far from there.”

“Thanks, man. I owe you one.”

“Sounds good, and don’t worry about the ladies. I’ll get them safely home.”

“I knew I could count on you, especially if I told you Lehra was there,” he teased, seeming to know without me telling him that I had a thing for her.

“Yeah, yeah, shut up,” I mumbled, hanging up the phone to the sound of his laughter.

“I’m Mrs. Bouvier’s driver,” I told the guy at the door, and he nodded his boulder-sized head and pulled back the red rope for me to go through.

I’d passed by this club a few times, but I’d never been inside. It was nice. The air bumped with bass, and the blue furnishings were tasteful and sleek.

Spotting Lehra instantly, I headed toward her position at the bar, where she was seated with a man beside her. Jealousy flared through me, and it quickly turned into anger when I drew close enough to hear Lehra say, “For the hundredth time, no. I do not want you to buy me a drink.”

A furious red haze clouded the corners of my vision when he reached out and grabbed her upper arm, and I placed a hand on the asshole’s shoulder with an unyielding grip. “The lady said no,” I said in a voice just loud enough for him to hear.

“Who the fuck are you?” he sneered, rotating his barstool to face me, his eyes glazed with drunkenness.

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