Page 14 of His Juliet

“I needed a new book to read, and who better to recommend one than the best bookstore owner in the city?” Pretty sure the last time I read a book was last century, but she didn’t need to know that.

Juliet blushed and twisted her lips, trying not to smile. “What sort of book are you looking for?”

I bridged the space between us, curling the pink ends of her hair around my finger. Now I was close enough to breathe in her light strawberry vanilla scent.

“Whatever your favorite one is, pretty girl.”

Her brow furrowed, a cute little line forming between her eyes. “You’re here because you want to read my favorite book?”

“Is that so hard to believe?”

“Nah. It’s as easy to believe as you hiding from some scary stranger because you’re too handsome.” She gave me a true smile, and it took my breath away.

The darkness in my soul settled. How was it that mere minutes in her presence made me feel alive again?

The chime of a bell caused Juliet to look over my shoulder, and I wanted to demand she put her eyes back on me.

“I need to get to the register. If you wait for a minute, I can get you some book recommendations.”

“Do your work, stellina. I’m not going anywhere.”

Her blush deepened and she brushed past me to head to the front desk where two guys in their twenties were waiting to pay. Possessiveness like I’d never felt before gripped me. No fucking way was I leaving Juliet alone with them. My jaw clenched as I followed her behind the desk. She jumped as I planted a firm hand on her hip. What she couldn’t see was the warning glare I gave both of the idiots who looked way too interested in her.

“Umm, this is an employee-only area,” she said.

I tightened my hold on her hip. “Do your work, baby. I already said I wasn’t going anywhere.”

“Someone’s feeling very literal today.” When I still didn’t budge, she let out a sigh and turned back to the two guys.

“Is he bothering you?” Idiot One asked, glancing up at me.Up, because I had a good six inches on him. I gave him a sinister smile and he took a small step back.

Juliet hesitated before answering. “No, he’s okay.” She scanned the top book. “Great choice on this one. I really enjoyed it.”

“Oh, I know. I’ve already read it on my Kindle, but I needed to get the hard copy to have,” Idiot Two gushed. His eyes dipped to Juliet’s perfect tits, and I saw red.

“Watch where you’re looking,” I snapped, pulling her so she was flush with my body. Juliet elbowed my stomach, but I didn’t flinch. She huffed and finished the transaction, wishing them a good evening as they scurried out of the store.

The second they were gone, she spun around to face me. “What was that?”

Warmth settled inside me again, now that her eyes were back on me. It didn’t even matter that her arms were crossed and she was scowling.

“Well?” she prompted. I’d been too busy cataloguing every bit of her perfection to realize she was waiting for a response.

I shrugged. “Just didn’t like how they were looking at you.”

“They weren’t even looking at me. We were making small talk.”

I grunted in disagreement.

Juliet looked mildly exasperated. “Let’s get you a book.”

If she thought finding me a book was going to make me go away, she was absolutely mistaken. I felt alive when I was in Juliet’s presence and didn’t have the strength to leave.

7

JULIET

If I thought givingRomeo a few book recommendations would get him to leave, I was sorely mistaken.

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