Page 45 of And I Love Her

“Morning, Callie. Got your books here.” He took two books from beneath the counter and passed them across to her. “The other order has a shipping delay, but it should be here by Thursday.”

“Thanks.” She reached into her purse for her wallet.

So this was Casual Weekend Callie. Hair loose around her shoulders, black pants, and a button-up shirt—beige, of course. As she handed her credit card to Sam, she glanced up as if she felt Jake watching her from the mezzanine.

Her gaze collided with his. Heat crackled through the air and settled in his veins. Then Callie smiled—a quick, private smile that made him feel like they were sharing a secret.

Ignoring another stab of guilt, he descended the stairs, unable to take his eyes off her. He took off his fake glasses and stuck them in his pocket. When he got closer, her smile widened.

“Hi,” she said.

“Hi.” He slanted his gaze to Sam, who was eyeing him with faint suspicion and radiating an unmistakable protectiveness.

Callie picked up her books and indicated the white bakery bag Jake held. “Sugar Joy?”

“You have to get up pretty early in the morning to get two Chaos Cookies. I’ve learned they sell out fast.”

“You buying those?” Sam jerked his chin at Jake’s books.

Jake nodded and set them on the counter, catching Callie glancing at the titles. Sam rang them up along with the Stephen King novel and handed Jake the bag.

“Stop by on Monday for your first day,” he said. “I’ll probably open around nine-thirty or ten.”

“I’ll be here.” Taking the books, Jake crossed the room and held the front door open for Callie.

“Are you starting work here?” She stepped past him, her eyebrows raised.

“Yeah.” Jake tilted his head to the bookstore. “I don’t know about that guy Sam, but a job will give me something to do when I can’t pester a pretty professor.”

She smiled, proving that the adjectiveprettywasn’t strong enough to describe her beauty. “Sam’s a bit reclusive. I think he likes books more than he likes people.”

“I’d guess books like him more than people like him, too.”

She responded with a laugh. Damned if her eyes didn’t just light up.

“He keeps strange hours and opens the bookstore whenever he wants, which drives the town council nuts since they want all businesses to be open regularly. But obviously he’s doing okay if he can afford to hire you.”

“Apparently the pay is lousy, not that that matters. I’m just glad to have something else to do. Speaking of which, what are your plans right now?”

“Just errands.” She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and shifted her weight to one foot. “The library is next on my list, but it can wait.” A flush rose to her cheeks. “That is, if you…if you meant you wanted to…”

Her voice trailed off, and she hugged her books to her chest. Affection softened his insides. Aside from being smart and beautiful, Callie was also astonishingly cute.

“I was over at the boardwalk this morning.” He gestured to the camera still over his shoulder. “Just to take some pictures. I haven’t been there since high school. If you’re free, they open at ten. We could go on a few rides, play some games.”

A smile tugged at her mouth. “For old times’ sake?”

“For new times’ sake.”

She captured her lower lip with her teeth. His heart sped up again, as if it had stopped and restarted. Being around Callie gave his heart a hell of a workout.

“Actually, I shouldn’t,” she said. “I have to rewrite my book proposal, and I don’t have much time.”

Jake glanced at his watch. “What if I promise to have you home by two? That’ll give you all afternoon and evening.”

She considered that and finally nodded. “Okay, but I need to stop at home and change first.”

“You don’t have to change. You’re perfect the way you are.”

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