Page 67 of Role Play
“So, what now?” I ask. “When do we start?”
“If you want to take me back to your place and get naked, we can start research right now.” He pumps his brows and is met with my narrowed eyes.
“Try again.”
“Fine. How about we talk a little more about your books. What’s working, what’s not. We’re not going to look at those bullshit reviews online, but why don’t you tell me what you feellike your strengths and weaknesses are in your writing, and what we need to work on.”
I tilt my head to the side, examining his sincerity. “You’re genuinely trying to help me, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
Dammit.I could resist a hot asshole. But this? Forrest? I’m Little Red Riding Hood, willingly leaping into the wolf’s mouth.
“I’m going to need another boba tea, then.” I move for my purse hanging on the back of my chair, but Forrest whips out his debit card and shoves it in my hand.
“I get the feeling book boyfriends are supposed to exclusively pay on dates. So, that’s what we’re going to do moving forward.”
Date?Damn my stupid involuntary smile. “All right. Do you want anything?”
“I’ll take whatever you recommend, my little conch shell.” He sends me his signature wink before settling back into his chair.
My legs feel like jelly as I walk up to the counter to order another round of tea smoothies.
“Another taro boba for me, and a Thai tea boba for my…friend.” I look over my shoulder at Forrest, who latches on to my gaze, smiling at me like I’m walking sunshine on earth.
That settles it.
Forget playing with fire—I’m already walking through the dragon’s flames, and without a doubt, I am totally, epically, and completely screwed.
chapter 16
Forrest
“I can’t believe you’re this excited about a bookstore.” I laugh as Taio practically bounds ahead of us toward Turn The Page, one of Brooklyn’s trendiest independent bookshops, according to Yelp.
“Man’s about to cream his jeans over some paperbacks,” Saylor mutters, his Australian accent adding an extra layer of mockery. “Bit sad, ain’t it?”
“Fuck off,” Taio calls over his shoulder, not slowing his pace. “No crime in appreciating literature.”
I exchange a look with Saylor. “Did you have any idea he reads?”
“Nah, mate. You live with the guy, you didn’t know about his fetish for romance books?”
“I mean, jerking off to the sex parts, sure,” I answer. “But actually enjoying books? Never would’ve guessed.”
“I can hear you dickwads,” Taio retorts, pulling open the heavy glass door for us. “Mr. High-and-Mighty Columbia Law, you’re not the only one who can read.”
The bookstore is all exposed brick and weathered hardwood floors, with stacks stretching from floor to ceiling and the unmistakable scent of paper and coffee in the air.
“For the record,” Saylor says as we step inside, “I’m not totally useless here. I once had a client who wanted me to read erotica to her while she?—”
“We’re in public,” I cut him off, though I’m grinning despite myself. These idiots might be crude, but they’re my idiots.
“What?” Saylor shrugs innocently. “I was going to say ‘while she took a bubble bath.’ Not everything leads to dirty, bare-ass spankings, Hawkins. Where’s your sense of romance?”
Taio snorts. “Saylor, remember that baroness in London who said she just wanted you to cuddle, and then you ended up tying her up in her secret BDSM room?”
“Oh we cuddled,” Saylor says. “For hours. With her hand clamped around my junk like a tire boot. I didn’t think I was going to make it out of that one alive.”
