Page 12 of Bear In A Bookstore
“Oh, brother,” Desi sighed.
Was there anything her building wasn’t known for?
“Let me get this straight. The television show Famous Race is filming here because contestants are looking for lost treasure in my bookstore.”
“Bookstore? I heard it was going to be an adult toy store.”
Kora recoiled. “Who the hell did you hear that—you know what, it doesn’t matter. It’s a bookstore, there is no buried treasure inside, and no, you may not look.”
“But—”
Desi uncrossed his arms, revealing his massive chest. “You heard her. She said no. Bye.”
Angelo hesitated as if he might argue before closing the book with clear disappointment. “Thanks for your time. Come on, James.”
Leaning back against the seat, Kora ran a hand through her hair. That had been uncomfortable. Her trauma in L.A. had been heavily televised for eight days until it naturally fell off the news radar. It wasn’t that she minded being recognized. It didn’t happen often. She just didn’t want random strangers bringing it up and urging her to talk about it.
It was funny. She’d written several best-selling books, one of which had been converted into a blockbuster movie and yet when peopledidrecognize her, it was usually because of the news coverage from the terrible night that changed her life, and not her work.
Desi stared at her. Her scalp tingled with awareness of him, but she didn’t meet his eyes. This man was going to be an annoying distraction. He was too good looking, too perfect, too alpha. The way he’d shot out of his seat to protect her . . . her skin heated.
Where had a man like this been when she’d really needed it? Instead, she’d had Geoff, who’d done anything but stand by her when she’d needed him the most.
“You okay?”
“What?” Kora cleared her throat and pushed back the memory.
“Are you okay?”
“I could really use a drink.”
Her heart was still pounding. Her armpits were sweaty even though her skin was beginning to chill. But her mind was still reeling, and she felt a little off balance. Damn adrenaline.
“What would you like? I’ll get it.”
She waved him off and tried to right the ship with a smile. “It’s okay, thanks. I’m fine but I should really get home. Thanks for supper and for, ah, eating my beaver.”
Kora went completely still save for her eyes, which reluctantly tracked up his body by increments until she met his gaze.
Desi’s mouth twitched in tightly controlled amusement.
Oh.
Oh no.
Oh no, no, no.
“Um. I didn’t mean . . . that came out wrong . . . I’m just going to go.”
“There’s so much I could say in response to that, but we just met.”
“Oh, God.”
“So. Much.”
“Bye!”
She hurried out of the booth, slapped forty dollars on the table and hurried out. What the hell?
