Page 5 of Bookworm

"Those dark, intense eyes, that sexy frown…"

"Can frowns be sexy?" I asked.

"It's everything," Casey said back then called out,"How's it going, Bo? Wasn't sure we'd see you."

I shook my head as he changed trajectory, walking toward us with that slow, confident gate.

Bo Stryker stopped at the counter, and I could feel his piercing stare on the top of my head, though I hadn't looked up yet.

"Hey Bo," Natalia said, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw her twinkle her fingers in a wave.

"Hey," he said back, his voice deep and rolling, like thunder. "What were you girls talking about?"

Casey grinned. "Nothing much. I was just reminding Lottie about the tween who camein. This girl saidshe hated Lottie 'cause she smiles too much.Do you believe that?"

There was no response.

I could still feel that stare though, so after a moment, I pasted on a bright expression and looked up—right into thesevere, unsmiling face of Chariot High School's #1 soccer player and grump. Bo studied me a second longer then said…

"Yeah, I can see that."

It took all my willpower, but I forced my smile to stay put and made my voice extra cheery.

"Ha ha," I said. "You'reso funny, Stryker."

His frown didn't budge. "Wasn't trying to be funny, Kent."

Why, oh why, did he have to be so serious all the time?

"Does your face hurt at the end of the day?"

"Does yours?" I snapped back, and his eyes gleamed. If I didn't know better, I'd say he was amused. But that couldn't be right. Bo always kept his emotions on lockdown. Recomposing myself as my friends laughedsoftly, I said, "Do you need something? We got a brand new batch of books in if you wanted to check something out."

Bo cocked his head. "What do you recommend?"

I answered with abright grin. "Well, I—"

"On second thought, I'll choose my own," he said. "I know what I want."

"Oh?"

"Yeah," he said, pushing a sheet of paper across the desk,a slight grin appearing on his lips. That little tilt made me nervous."Can you show me where to find Liv Lamoreaux's books?"

"Liv Lamoreaux," I repeated.

"Yeah."

"You know she writes romance, right?"

He shrugged those big shoulders thencrossed his arms. "What's with the judgy tone?"

"Oh," I said, holding up a hand, "no judgment at all.I love romance."

"Figures," he grumbled.

Unable to help my blush, I added, "I'm just surprised you do. There's a lot of heat inthose books, you know."

A grunt was his only response.

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