Page 62 of Accidental Blind Date
She’s the first woman I’ve let in…at all.
And I’m not sure how to feel about that.
I’m going to need another glass of wine to figure it out.
Chapter 20
Libby
“You cannot keep doing this,” I whisper yell.
“Why not? Do you want me to stop?” Dax says with a smirk on his lips and a mischief in his eyes. It’s a new look for him, this whole unfiltered, happy, frisky thing he’s got going on. And it’s distracting. Very, very distracting.
“That’s not what I said. I just said that you have to knock it off because people will see.”
The smirk widens and Dax pulls me against him, right in the middle of the store. Well, maybe not right in the middle, per say, but we are in the back corner, the mystery and horror section, backed against the bookshelves, somewhere between King and Lovecraft.
“And why does it matter so much if we are seen? Are you ashamed that you like me?”
I can’t help but smile at his teasing, but it does piss me off a little. “Of course I’m not ashamed. I just don’t want to get caught–”
I am cut off by Dax’s mouth covering mine, his lips soft and tangy and sweet. And as deliciously divine as it is, I only humor it momentarily before pulling back.
“You must behave,” I say, punctuating each word. “Or else.”
With that, I walk away, a grin that could stretch from Beacon Street to Fenway as I make my way back to the front table. Summer is busy organizing it for the new romantasy book coming out.
“Have a nice tousle?” she asks, and my attention snaps up to her.
“Don’t look so surprised that I know, your face says it all. Not to mention you two knocked over half the Business section earlier. If you’re going to get action between the shelves, maybe at least do it in the Romance section.”
“We really shouldn’t be doing anything at all,” I say, straightening the books on the table that are already straight.
“Why not? Tom and I have literally been taking bets on when you two would stop pretending to hate each other.”
“Taking bets?” I snap. “You’ve been gambling about whether or not we were…involved?” I lower my voice to ask the question.
“Involved. Sneaking around. Doing the dirty,” Tom says as he appears with another box of jaded fairy MMC books. I’m not sure where we are even going to put them but the last book this woman wrote sold out in less than five minutes, basically as soon as our doors opened that day, and this time we wanted to be prepared.
“So, who won?” I mutter, giving in to the reality that my love life, or whatever this is, is now public domain and anyone and everyone is free to interpret it however they please.
“Me,” Tom answers to my surprise.
“Really?” I ask.
Summer gives a one shoulder shrug. “I assumed it wasn’t allowed.”
“Allowed?” I echo but with much more emphasis.
“Sure. I mean he is your brother’s friend. And anyone who reads romance knows that while it is a good trope,it’s forbidden.” Summer whispers the last words.
“And I figured the two of you were going to do whatever you want,” Tom says.
Summer’s not wrong. It is somewhat forbidden. Despite Kai not exactly being the protective, doting, overbearing brother than most older brothers are. I mean, I guess he is a bit overbearing but it’s not in a loving way. It’s more of a controlling way. Still, he wouldn’t be happy if he knew what is going on between us. Which is why he can’t know. Ever.
The day goes as I expect. We open the doors and the romantasy table is swarmed by girls and women who will devour it in hours, then go through a terrible book hangover and post all about it on social media. As much as those books aren’t my style (I’m more of a Jane Austen and Anne Rice kind of girl, depending on my mood), I do love when Ursula Rosewood puts out a new fairy book. My sales leap every time. While the big box stores do sell these books at a discounted price, the authors favor small stores. I think because we understand their struggle. We know that the publishers make all the money, and they get pennies. We know how it feels to have the man on top to get the credit. So, we make friends with these authors, who very quietly give us signed copies of their books. And we sell them at normal price, only advertising to our faithful customers slash their faithful readers.
Needless to say, I am in a good mood for the rest of the day. By the time we close and the last customer walks out after buying some stationery and a bookmark and complimenting me multiple times about the vibe and aura of mycharming little shop, I lock the door and flip the sign and sigh. Summer and Tom went home about an hour ago and Dax went to pick thegirls up from school. They’re probably at home now, making tacos or mac and cheese or some other kid approved food because it's kid night.
