Page 34 of Billionaire's Bookworm

She tilted her head, a half-smile playing at her lips. “I see. Well, gotta say, never thought I’d see a billionaire tech mogul on his hands and knees cleaning up arts and crafts.”

“Never thought I’d enjoy it so much, either. Perhaps I missed my calling.” Standing, I dumped the mound of glitter in the trash with a flourish and set the broom in the corner before heading for the door. When I reached it, I turned back and caught her staring at me with a bemused look on her face. “Hey, Emma?”

“Hmm?” She blinked and met my gaze.

“Sometimes the right path finds us twice. We just have to be brave enough to take it the second time around.”

Something flickered in her eyes—recognition, confusion, possibility—before she shook it off. “That’s surprisingly profound for a man covered in glitter.”

“What can I say. I contain multitudes.”

“Get out,” she laughed, but her eyes were soft.

I stepped out into the afternoon sun, lips already forming a whistle, the bell above the door chiming behind me. My phone buzzed—probably another message from my assistant in Miami, going batshit in my absence—but for once, I didn’t feel an urge to check it immediately. Instead, I found myself thinking about fate, timing, and how sometimes the universe gives you a second chance to get shit right.

Even when one person doesn’t remember the first chance at all.

At least not yet, anyway.

ChapterNine

Emma

Seriously,this damn glitter waseverywhere.

I’d been sweeping for what felt like hours, andstill, tiny sparkles caught the late afternoon light streaming through the bookstore windows. It was like a unicorn exploded in my children’s section. And somehow, impossibly, I really didn’t mind.

My lips curved remembering the details of the morning’s reading event. Wade, sitting cross-legged on the floor, doing different voices for each character in “The Gruffalo.” The kids crowded around him, completely enchanted. Even little Sophie, whoneverwarmed up to strangers, had ended up in his lap by the end of the story.

“Traitors, all of you,” I muttered, glancing at Porky sprawled near the door in a pool of sunshine. He’d spent the entire morning following Wade around like a lovesick teenager, accepting treats and belly rubs with shameless enthusiasm. Now he just thumped his tail lazily at my accusation, not even bothering to look guilty.

I dumped another dustpan full of glitter into the trash, catching my reflection in the window. My hair was falling out of its messy bun, and there was a smudge of purple glitter on my cheek that refused to budge. But what caught my attention was the smile I couldn’t seem to shake.

This wasn’t part of the plan.

Wade James wasn’t supposed to be good with kids. He wasn’t supposed to charm my dog, or remember how I took my coffee, or look at me like... like he knew me.Reallyknew me.

The bell above the door chimed, and Silvy breezed in, carrying two cups from Sandy Sips.

“I come bearing caffeine and curiosity,” she announced, setting one cup on the counter. “Spill.”

“Shouldn’t you still be at your dentist appointment?” I asked innocently.

Silvy had the grace to look a little sheepish, but waved her hand dismissively. “Rescheduled. Turns out my cavity could wait, but town gossip can’t. Now stop deflecting.”

I grabbed the coffee gratefully. “There’s nothing to spill.”

“Really?” My friend perched on the counter, raising an eyebrow. “Because Mr. Thomson said Sandy said Wade’s been back at least three times this afternoon, and Mrs. Peabody swears she caught him teaching Porky to fetch this morning.”

“Omg. Doesanyonein this town mind their own damn business? Or you know… maybe justnotmake stuff up?”

“Nope,” Silvy said, popping the “p” with a little too much relish. “So start talking, sister.”

I sighed, leaning against a nearby bookshelf. “It’s not... I don’t know what it is. He’s just...” I gestured vaguely with my free hand.

“Smokin’ hot? 10/10 charming? 1000 percent smitten with you?”

“Confusing,” I finished. “One minute he’s all smooth-talking playboy with too much time and money on his hands, and the next he’s sitting on my floor covered in glitter, making big bad wolf noises for a bunch of kids.”

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