Page 57 of The Enemy Plot

“Can we even still live upstairs?” Hayley asks.

All valid questions. Emma taps her chin. “I don’t know. Let’s think about it, and then we can email them back, maybe request a call?”

“Sure.” I nod. “I’ll message them back asking for a call, and we’ll take it from there.”

Deacon

The moment I exit my bedroom, I’m assaulted by a nosy teenager.

“So, how did it go?” she asks, her eyes brimming with hope and fear. Does she have no faith in me?

I muffle a yawn. “Coffee.”

“Uncle Deacon.” She pokes me in the arm. “Are you two dating or not?”

Now wide awake, I can finally roll my eyes. “We are.”

At least, I hope so. We didn’t exactly talk about that yesterday, but I know she’s looking for a relationship. As for me, I’ve never imagined anything other than a serious relationship with Alice.

“Eeekk!” she screams, and I escape to the bathroom. It’s way too early for this.

When I come out, she’s still standing there, beaming as she follows me to the kitchen. “That’s so great. And it’s about time.”

When I glance her way, I can’t help but smile. Because she’s right on both accounts. And it feels right, too. I’ve wanted Alice since the first moment I laid eyes on her, but I was too deep in my own head to notice—or admit it to myself.

“Are you going to go see her now?” she asks, cocking her head, and I swear hearts are going to pop out of her eyes soon.

“Um. Isn’t it a little early?”

She gives me a pointed look. “It’s ten. The bookstore opens at eleven on Sundays, so she’s definitely up.”

“Okay, yeah. I’ll go.”

She smiles and walks over to me, giving me a big hug. “I’m happy for you.”

My heart swells. “Thank you, Lola.”

For once,I’mhappy. And that’s a nice change of pace.

As I step onto the sidewalk, Mr. Darcy trots out to rub on my legs, so I pick him up.

“Hey, bud.”

He purrs, which eases some of the stress and anxiety I’m feeling right now. I give him a kiss and put him back down. “Thanks for the vote of confidence,” I say, squatting down to pet him one last time.

Standing back up, I take a deep breath and walk the few steps separating me from the bookstore.

The bell signals my entrance, and I find Hayley and Alice both behind the counter, looking at their computer screen. And all that anxiety dissolves instantly with Alice’s smile.

She looks breathtaking as always in a casual pair of jeans, a pink top, and a “Sorry, I’m booked” brooch. I can’t help but smile in return.

“Hey, you,” she says, stepping around the counter while Hayley retreats to the back of the store, probably to give us some privacy.

“Hey, Frenchie.”

The second she’s in front of me, I pull her in for a kiss. Her floral perfume immediately transports me to a place where all is safe and warm, and I never want to leave.

I offer a featherlight kiss, gentler, more intimate than yesterday. It’s slow and tender, my lips moving softly, savoring the taste of her. Her hands grasp my shoulders, and I reluctantly take a step back. When it comes to kissing Alice, I have a hard time stopping.

---