Page 14 of Bear and Book

Beau raised one perfectly unimpressed eyebrow.

“You could probably request it. But if you’re going to do that, maybe don’t make it obvious you’re only there for him,” he pointed out.

“It’s just neighborly,” I said with my most innocent expression.

“Uh-huh,” Beau said, rolling his eyes.

I pulled out my phone and opened the volunteer sign-up sheet right there, thumbs moving fast. Cleanup duty at Elias’ shop for the rest of the week? Done.

“Leo,” Beau said slowly, watching me type. “That’s every single shift.”

“I’m being thorough,” I said, flashing him a smile that had gotten me out of plenty of trouble before. “You said patience, right? Well, I’ve got all week.”

Beau’s laugh was low and amused.

“Good luck, golden boy. You’re gonna need it,” Beau said.

I didn’t say it out loud, but I didn’t think I would. Not really. Because underneath all the grump and the guarded looks, Elias had let me stay yesterday.

And if he could do that once, he could do it again. Maybe if I played this right he’d start to see me the way I already saw him.

* * *

The morning I was supposed to go to Elias’s store, I woke up with my heart already pounding like I’d had three espressos. I hadn’t. Yet. I just couldn’t stop thinking about it.

About him. About the way his eyes had been all sharp edges but softened for just a second when I’d stayed behind the other day.

This wasn’t just “helping clean up after a storm.” This was step one in Operation: Get Elias to Like Me.

Which was why I stood in front of my closet like I was about to meet royalty instead of scrub water stains off a bookshelf.

First I pulled out my usual clothes which consisted of fitted jeans and a dark green T-shirt. I held it up, frowned.

Too casual. Swapped for a button-up. Too formal. Switched to a gray henley. Stared. Too boring. Back to the green T-shirt.

Then the henley again. I started feeling like I was auditioning for a play called “Man Who Owns Only Three Shirts.”

By the fourth change, I realized I was sweating, which didn’t bode well for the rest of the day.

I had just pulled the henley over my head when my phone buzzed. My sister’s name flashed on the screen, and I sighed, answering on speaker. “Morning, Addie.”

“Morning yourself,” she said in that breezy, suspicious tone she always got when she knew I was up to something. “You sound busy. What are you doing?”

“Nothing,” I lied automatically. “Well. I mean. Getting ready to go help someone.”

“Uh-huh,” she said, drawing it out like she was reeling me in. “Who?”

I hesitated, then groaned. “Fine. Someone I want to impress.”

“Ohhh, so it’s that kind of help.”

“Not like that,” I protested quickly, though my ears went hot. “I’m volunteering. But, you know. Volunteering in a way that will make me look useful and attractive.”

She laughed. “Useful and attractive. That’s your plan? Does he have a pulse? You’ll be fine.”

“Yes, he has a pulse. He also has uh opinions about me. And not all of them are great. I might need to work my way up to the ‘attractive’ part,” I admitted.

“Leo,” she said, suddenly softer, “just be careful, okay? You always wear your heart on your sleeve, and I’d rather not watch it get stomped on again.”