Page 8 of Lust

CHAPTER FIVE

SYDNEY

“Sydney.” Something touches my arm, startling me. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you jump,” Cressida says. “Could you show this lady to the romance section, please. I need to make a call.” Cressida guides the young woman in front of me with a hand to her back and a bright smile. Most likely to compensate for mylights are on but nobody is homebehaviour and complete lack of attentiveness today.

I paste a hyperbolic smile on my face, certain I look like some demonic librarian. “My apologies. If you’d like to follow me.” I walk a step in front of the woman, peeking over my shoulder and ask, “Is there something specific you’re looking for?”

“Er…well, you know just your bog-standard romance.”

I nod despite thinking she’s not looking for the fluffy Hallmark romance she’s trying to convince me of. “Do you have a particular author in mind?”

“A couple,” she replies sheepishly, obviously not wanting to divulge that information.

“Okay,” I say, stopping in front of a wall of shelves filled with more romance than any one person can handle. Although having had a glimpse at the voraciousness of several die-hard readers that come in here almost every week, I’d say that statement is alie. Turning to face her, I continue, “Romance starts here and”—spinning slowly with an outstretched arm to demonstrate to entire section—“finishes over there. If there is anything you can’t find, come and see me at the counter, and I’ll find it for you.”

“Great. Thank you.” She steps toward the first section of shelves, which are what I call mushy romance, as I step back and turn away from her. Walking back to the counter, I glance behind me and see she’s moved to the smaller dark romance section. I say small, but in the last year I’ve been here, it has doubled in size. According to Cressida, it’s thanks to BookTok. Even Amazon have added a banner for BookTok best sellers.

I face forward and smack into something hard. My breath expels from me harshly as hands wrap around my waist, gripping tight to ensure I don’t fall over.

I become all too aware of those hands on me as tingles thrum where fingers press against my waist. Looking up, I’m met with a pair of hazel eyes, flecked with bronze that spark in the bright lights of the shop, and I momentarily get lost in them.

“You good,” Blake asks, snapping me from my daze.

“Oh my… Er…” I stutter, bringing my hands down to circle Blake’s wrists at my waist. His fingers tighten for a fraction of a second as I apply downward pressure, indicating for him to remove his hands.

“I’m sorry,” I say, getting myself under control. “What are you doing here?” My words come out a little more demanding and accusatory than I intended.

He chuckles. “I’d say buying a book. Is that too vague?” My eyes drop to the ring through his bottom lip as his tongue rolls over it before quickly meeting his gaze again. Humour fills his eyes and a bright, wide smile lights up his face.

“Buying a book?” I repeat, attempting to correlate the idea with the man in front of me.

He leans in close like he’s about to reveal the world’s biggest secret. “This is bookshop, right?” Hot breath tickles my cheek as he pulls back.

I feel my cheeks heat and imagine they are a rosy pink, giving away Blake’s effect on me. I roll my eyes. “And you just so happened to pick this bookshop?”

“I heard there was a lady here who would be only too happy to assist me,” Blake replies, tucking his hands in his pockets.

I frown, wondering just how he knew I worked here. Before I get the chance to ask, Sheila steps up beside me.

“Sydney, everything okay?” She scans Blake dressed in his dark jeans and plain white T-shirt. Not exactly church attire, but who am I to judge what people wear to church. And I try not to judge why he was there at all. Not the book reading or church going type—if I were the kind to judge someone by appearance.

“Everything is fine. This gentleman is looking for…” I look to Blake for him to fill in the blank.

“Crime. Thriller, to be specific.” Blake winks at me. “Something with action, murder and maybe a little se?—”

“This way,” I interrupt before Blake can finish and give Sheila a coronary. She may be the owner of Novel Notions, which stocks some extremely out there romance, but Sheila is what some might call a prude. I begin walking and hope that Blake gets the message to follow.

He does.

“Something I said back there?”

I don’t bother to reply until we get to where the crime thrillers are. I spin to face him. “Yeah, something like that. Those on the left are our moreexplicitthrillers. I hope you find what you’re looking for. If you’ll excuse me.”

“Hey,” Blake says, snatching hold of my arm and stopping me from leaving. “Where are you going?”

I ignore the heat from him his fingers on my bare arm. “I have work to do. If you need any help, I’m sure one of the other girls can help you.” I look to Blake’s hold on me and then raise my brows as my eyes meet his in silent question.

He frowns but let’s go and I hurry off. By the time I reach the staff room, I’m panting like I ran a marathon and my skin is clammy. A combination of disappointment in the way I treated Blake and anger that he has so much of an effect on me I would react that way at all.

---