Page 13 of The Good Girl Next Door

I moan as my entire body throbs from Silas’s lips and hands and—it’s everything. Everything about him turns me on, which makes this so difficult.

“Please, Silas.”

“You don’t need to beg, Pru. I’ll take care of you. I’ll give you everything you need. Just say the word.”

It feels like I’m being split in half by two warring factions inside me—Team Heart vs. Team Head. I’m being jerked around in a back-and-forth clash, but no matter which side wins, I feel like I’ll lose. I can’t see a path where someone doesn’t get hurt. We…

“We ca—”

Books crash to the ground. Metal clashes and curses rent the air. I slide out of Silas’s cage, grip the cart, and push it down the aisle. “I need to get to the front desk.”

Before I do something bad.

“See you at home, Pru,” Silas says.

I swallow hard, glancing at him over my shoulder. He hasn’t moved, but his eyes follow me the entire way down the aisle.

When I make it to the front desk, I send out an S.O.S. to my book club group chat.

Prudence:Emergency meeting. TONIGHT.

Sofia:Did your Kindle melt?

Ruby:I agree. That SCENE! Why can’t a naked mountain man chase me down, throw me over his shoulder, and then have his way with me in his secluded cabin?

I snort. I’ve been so caught up with Silas that I haven’t even read this week’s novella.

Lilah: That cat was ridiculous!

Well, I know what I’ll be doing the rest of my shift. Thankfully, my Kindle has not melted, but if Silas keeps it up…

Prudence:It’s not about the story. It’s about a boy.

The chat erupts and honestly, I have to close it out. I’m not sure I’ve seen so many eggplant emojis or ribald gifs. It’sa lot, but I kinda love it. I’m lucky to have found my tribe, but it sucks that they aren’t here with me.

Half an hour later, I’m a quarter of my way through the story and my Kindle is still kicking. But that might change because Silas is heading right for me, a stack of books in his hands.

I shut the cover over my Kindle and push it away. It was just getting steamy, but I’m getting feverish looking at Silas. Students move out of his way, gaping at him as he strides straight for me.

He sets the stack down in front of me. “Found some books,” he says, smiling. “Hope you’ll approve of my selections.”

I grab the first book, laughing when I read the title—It’s Getting Scot in Here.Yes, it is. I can’t help but think he’s trying to send a clear message with the next one:How to Woo a Reluctant Lady.I shake my head, a smile building on my lips as I scan the rest, each one titled in a similar manner.

“Read any of them, Pru?”

I shake my head. “I haven’t, but I might swipe them from you after you finish. I haven’t read many historical romances, but I think I might start.”

I scan the last book in the stack, but before I finish closing him out, Silas tosses another book on the counter. “I’m pulling out all the stops, Pru.”

I sigh softly as I stare at the cover.The Art of War.

“Interesting choices, Silas.”

I scan the book and then print his receipt, sliding the stack over to him. “I think so too. Guess I should get going on my research,” Silas says, his hands grazing mine as he takes the books.

I swallow, but before I can respond, Silas takes the books and walks away, leaving me even more breathless than before. He finds a table in my direct line of sight, opening his first book in front of him:How to Woo a Reluctant Lady.

Like he needs help with that.

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