Page 51 of Devotion: Isn't What It Seems (Love Isn't What It Seems 1)

I took a deep breath. That woman is impossible.

“Are you a writer?” the shopkeeper asked curiously.

Ainslee didn’t let me answer. “Yes, that’s Eve Bailey. She writes romances and my mother is crazy about her.”

He chuckled. “That she is. All those old ladies keep coming back asking for more of your books,” he stated. “Lass, why didn’t you say you are a famous writer? I could have brought you a chair, instead of sitting on the floor.”

I stood up, stretching my legs and started putting the books away with regret. “I’m not famous,” I defended. “And I’m ok sitting on the floor. All good.”

I walked over to him with two books in my hands. “I’ll take these two. I’ll clean up the rest.”

“Mr. Ainsworth,” Lachlan cut in. “We’ll take all these books. Can you please send me the bill?”

I stared at him in shock.

“No,” I stopped him. “I’m just going to buy these two.”

“I’m going to buy all of them,” Lachlan was standing again at his full height and took my hand in his.

“You can’t,” I muttered.

“Yes, I can,” he claimed and looked back to Mr. Ainsworth. “Can you send them all to the castle and email me the bill?”

“This is so exciting,” Ainslee was jumping like a little kid and her son joined in. “You are going to write again.”

I took a deep breath in. “No,” I told her patiently like I was explaining myself to a little kid. “I was just reading about it.”

Callen cut in this time, picking up his son who reached his hands up to him.

“Don’t bother, Eve,” he chuckled. “When something enters her mind, she doesn’t give up. Congratulations for getting back to writing.”

I rolled my eyes and everybody laughed.

“What are you going to do with all those books?” I asked Lachlan as we walked to the register.

“I’m going to keep you with them,” he answered simply.

I glanced at him with a question in my eyes, unsure of what he meant.

He kissed me gently on my cheek, his lips lingering a bit longer than needed, and added, “Let’s go grab lunch.”

---