Page 15 of His Juliet

And I couldn’t have been more thrilled.

He’d spent the past few hours following me around the store, helping me move some of the heavier boxes of books onto the floor, and standing menacingly behind me as I checked people out.

His behavior felt possessive. It didn’t make sense. We’d only spent the one night together and I’d fully expected to never see him again. But that didn’t stop me from loving the way he kept his body close to mine—always playing with my hair and caressing my hip.

It awakened a part of me I thought had vanished forever. The part that felt giddy andarousedby his attention.

I straightened up a stack of picture books. “That’s the last of the closing checklist items.” I scanned the now neat and tidy children’s section to make sure I hadn’t missed anything before cocking an eyebrow at Romeo. “We are officially closed.”

He gave me a panty-melting smile before falling back into one of the beanbags. “Finally. Now I have you all to myself.”

The heat in his eyes made me squirm.

“What are you doing here, Romeo?” There was no way this gorgeous man was actually interested in me, and as much as I’d loved spending the past few hours with him, I had no idea what was happening.

“I’m here to take you out to dinner, sweetheart.”

“Dinner?” I repeated, as if it were a foreign concept to me.

A slow smile spread across his face. “Yeah, dinner. The meal we eat at this time of day. Let’s go.” He pushed himself off the beanbag and my eyes lingered on his muscular forearms. He’d rolled up the sleeves of his button-down earlier and I couldn’t stop myself from stealing a glance.

But when he grabbed my hand, I froze.

The most attractive man I’d ever seen had just asked me out. Possibly on a date.

And there was no way I could go.

I swallowed against the intense longing forming a lump in my throat, wishing more than anything that I could be normal and go out with this man. I was sure Romeo would move on from whatever he was doing with me, probably by the end of the night if I was honest with myself, but I was greedy and wanted every minute I could get with him.

“I can’t.” I hated the words even as I spoke them.

Romeo’s brow furrowed. “Why not?”

Think of an excuse. Quick.“I have to stay here and do inventory.”

Good job. That sounds reasonable.

“Play hooky. Everyone needs a break.”

As I met Romeo’s hopeful gaze, I was tempted for the first time to speak the truth out loud. No one knew about my agoraphobia. Arturo suspected, I was sure, but I’d never admitted it.

I swallowed hard. Shame made the words stick in my throat.

“I just… can’t.”

Romeo cocked his head, and I had the strange sensation of being laid bare before him. Like he saw too much. “Is there a reason you don’t want to leave with me?”

He kept his expression blank, but there was a hint of vulnerability in his words. My stomach churned. I didn’t want him to think that I didn’t want to be with him. I shook my head. “No, it’s not that. I promise.”

He looked at me for a beat before smiling. “I’ll order takeout, then.” His thumbs rubbed gentle circles on my hips. When had he gotten so close? I barely stopped myself from swaying closer.

“You’d want to stay here and eat with me? Why?”

“Because I’m not ready for the night to be over,” he said simply.

My chest squeezed. “Okay.”

“Okay,” he responded with a satisfied smile.

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