Kayla 1

The morning of my first shift passes in a daze, my mind still reeling from the interaction with that stranger. I keep going over it in my mind, kicking myself for not being more suave about it. He'd caught me reading... that sort of book. Which meant he was buying that sort of book. Was he the one choosing that sort of book? It must be a gift for his girlfriend. I know those books are hugely popular with women, BookTok and Bookstagram are a whole movement online. A man that attractive has surely been scooped up. This is the direction my thoughts have spiraled to by the time Henry emerges from his office.

 

"How is everything going up here?" Henry asks, leaning onto the counter in front of me.

 

I smile, pushing aside the books I'd been organizing. "So far so good."

 

Henry glances at his watch before calling out to Zeke, summoning him to the front. "Zeke, why don't you watch the front so Ash can go on break."

 

"No problem," Zeke says, hip bumping me off my perch on the stool. I stoop to pull my backpack from under the counter, slinging it over my shoulders. "See you in an hour," Zeke waves as I head out the door into the still rainy day.

 

I pause under the cover of the store front, trying to decide how far I'm willing to go in this weather to obtain food. As the rain begins to pick up, I decide the answer is not very far and jog for the café across the street that seems to be a favorite of the bookstore patrons, the Caffeinated Cauldron Café. A bell over the door dings as I enter, wiping my wet boots on the rug just inside.

 

"Hi, welcome in!" says a perky barista behind the counter, grinning broadly at me. "What can I get started for you?"

 

I glance quickly at the menu, trying to take in my options as fast as possible so I don't hold up the barista. "Hi, can I please get a large, iced chai latte? With oat milk and a shot of espresso, please?"

 

The barista nods along to my order, tapping away on her computer. "One dirty chai with oat milk, got it." I blush and smile slightly at her calling the chai dirty. "Anything else?"

 

I peruse the display case of food beside me, pondering. "Can I also get a ham and Swiss bagel please?"

 

"Would you like that sandwich warm?" she asks, pulling the item out of the case.

 

"Yes please," my stomach grumbles in anticipation. Patience, I think in its direction. The barista finishes ringing up my order and passes the items across the counter.

 

"Enjoy, have a wonderful day," the barista smiles.

 

"You too," I respond, scoping out the seating area for an empty table. Spotting one in the back corner, I begin weaving my way toward it. I plop down against the wall, giving me a perfect view of the rest of the people in the café to satisfy my love of people watching. As I finish my sandwich, I get a tickling sensation down the back of my neck, as if someone is watching me. I glance again around the shop, stopping dead when my eyes lock with a pair of striking green ones.

 

He sits a few tables over, long legs crossed at the ankles and stretched out in front of him. He has that damned book held open in front of his face, all I can see over the top of it is the way his eyes are boring into my own. The corners of his eyes crinkle, as if there is a smile dancing on his lips behind that book. My gaze quickly drops to the table as I feel a blush creep up my neck. Suddenly I find the koozie on my cup incredibly interesting.

 

So not a book for his girlfriend, the stupid useless thought is the first thing my mind comes up with. I can't believe he's out here reading that book in public. With a straight face. After reading the "Caution: Hot" label on the side of the cup for the seventeenth time, I become aware of a presence looming. Slowly, I glance up to find the stranger towering over me across the small table.

 

"Mind if I join you?" He asks, resting his broad hands on the back of the chair, the book still clutched in one of them.

 

I think my brain must malfunction as it takes me a moment to process his words before stammering out, "Oh, um, sure. Be my guest." He smiles, dragging the chair back smoothly before lowering himself into it, never once taking his gaze from my face. He lays the book down on the table face up, only then do I notice the bookmark tucked into the pages near the end. "Enjoying the book?" I ask, striving for nonchalance, trying very hard not to think too long on the subject matter of the book.

 

His smile turns almost feline with amusement. "Immensely. Looking for recommendations after getting a taste of it earlier?"

 

My cheeks flush beet red and I quickly avert my eyes, "No... Ah, I mean, I haven't... I've never... um," I stammer, fiddling with a lock of russet hair.

 

Long fingers wrap around mine, halting my fidgeting. My wide eyes snap back to his where he has leaned closer across the table. "Apologies, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable." He says earnestly, tucking the captured strand of hair behind my ear. I shiver as his fingers graze the side of my neck.

 

"Oh, no it's not that," I chuckle breathlessly. "Nervous, yes. But I wouldn't say uncomfortable. I've just never read a book quite like, that, before."

 

"Is that so?" his brows rise in surprise. He leans back in his chair, causing his knee to graze mine under the table. Even the slight touch sends a trail of electricity shooting up my thigh. I suck in a breath, eliciting another crooked smile. "In that case, I wouldn't recommend starting with this series. It might be a bit out of your depth as a beginner."

 

My spine straightens indignantly, hating being told I can't handle something. "Excuse you, I can handle plenty." I'm not even sure if it's true, but I'll be damned if I am about to let him know that. I'm certainly no saint, I've had some adventurous exes in the past, how bad could this book be?

 

His grin widens, and I get the feeling he knows I'm faking it, but he doesn't point it out, he almost seems eager to accept the challenge. His smile is doing funny things to my insides. "Tell you what," he says, lacing his fingers together under his chin and leaning his elbows onto the table. "Seeing as I'm nearly done with the book and will be needing a new one soon, and assuming you intend to continue working at Augustine's, how about I stop in tomorrow to get myself a new book and loan you this one?"

 

I can't help that my eyes dart to the cover of the book, the dark colors, the twisted imagery, perhaps I am in over my head. Gritting my teeth and squaring my shoulders, I tilt my chin up, meeting his slightly mocking gaze. "You're on."

 

"Excellent," he smirks, intentionally bumping my knee again. "And I'll expect a full review when you finish. If you manage to finish, that is." His gaze heats somewhat and now I can't deny Zeke's original observation that this man is indeed smoldering at me.

 

Zeke, oh no, what time is it? I glance at the clock on the wall, my hour is up, and I don't want to be late back on my first day. Gasping, I begin frantically gathering my belongings. "I have to go, or I'll be late back." I stand, wishing I could stay and talk with him.

 

"And I have a book to finish," he grins, leaning back and flipping open to the bookmarked page.

 

I’m somewhat hesitant to leave. "Goodbye, see you tomorrow." Will I in fact see him tomorrow, will he stay true to his word? I suddenly realize I don't even know the man's name. "You never told me your name," I say, shifting the weight of the backpack onto my shoulders. He regards me with the same assessing gaze he'd used earlier. A gaze that makes me feel warm and tingly all over, as if he can peer directly inside me.

 

"Blaine," he says after such a long pause I almost missed it. "My name is Blaine."

 

"Nice to meet you, Blaine," the corner of his mouth curves up at the sound of his name on my lips. "I'll see you tomorrow."

 

As I take a step to leave, Blaine catches my hand in his own and brushes a kiss across my knuckles. "Looking forward to it, Angel."

Author's Note

This book started as a "pass the page" sort of endeavor between three people taking turns writing sections of the story. Now one has dropped out so there are two of us taking turns writing (hence the names of the chapters corresponding to who wrote that section) so there may be some tone shift because of this that we work to make as seamless as possible with editing. Any feedback is greatly appreciated!