Page 17 of His Juliet

I didn’t like that response either. Call me a selfish bastard, but I rarely cared about anyone outside the Family. For some reason, I wanted everything to do with Juliet to be my business.

“Is the increase too much?” I tilted her chin so I could see her expression.

“I don’t know.” She tried to push me away, but I stayed exactly where I was. After a few moments, she softened against my touch. “Maybe I’m just not good at doing this.” She sounded so unsure.

“Doing what?”

“Running this bookstore. Maybe I’m not cut out for all this. I still can’t believe Arturo trusted me with it, and now…”

A red haze fell over my vision. I gripped her hips and spun her to face me, pressing my body flush against hers. “Who the fuck is Arturo?”

Juliet cocked her head. “He owns the bookstore.”

“I thought you owned the bookstore.”

“No, I’m just the manager. Arturo moved away last year and left me in charge, and I don’t want to disappoint him. I’m trying new ways to bring people into the store, like having signings and posting on social media, but I don’t know.” She trailed off, her cheeks pink like she was embarrassed.

I cupped her face. “I think you’re doing an incredible job. Everyone who came in here today loved talking to you.” Too much, if you asked me. “Do you have anyone to help you?”

She nodded slowly. “I have two part-time employees. One of them was supposed to work today, but they called in sick, and now I’m worried I won’t have enough money to pay them.”

I wanted to tell her she didn’t need to worry about paying rent, but I couldn’t say that without revealing my job. And if she looked into it, she might find the online rumors that Matteo was Mafia. The stark contrast between our worlds filled me with a deep, unsettling dread. I wouldn’t say anything now, but I sure as fuck was going to figure out what was going on with the rental increase and fix it for her. I didn’t like seeing any stress on Juliet’s face.

“I’m sure it’ll all work out, baby.”

I leaned in and kissed her forehead, and it felt so right. Too right. I shouldn’t have come here today. I needed to cut this off for both our sakes, but the thought of never seeing her again made me feel physically ill.

She softened against me, and I moved closer until she was backed up against the desk, her curvy body flush against mine.

9

JULIET

Romeo was pressedagainst my body, and the desk behind me meant I couldn’t move away.

Not that I wanted to.

The heat in his eyes made me squirm. I wanted to wrap myself around him and make him stay forever.

My cheeks heated and I was glad Romeo couldn’t read my mind. If he knew I was already obsessed with him, he would run out of here so fast.

My breath caught as his hands trailed down my sides. He gripped my hips and lifted me onto the desk, and I let out a squeak at the movement, stunned that he lifted me so easily.

“A little warning next time,” I gasped.

His hands slowly ran up my thighs. “But I like you like this. Pink-cheeked”—his lips skated across my skin—“and heart pounding.” His fingers encircled my wrists, no doubt feeling my racing pulse.

A jolt of fear joined my arousal as I was reminded of how much stronger he was than me. How easy it would be for him to overpower me.

“Juliet?” Romeo’s voice brought me back to reality. “You okay?”

I blinked, stunned that he’d noticed the change. I drew in a deep breath and his scent surrounded me—leather and scotch and warmth—easing my anxiety.

“Yeah, I’m okay.”

I flipped our hands so I was now holding his wrists, my fingers unable to fully wrap around them. His skin was so warm, his palms calloused, and the backs of his hands were littered with tiny white scars. The steady drum of his pulse grounded me, as if my past and all its darkness just faded away.

Romeo cupped my face. “Do you even know what an angel you are?”

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