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“Mine too.”
They were more alike than Cameron could have dreamed. Even if she came attached to John, this burgeoning friendship was worth it.
Being around her, absorbing her energy . . . he hoped it increased his own pluck.
The mystery section sat in the back aisle, near murky glass windows overlooking the street. “Did you start The Serpent’s Offering yet?”
“Halfway through.”
“I’m dying to tell you who did it. I won’t. It’s such a great twist.”
“Twist? What is it? Don’t tell me. I bet I know.” He leaned casually against the bookshelf, mirroring her easy coolness. “Darla will have a twin that’s killing everyone off like flies. The sister is pretending to be her.”
“You’ll start Lanyon after this. You will not regret it. I dare you.”
He grinned and pulled a book off the shelf. “I love how wildly excited you get.”
“There’s no point in moderate excitement—not in my mind. Excitement should always involve excessive enthusiasm. My last boyfriend teased me ceaselessly about that, so I showed him moderate excitement in bed, and he stopped teasing me immediately.”
“O-kay. I mean, ha. Bet that showed him.”
“Oh my God, guys are too easy, aren’t they?”
“Too easy. Absolutely.”
She peered over a book slyly. “Spill. What do you think of John?”
Cameron maintained his smile. He didn’t think much of John, but he couldn’t say that. “He’s . . . attentive.”
“He can come on a little strong, but he really likes you, which says a lot about his character because you are so sweet.”
She snapped the book shut; dust puffed from its old pages and she sneezed. “Damn, I love that tickle. Mini orgasm every time.”
Cameron stared at his. Swallowed, and shut—
“Oh my God, don’t look now, but someone’s checking you out.”
His head jerked up and the dust from his book shot behind his glasses. He blinked hard, eyes stinging. “Huh?”
“Damn, he’s gone. But I swear his eyes were darkened with lusty interest.”
“Sure he wasn’t looking at you?”
“If he was looking at me, I’d know. This hottie was all about you. Did the whole double take and everything. I’m grabbing these two. Got something?”
Cameron grabbed a few mysteries off the shelf. The store bell dinged and Isabella sighed. “He’s left. Not that you need more than one guy interested.” Her phone dinged and she stopped paying at the register to reply. Another ding. Another reply. “Oh, here, keep the change.” She eyed Cameron setting his books on the counter. “Your brother messaged. His apartment isn’t far from here, is it?”
“Around the corner, Rohi Ma Road.”
“Excellent. I might surprise him.”
“I’m guessing I’m not invited?”
Isabella laughed. “I won’t make it long. Ten minutes should do. But don’t think I’m completely abandoning you. Never. John’s searching for a parking spot around the block.”
Wonderful.
They filed out of the bookstore into the clouding day. “Say hello to Brandon.”
“Oh, I will.”
She hiked off with a blow kiss, and Cameron slipped his four books into his shoulder bag alongside Henry’s socks.
A flash of orange rounded into the street. Cameron locked his gaze onto a stall selling fabric. Maybe there’d be some interesting patterns there.
Beep-beep!
He should definitely give all the fabrics a thorough check.
A screech of tires. The shutting of a car door. Locks double-blinking.
His stride quickened, shoulder bag thumping against his hip. He’d made it two-and-a-half days without an encounter. Fish ’n chips had been a tedious affair of toothy grins and unsubtle suggestions that Cameron pay.
He had ended up paying because he could never voice what he actually wanted. Or didn’t want. And here he was, running away again.
His heart lodged painfully in the base of his throat. He was what was wrong. Not John.
He halted abruptly.
“Shit—”
Something hard bowled against the back of Cameron’s knees and Cameron crashed to the brick road, grazing his palms. His bag flew forward, books and socks spilling out.
“I’m so sorry! I wasn’t expecting you to stop so suddenly.” Her British voice was familiar.
So was the bookish scent coming from his right.
A figure crouched down, male, shit kickers, a flash of funky socks.
Cameron tensed. Maybe if he hugged the road a bit longer, it’d eat him whole. “No. Ass up was not how we were meant to meet again.”
“He’ll be fine, Georgie.” Henry’s blurred figure turned its focus back to him. “His cheeks are a very healthy color.”
He groaned and sat up, dusting the grit from his raw palms.
Georgie gripped the hand rims of her wheels, pale. “I’m so sorry. I should have called your name, not just chased after you.”
She was chasing after him?
Why not her brother?
Georgie glanced at Henry, who was still crouched close to Cameron’s side. “He didn’t see you. I left him paying for honey.”
“Which I still need to do. I think I abandoned my wallet. My book too.”
Georgie swallowed. Up close, she appeared much younger than he first thought. “Sorry, Henry. Didn’t mean to scare you. I saw Cameron and whirled around to ask him something and then bam. He stops.”
