Page 11 of Sleepless Pact

“Excellent.You’re doing great work for science,” I tease, and she rolls her eyes before going for the fifth one.

Just before she takes a drink, she looks up at me.“Thank you, Phillip.I’m not sure if I’ve said that today or not, but this has been wonderful.Even if it stopped now, it would be the most perfect day of my life.”

Reaching out, I take her free hand in mine and bring it to my mouth.I kiss the inside of her palm before placing it against my cheek.“You haven’t remembered your best day with me.”Her shoulders slump a tiny fraction before I continue.“Because it hasn’t happened yet.”

That seems to make her perk up as she gives me a rueful smile.“Oh really?”She says it like a challenge, and damn, do I love a challenge.

“Really.”I nip the inside of her palm with my teeth, and she squeals.“Now take a drink of that one so we can go to the bookstore.”

She hurries to take a sip, and as soon as she gets a taste her eyes light up like Christmas morning.“This is it.”

“This is it?”I repeat, and she’s nodding quickly while she takes another drink.“What makes it so good?”

She grins as she holds the warm cup with both hands.“It tastes like maple syrup.”

I laugh out loud, and I’m sure some people turn to watch us, but I don’t care.She’s so innocent and sweet that I can’t hold back anymore.I sit up and lean across the table before kissing her like I’ve been dying to.When I slide my tongue in her mouth, I can taste the sweet maple syrup along with her own personal flavor that I can’t get enough of.

“Hmm,” I say against her lips before giving her one last kiss.“I think this one is my favorite too.”She’s blushing furiously as I stand from the table and hold my hand out to her.“Let’s go get some books, shall we?”

I decide to grab the frozen drink she likes and sip on that in case she finishes her hot drink and wants this one.We discard the rest, and just when we step outside, someone calls my name.

There are several bookstores in this part of town, and there’s one right beside the coffee house.This particular street is always busy, so it’s not unlikely that I could run into someone I know.Looking back, I don’t see anyone I recognize, but then I notice a woman waving at me.

“Who is that?”Audrey asks, and I notice something’s changed in her voice.

“I don’t know,” I answer honestly as the woman comes closer.

“Hey, Phillip.”When she tries to hug me, it’s a knee-jerk reaction to lean away from her like she’s on fire.I don’t like people touching me.Ever.

Without thinking, I pull Audrey so close she’s tight against my side.“Do I know you?”I ask her, and the woman looks confused.

“It’s me, Rachel.”Her smile begins to dim as she looks between me and Audrey.“You know, from Stellar Communications.”

I shuffle through my mind and realize that’s the company I used to procure some old tech that a client of mine needed.“Oh.Good to see you.”My voice is monotone, and when I try to take a step back, I somehow manage to put Audrey in front of me.I’m not really using her as a shield, but more of a buffer.“This is my wife.”

“Nice to meet you,” Audrey says, and for half a second, it sounds like she’s trying not to laugh.Is this funny to her?

Looking down, I realize I’ve practically hidden behind her as Rachel tried to come closer to me, so okay, maybe I am using her as a shield.

“You too,” Rachel says slowly before looking between us.

“What’s that?”I ask Audrey.“You want to go?Okay yes, sorry we’ve got to run.”

Before Rachel can say another word, I’m dragging Audrey out of there and into the nearest bookstore.

ChapterNine

AUDREY

Ihave to bite the inside of my cheek to hide my goofy smile.In the short time I’ve known Phillip, he’s never been flustered, and yet somehow this woman has utterly unbalanced him.So much so that he couldn’t remember her name.

“What section should we hit first?”

“Romance,” I respond without hesitation, and Phillip gives me a smile that makes my insides melt.

I’m not sure what to do about him.I worry that maybe because I’m not used to being with a man that I’m latching on too quickly.There’s something about him that makes me want to cling when I should be trying to get out of the state.

“What kind of romance are you looking for?”

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