Page 94 of Stepping Into Tomorrow

“Is that a challenge?” His eyes lit up with mischief.

She shrugged, trying to not act affected. “No, it’s a fact. Just like you probably won’t read romance.”

“Who says I haven’t?” he asked, surprising her.

“Have you?”

“Nova made me watch The Notebook. Does that count?”

Isabella chuckled. “No, it does not. I’ll make you a deal—for every documentary you put me through, you have to read one romance novel from now on.”

He groaned, tipping back his head before he turned to her with a smirk on his edible lips. He leaned in, his voice coasting over the shell of her ear. “Fine, but only if you read them first and highlight your favorite parts so we can try them out later.”

Her eyes widened as she looked around, afraid someone would hear him. No one was in this aisle except an older woman farther down, her face hidden between the pages of a book with a blue alien on the cover.

“It’s cute how embarrassed you get when we both know you’re far from innocent, Bella.” Nash’s dark gaze was full of heat, like he was replaying all the dirty things they’d done together in his mind.

She poked his chest with her finger. “You’d better watch it, Mr. Emerson. Or you’ll find my red shirt has made it in with all your white clothes in the laundry. How do you feel about pink socks?”

He shrugged. “They feel the same as white ones.”

She wasn’t going to win with him, so she opted for a change in subject as she wandered down the aisle, picking up a few new releases from her favorite authors and one just because she liked the cover. “What book are you reading right now?”

“The Whole-Brain Child.”

She stopped and turned to him. “That one’s about kids’ brain development, isn’t it?”

He rubbed the back of his head in a self-conscious gesture. “I finished the ones about pregnancy that Sebastian recommended.”

“All of them?”

“Yeah.”

“It means a lot that you’re so committed to this—to her.” She rubbed her belly.

Nash picked a book up, cracking it open and scanning the page before setting it back on the shelf. He stuffed his hands in his pockets. “I am here. For her, for Eli, and for you.”

Was he saying . . .?

“Excuse me, dear.”

Bella snapped out of her haze, moving out of the way for the older woman.

“I think this is a good start.” Bella cradled the books she’d picked out.

“We might have to build a shelf in your bedroom.” Nash took them out of her hands, carrying them towards the checkout counter.

“For five novels?”

He cut her a skeptical look. “You think I don’t notice all the book-sized packages showing up on the porch?”

She shrugged, trying to act innocent. “I mean, who said they were books?”

“The fact that you have a different one in your hand every couple of days? Or the stack I nearly broke my leg tripping over when I dropped off the basket of your clothes?”

“Okay, fine. I won’t say no to a shelf, but I mean, only if you think the room needs it. I won’t be in there forever.”

Something hard flashed in his dark eyes before he blinked it away, setting the books on the counter.

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