“Seriously. He talks to me all the time. He’s really smart and thoughtful and interesting. You just have to get to know him.”
“I’vetried. Like I said, it’s impossible. Unless, you know, you’re a tall, beautiful brunette with a knack for trivia.”
“Hardy-har. Spenser talks to lots of people.”
Maggie grabs my shoulders and looks me in the eye. “I’m telling you, he doesn’t. Based on everything you’ve told me about your job, I’d say he talks toyou, because he likesyou.” Herexpression turns mischievous. “Maybe he evenlurvesyou,” she sing-songs.
“Oh, shut up,” I grumble. “We’re friends, that’s all.” If she ever caught on to the fact that I tend to get a flutter in my belly whenever I’m with him, I’d never hear the end of it. She’d tease me mercilessly. I yank my ponytail to tighten it, mostly to give my hands something to do as we walk.
“Well, then, tell me all about yourfriend. Beyond him being smart and thoughtful.”
“Uh, well, he organizes the bookstore on multiple levels, so it’s suited to both humans and monsters, which is really clever. He’s protective of his employees. He likes…bland foods.” I can’t reveal his secret penchant for snacking on dusty old pulp paperbacks. “Um, he doesn’t believe in choosing a favorite book. You’re not a true book lover unless you have at least ten favorites.” I stop myself from saying that he has nice arms. She’d pounce on that like Jasper pounces on toy springs.
Maggie looks skeptical. “So…you’re saying he’s good at his job and he doesn’t like seasonings? That’s…really boring, Jules. Maybethat’swhy he never talks. Is Spenser just a boring guy?”
“No!” I say, a little too loudly. “He’s fascinating, I swear. I’m just not describing him very well.” I think of his feathery antennae and the swirling colors of his wings, the way he let me set up my own display based on vibes, his meticulous method of tackling inventory. The way he searches for meaning in things and that he didn’t really know his parents. How do I convey all that to my cousin without sounding like I spend all my free time cataloging this man?
“That’s true, which is weird. You’re usually better with words than this,” Maggie says.
“Look, I don’t know what to tell you. Spenser isn’t shy and it isn’t hard to get to know him. I don’t know why you’ve had trouble with it.”
Maggie stops walking, plants her hands on her hips, and smirks at me. “Sure, sure. I’m definitely the problem. It’s not that the two of you have some connection and secretly like flirting with each other. He keeps the two of you on the same schedule, probably just to spend time together.”
I roll my eyes. “It’s because I’m still in training. You know I didn’t come here to find a relationship. I came here to get over one.”
A cloud shifts and the sun beams directly on her, like a spotlight from the heavens, making her golden hair glow. It’s as if the universe itself wants me to listen to what she has to say.
“Oh, please. I don’t buy that for a second.” She shifts, leaning against the wooden railing. “You stayed with Braeden for as long as you did because it was comfortable and easy. He stayed because he wanted a mother, not a partner. He didn’t break your heart, and I don’t remotely believe that you miss him. I bet you haven’t thought about him once since you moved here.” She arches her brows, daring me to disagree.
I avoid her penetrating gaze, staring at the lake instead. I haven’t spent much time here, on the boardwalk or the beach. I should correct that when the weather warms up.
“Well?” Maggie says.
Ugh, I hate that she’s right. I did stay too long because I was comfortable, and I haven’t thought about him. At least, not since I met Spenser. Still, she can’t make me admit it. I start walking again, faster than before, leaving her behind me. “I have no idea what you’re talking about! I cry in my pillow every night!” I shout over my shoulder.
She bursts out laughing and moves to catch up with me. “I know you better than that!” she calls out. I pick up my pace even more, forcing her to run behind me, still cackling.
SPENSER
It’s inappropriate to date employees. In fact, it’s inappropriate to even develop feelings for an employee, because if they catch on, it could make them uncomfortable. I pride myself on being a good boss who always behaves well. I have never dated an employee or even entertained the notion of being attracted to one.
I nod to myself. I don’t break those kinds of rules.
Therefore, I cannot have a thing for Juliet.
Except I do.
Dammit.
I set down the dumbbells I’ve been mercilessly curling. My chest and arms are on fire, but the pain isn’t doing a damned thing to distract from the hot brunette who works for me.
I take a drink of water and pace around my apartment, music pounding in my earbuds as Flicker watches me from her window seat. “It’s nothing, right, Flick? At most, a passing infatuation that’ll go away any day.”
Flicker yawns at me, smacks her lips, and closes her eyes.
“Some help you are,” I grumble.
Then again, maybe this is a good sign. Murmurkin are known matchmakers, so if she’s this disinterested in my Juliet dilemma, maybe that means this whole thing will pass and I can go back to working without worrying about getting hard every time Juliet so much as smiles in my direction.
