Page 5 of Callum
Rick the dick…had a good ring to it.
Surprise flickered over her features.
He lifted a shoulder. “I don’t like pricks who put women in danger.”
Her eyes flared, and her chest rose on an inhale. Then she stepped back again, out of reach.
Running away?
“Okay, well…thank you.” She grabbed the trolley of books, her knuckles whitening, and took off down the aisle—fast.
Yep, definitely running.
Naturally, he followed, being sure to grab the novel he’d dropped first. “I grabbed your newest book recommendation.”
He caught the slight brow lift.
“Planning on damaging him?”
She always referred to books as him and her. Like they were her babies. “No. But I never plan on it. They just become unwilling victims of my carnage.”
The corners of her lips twitched. “I would appreciate you taking care of him. He’s newer than a lot of the other books you’ve injured.”
“If I bring him back in perfect condition, will I regain your book trust?”
She stopped, slotting a book onto a shelf. “Probably not. Once burned, forever damaged.”
He was pretty sure she was going for humor, but he didn’t smile, because there was something in her voice, something deeper, that indicated she spoke from experience. Had someone burned her? A guy? And now she had trouble trusting?
She pushed the cart a bit farther before stopping again. He paused beside her and lowered his voice. “I heard you need a date for a wedding.”
Her spine straightened and she spun. “You listened to my conversation?” Her words were an aggressive whisper.
“Not intentionally.”
Red tinged her cheeks, and she looked both ways before returning to him. “It’s complicated. It’s my sister’s wedding, and she’s…” Her voice was still low, but this time there was something else there.
Callum tilted his head. “Marrying your ex?”
Pain flashed through her eyes. Was he the guy who’d hurt her? “Yes. She’s marrying my ex.”
“I’ll do it.” Go to a wedding and pretend to date this gorgeous, feisty woman? Hell yes, he’d do that.
Her brows slashed together. “Do what?”
“Be your boyfriend for the wedding. It would be fun.”
Spending time with this beautiful woman who, for some reason, had tangled herself into his every goddamn thought wouldn’t just befun. It would be a hell of a lot more than that.
“No.” She shook her head vehemently, as if to underscore exactly how much of anoit was. “Absolutely not. I’ve already decided I’m going to tell her I’m attending alone.”
Even though the words came out of her mouth, they were accompanied by a cringe. It was small, but he saw it. He saw everything with this woman, even the complicated layers she tried to keep hidden. And right now, she was trying to hide that it was important she didn’t attend this wedding alone.
“Well, the offer’s there if you change your mind.”
Her eyes widened. Maybe she’d been expecting him to push or to laugh and say he was joking. He didn’t do either.
“Do you have a pen?”
