Page 105 of An Unexpected Kind of Love

“Mm.” I’m unable to stop smiling. “Though Imightrecognize those kisses.”

“Might!” Blake shakes his head affectionately at me.

“Might,” I affirm, as we go into the sleek kitchen with gray glossy cabinets and wood countertops. I pour water for us, and then open the wine as Blake downs his water.

We clink wineglasses. “Welcome back,” I say.

“Good to be back.”

“How was California and the celeb life?”

He laughs, shaking his head. “All right. No comparison to being back with you. How are you? How’s the shop?”

“It’s getting busier every day. And hopefully with the lead into Christmas, it’ll get busier yet.”

“It will,” Blake affirms. “I’ve got a plan to get some of that Christmas traffic.”

“Can’t wait to hear about it.”

Earlier today, I worked with Gemma. With Blake’s long-distance help over video chats and emails during the last couple of months, we’ve come up with a business plan to turn the shop around. We’re working to update our website for online sales of new and used books. I’ve put out ads. We’re starting to book events, like having authors come read. The shop’s gotten busier and if this keeps up, Gemma will need to be full-time, and I’ll need to hire more help. The bills are settled with the payout for filming. The shop is starting to build a reserve already, thanks to Blake’s help.

“Gifts now or later?” Blake says affectionately as we go sit on the sofa. Blake splurged and bought us a vegan-friendly oversize sofa that fits two snuggling together very comfortably. And I’m definitely pro-snuggling when Blake’s home.

I pretend to consider. A small gift sits wrapped and waiting on the coffee table. “Who said anything about gifts?”

“You fool no one, Mr. Barnes.” Blake grins at me, warming me to my core. It’s so good to have him back.

“Who says that’s for you?” I can’t stop smiling.

“What, you’re wrapping gifts for yourself now?”

“Well,” I say matter-of-factly. “With you away, I need to pass the time somehow.”

“Pfft.” Blake reaches into his pocket and pulls out a tissue-wrapped gift. It’s a long tube, and for a moment I reflect back to Gemma’s threat months ago about a cross-merchandising campaign of dildos and books and wonder if she somehow got to Blake while I was away. I’m all for inappropriate gifts, even if that might not be the first thought about gifts from America.

He puts the gift into my hand, and it’s definitely…dense?

“What…?”

“Go on and open it,” Blake encourages, grinning broadly, dimples showing. Because of course he has them. “Your face.” He kisses me.

“Mm, keep that up and there’ll be no gift opening at all. There’s dinner warming in the oven. Don’t let me forget.” I give the gift an experimental squeeze. Still firm. “Huh.”

At last, I unravel tissue and tape, and I’m stunned to discover that, in fact, it’s no kind of sex toy. Instead, it’s a cellophane tube of…black and white orca beans?

And, silly me, all of a sudden I have something caught in my throat.

Blake rubs my back lightly. I’m getting emotional over beans, something I didn’t know about myself before now. I just look at him. “Oh…”

Blake gives me another kiss for good measure, and it’s bliss. God, I could get used to this. “I know it’s a strange gift, but sometimes you need to find the rare ones, you know?”

“Did I ever tell you I love you?”

“You’ve never given me love confessions over beans before.”

“There’s always a first time,” I assure Blake. I inspect the tube, complete with a cellophane twist at the top secured with twine that holds a card with a soup recipe. “This is really cool. Cheers.”

“Course.”

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