Page 101 of Falling for Mr. October

Emily grins and does the honors, insisting on taking another on her phone so she can use it for the store’s social media accounts. I text the photo to my siblings, who know all about our fake relationship but aren’t up to date.

Before we can move on, Emily asks me about the parachute book.

“I’ve started it,” I confirm, stealing a brief glance at Bianca, who looks cute as hell in her hat. “Thank you for your concern. I guess I should be glad you work at a bookstore and not a pharmacy.”

Emily laughs. “You think I’d be giving out antidepressants? You know, that might be helpful too.”

“Let’s try the parachute book first. But when’s our first meeting for the smut book club? We need to prepare.”

Bianca steps on my foot, and I nearly burst out laughing. Instead, I wrap a hand around her hip. For a second, I worry I’ve gone too far, but before I can remove my hand, she layers hers over it, pressing it firmly in place.

“We both believe in being prepared,” I say, grinning in delight. “We’ll read every word to each other.” I shift my grin toward Bianca. “While we feed each other grapes.”

“They’d have to be apples,” Bianca responds. “It wouldn’t be in keeping with the Apple Ridge philosophy for them to be grapes.”

“Pumpkin pie would be seasonal too.” Emily’s comment is offhand, but the knowing look she’s giving us suggests she sees beyond the surface.

Then again, she’s Bianca’s best friend, and I’ve heard the way my little sister speaks with her friends. For all I know, Bianca has described what’s happened between us to Emily in detail, down to the length and width of my dick.

Not that I have anything to worry about.

“Well…Luanne chose the book last night. She says the president of your fan club helped.” Emily pokes a stack of books on the table.

The title is Yes, Chef.

“We’ll take two,” Bianca says, giving me a sidelong look. “Giovanni loves it when people say that to him.”

“Probably, but I don’t believe anyone has, other than my brother, in jest. We can practice that too.”

Bianca nudges me but doesn’t seem too unhappy about it.

This time I insist on paying Emily, and we leave her table with our books.

“Where are we going?” Bianca asks as we walk away. “Are we just escaping the reporter and Mr. Mayor, or do you have an agenda?”

“It brings me great joy to hear you call him Mr. Mayor, but yes, of course there’s an agenda.”

She brightens, beaming at me, and I don’t feel like I’m exaggerating when I say her smile is the most beautiful sight in the world.

“Are we going to sneak off and practice some smut?” she asks, her voice dripping with honey and nearly seductive enough to get me instantly hard.

“Later, Bianca. Definitely later. But right now, I thought we’d go shopping.” I tap my forehead. “I have a mental list. Our first stop is the vintage clothing store. I noticed they have a setup on the other side of the gates.”

“Um…you want to buy vintage clothing?”

“That’s step one. Then we’ll be hitting the wig stand.”

Her eyebrows hike up toward her hairline. “Are you going to pass yourself off as your own twin brother?” she asks. “Because that only works in the movies.”

I shake my head. “I have a special plan for the scarecrow contest, Bianca, though I’m sorry to say we probably won’t win.”

I can tell the moment she figures it out⁠—

A mischievous spark fills her eyes beneath the brim of her pink hat. “You want to make a scarecrow version of Rhett.”

I lift a shoulder. “Don’t you?”

“It’s immature,” she points out.