Page 55 of Austen Persuaded

Oh wait, sorry. Book club is tonight, right? I’m an idiot. This is a big night for you.

Still, I can’t wait to tell you … Robin heard the interview went well!

Said he’d be shocked if you weren’t offered the position

You should check your email and voicemail - maybe they called or left a message?

YOU’RE GOING TO BE AN AGENT!! Probably!!

I laughed as I reread his messages. A big dopey grin decorated my face when I turned off my phone screen and stood up. I was surprised to see the area empty. Everyone from the group had left.

Good, I thought, sobering a bit. But I smiled again, remembering my great news.

“Annie.”

Hearing the deep baritone behind me, I closed my eyes.

No, it couldn’t be. He’s still here? And now …

I opened my eyes and looked around frantically without turning my head.

Now we were alone, apart from a few stray bookstore customers and an employee or two far off in the distance.

I needed to turn and face him. But how could I? I willed my feet to move, but they wouldn’t. It was taking all my energy to just breathe and stay upright.

“Annie?” Kylan said again, his voice a bit scratchy. “Do you need some help cleaning up?”

Turn around before you melt into the floor!

I exhaled shakily, and I hoped he couldn’t see or hear—but he probably could, because he sounded like he was close to me, far too close.

Finally, I turned, and my eyes immediately found his piercing grey ones, highlighting a face that was far too handsome for any man, let alone this one. Time hadn’t altered his physical appeal at all, I realized as my eyes roved over each of his facial features, all of them perfect except for the two days’ worth of stubble. And even that was somehow perfect. I lowered my eyes as my cheeks heated. He must have noticed I was staring. But … maybe he was too.

I cleared my throat. “I can handle it. Thank you.” I immediately started to turn back, but his voice stopped me. His voice…

It was deeper than I remembered it, and yet there was something else too. Though it was still a bit gravelly, he spoke now with the tone and manner of a successful, confident man. Of course, given how fast he’d worked his way up from his working-class roots, he had every reason to feel confident.

“Don’t be silly,” he said, his voice clear yet casual. “There are a lot of chairs, and your bookstore friend ditched you. I’ll just help and then go. For the bookstore’s sake.” A look of annoyance marred his perfect face.

I swallowed with some difficulty. “Well, I—fine.” I walked to the other side of the circle and started folding the chairs. When I started carrying them to the back of the store, he followed me silently. I felt his every move, his presence consuming the air around us. I needed air; there wasn’t enough air in here. I vowed to lift more chairs next time so we could get this done as fast as possible.

Finally, only the snack table remained, and we had to carry that together. As we neared the storage area, he finally broke the silence. “I’ll walk you out. It’s pretty dark out by now, not safe.”

“Oh, that’s not necessary—” I protested, terrified at the thought of being alone with him any longer, especially in the dark. Who knew what idiocy would come out of my mouth in those conditions?

He scowled as we put down the table. “Don’t be a pain, Annie.”

I scoffed. “Don’t be … apain?”

“You heard me,” he said curtly as he propped the table against a wall.

Fuming, I crossed my arms, daring him to meet my eyes.

His eyes landed on me briefly and then rose toward the ceiling, his jaw rigid as he sighed. “Come on, let’s just go.”

After a long moment in which I continued to glare at him, I realized this was counterproductive. I needed to get out of his presence, and if letting him walk me out was the quickest way to make that happen, so be it. “Fine,” I forced out.

His lips seemed to twitch, so I started walking ahead withouthim. Fast.

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