Page 18 of Unforgettable

He takes hold of my hand, gripping it tightly. “I’m Reeve.”

When neither one of us lets go, Mrs. Fletcher interrupts us with a fake cough.

Startling Reeve, he jerks back, and I immediately miss his touch.

“Sorry,” he murmurs.

She waves a hand nonchalantly. “You wouldn’t be the only person who gets a little dreamy eyed over our Oz.”

“Oh, that’s not…” His face fills with heat and his voice trails off while he vehemently shakes his head.

Noticing his distress, she playfully nudges him. “I’m only joking.”

His body sags in relief, and my smile widens at his flustered form. It’s adorable and sexy Reeve all over again. The exact thing that attracted me to him in the first place. That and the complete unawareness he has of how alluring he actually is.

“Okay, let’s get this show on the road and open up the store.” Mrs. Fletcher claps her hands together. “I can teach you the basics till Briar comes in and then you can direct all or any questions you have to him.”

They walk off together, Mrs. Fletcher continuing to point and Reeve nodding politely. I have an extensive list of things I need to get done, but it holds no weight against my desire to just stare at the back of him.

And that’s what I do. With no rhyme or reason, I rest my forearms on the bar, shamelessly watching him, subconsciously begging him to turn around.

Just as I push myself up off the wooden surface, knowing I can no longer procrastinate, I catch him finally glance my way, and victory spreads through me like wildfire.

It’s small, and probably inconsequential, but, for some reason, having his attention for even that split second puts a smile on my face.

As the day progresses, I’m not as productive as normal, seeing as I can’t help but let my eyes wander over to Reeve any chance I get. He looks at home in the bookstore, flicking through an endless number of pages, rearranging piles of books. I even catch him running his fingers along the spines anytime he walks past a shelf.

It’s the most comfortable I’ve ever seen him, almost like watching a whole different man.

But just like the man I met at Speakeasy, this version of him intrigues me beyond measure.

It’s been three long weeks, and I’d be lying if I said he hasn’t crossed my mind. Because he has. He’s done more than just cross it, he and the way his body became pliable for me lives there rent free.

When I stumble over my own feet, almost dropping a hundred-dollar bottle of wine, I scold myself for obsessing over him and do my best to push thoughts of Reeve and sex aside.

He works here now, and the main reason I never meet men I hook up with at Vino and Veritas is because I don’t shit where I eat. If you sleep with a guy and it turns awry or he turns clingy and he knows where you work or live, and ways to contact you, that’s just a disaster waiting to happen.

Obviously, I didn’t anticipate this plot twist, or how attracted I am to him. But I need to continue to remind myself that the same rules apply.

No matter what.

Eventually, my workday comes to a close and I’m a little bummed I didn’t get to say bye to Reeve. But it’s quickly replaced with a giddy feeling, despite all the mental boundaries I put up for myself earlier, knowing that working together means Iwilllay eyes on him again.

* * *

Pulling up to my parents’ place, I shake off that heavy feeling and try to paste on a fake smile. While my family and I don’t hold grudges, it always takes a little longer for me to not feel on edge when I see them after a fight. Truth be told, I’ve already bailed on our weekly dinners, twice, and missing three weeks in a row wasn’t going to go over well.

Because we were taught family is family, and even though they drive me up the wall eighty percent of the time, staying away isn’t an option.

Heading to the front door, I notice only two out of my three sisters are here and feel a little sliver of relief at not being the only late one.

If I time the night correctly, I may be able to head out after dinner and just before the inquisition starts. As I step inside the house, my niece and nephew run straight for me. Seeing as I’m huge, they both come up to my thighs and hold on tight, hugging me.

Bending down, I scoop them both up and give both kids a kiss on the cheek. “And how are my favorite people?” I ask.

“Mommy said we could rumble when you got here,” Tommy informs me. “And Grandma and Grandpa said we could move the furniture like last time.”

“Okay, let me say hello to everyone first and then we’ll play.” I put them down on the floor and take their hands in mine as the three of us make our way through the rest of the house.

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