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I follow him to the children’s book section, where he points out a set of classics for babies. “Your favorite, right?” he asks, picking up the illustrated copy ofPride and Prejudice.
Well, shit.
My nod is barely visible as my chin begins to tremble again. The more room I give Blake to be himself, the better he gets. It’s getting harder and harder not to completely fall for this man as the seconds tick by.
I reach out to grab the book, but he pulls it back and places it in the middle of the stack. “Nope, it doesn’t exist if it makes you cry. I’ll bring it back out at home.”
I press my lips together. “Mm-hmm.”
“Any other titles up here that might make you particularly sentimental?”
“Just grab one of each.”
He smirks and follows orders. “As you wish. Anything else?”
“Uh-uh,” I squeak out, hoping I’m not telepathically projecting all of my wishes, or the good people of the B&N children’s section are about to get a show. “I’m done,” I announce, and after hearing him deliver thatPrincess Brideline, I mean it.
CHAPTER 34
Loren
“Let’s get you home, then.”Blake leans over to address the books directly, and I audibly groan.
“You all right, Reed?” he asks, looking at me strangely.
“Fine, I just … need to pee.”
“Want me to wait here for you or just meet you in the front?”
He’s willing to wait outside the bathrooms for me?
“I’ll find you when I’m done, unless you’re going to let me pay for my own books?”
“Not in actual currency, no,” he returns. “But perhaps we can work out an arrangement later.”
I shake my head and walk away, leaving him there to laugh at his own joke. As soon as I round the corner, I scurry off to the bathroom to empty my poor, inept bladder. Then I attempt to freshen up in the mirror, reminding myself that I’m not supposed to be doing this. I may have agreed to give Blake a chance to prove we could work romantically, but I’m not sure I’ll ever be convinced that going all-in is the right thing to do. There’s got to be some safer middle ground where I can hang out for now, right? Somewhere in between like and love—that’s where I need to set up camp.
I do a few rounds of deep breathing before rejoining him. I can see him waiting near the entrance as soon as I emerge from the restroom, but I stop to check my phone along the way when it vibrates within my purse. It’s another cheeky emoji from him. I bite my lip and send a response this time, then watch his face from afar as he reads my message.
His eyelids look heavy, and his chest rises and falls as he stares down at his phone. He types something out, smiling to himself, then shakes his head quickly. And, dammit if he doesn’t looksmitten? I don’t know. But I’d be an idiot not to see that he’s really into it … intome, at least for now.
Don’t do it, Loren.
Then he looks up and sees me, and a huge grin splits his face, as if I’m his favorite person on earth, as if he adores me … as if he’s in love with me.
Shit. It’s too late.
I think I may already be in love withhim.
I force myself to glance down at my phone again when my limbs get all tingly.
Gus-Gus
Now THAT’S the kind of currency I accept. ;)
My face heats up against my will, and I force myself to continue on, slapping him lightly in the chest once I reach him. And he’s still looking enamored with me as he grabs my hand and leads me back to the truck without a word.
Blake’s fingers brush the back of my neck when he braces himself on my seat and turns to back out of the parking lot, making me shiver. There’s something about the way he does everything so confidently and capably. It’s a quick reminder of his masculinity each time he accomplishes a small, mundane task, even something as simple as one-handing the steering wheel, carrying my books, or ordering dinner, and although I’ve never thoughtcapable masculinitywould be my thing, I find myselfveryattracted to these qualities in Blake.
