Page 57 of The Bookbinder's Guide to Love

“I’m trying not to be a dick.”

“I think we all are,” Liberty said.

“You still have work to do,” Merle said.

She punched him on the shoulder. “So do you, nerd.”

“Do you have a spell you’re going to put on me, witch?”

“Maybe I already have,” she said. Her face was totally serious, but there was a spark in her eyes.

Merle raised both eyebrows at her and Poppy started to laugh, then turned back to Wes. “I think Sera really likes you.”

“Thanks,” he said, not sure how he was meant to respond.

“I just don’t want to see her hurt. Ford was one of her few guy friends and I know she’s missing him. I’m sure you are too,” Poppy said. “You seem nice enough. Just make sure the reasons you’re with her are for her. Not some messy granddaddy issues.”

“Sure.”

“I’ve offended you,” Poppy said.

“You kind of just told me not to be a jackass to your friend...” He held in a chuckle.

Sera set the tray she held on the table, then stepped between him and Poppy. “Leave Wes alone.”

He couldn’t tell if she was upset that her friends had been butting into her life or not.

“I was trying to help you,” Poppy said.

“We are still figuring things out. What’s up with you tonight?” Sera asked, sitting down between him and Poppy and putting her arm around her friend.

“Alastair called,” she said.

Wes didn’t know who Alastair was, but the conversation around the table stopped and everyone turned to Poppy.

For the first time since he’d known the other man, Merle looked almost menacing. “What the fuck did he want?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t answer the call,” she said.

Wes turned to Sera because he had no idea what was going on. Whoever Alastair was, he was a big deal to Poppy.

Sera leaned over, her hand on his thigh again. “He’s Poppy’s soon-to-be ex-husband.”

“Ah,” he said. He didn’t really know what else to say about that. There was clearly much more to the story, and normally he’d be interested in learning more, but Sera’s hand on his leg was making him hard, turning his brain into a puddle. He’d brought her here tonight to have fun.

She was so close he could see the amber flecks in her brown eyes and feel the warmth of her breath on his lips. He parted his mouth slightly and leaned closer, and she licked her lips. He groaned. He didn’t care that they were in the middle of the tavern and her friends were talking all around them.

He wanted her more than anything or anyone.

Something indefinable shifted inside him. He was always going to want her. He might not be able to figure out how to trust her, but he was in his comfort zone, and he wasn’t going to try to resist her.

Sera took Wes’s hand in hers and scooted closer to him. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders. She settled back against him, watching Poppy’s face and hearing the anger in Merle’s and Liberty’s voices. The one time Merle and Liberty would ever agree was when it came to Alastair.

Poppy was being quiet. She had been odd all night. Grilling Wes had been kind of funny because she did it in that polite way she had. And Sera enjoyed watching him squirm. It was so different for Wes not to be confident. Even when he wasn’t sure of the outcome, he always came in guns blazing.

She wasn’t sure of anything right now. Before Ford’s death, she’d had a nice, comfortable, safe life. She’d had the shop where she sold books and handmade journals. She’d had her friends who were kindred spirits. And she’d had her friendship with Ford. It hadn’t been exciting or sexy, but it had been hers.

Then everything had changed. Amber Rapp made them famous and the safety she’d found in her shop had been rocked with so many customers and so much demand. Ford had died and his hot asshole grandson had come into her life. And now Poppy’s past was coming into focus.

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