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"Just promise me you'll be careful, okay?"
"I can take care of myself," I said. "And, I don't know, sometimes risking heartbreak is worth it, right?" My hand unconsciously skimmed over the spines of the books I'd just organized, thinking of the stories inside. Of heroines who threw themselves with open hearts and open minds into love.
Colby sighed. "There's a reason a lot of those books end right after the couple gets together."
As I was about to say more, two elderly ladies popped around the bookshelf, startling both Colby and me. One had silver hair styled in a chic pixie-cut, complemented by a leather motorcycle jacket over a neon purple sweatsuit, while the other had a multitude of tattoos visible on her arms and wore a rainbow-colored kaftan.
"Hi, can I help you find a book?" I asked, assuming they were here to shop.
"Sorry, dear," the woman with the silver hair said, a mischievous glint in her eye. "We couldn't help overhearing your conversation."
"O-oh," I stammered, feeling my face heat. Colby shot them an amused look, clearly not as flustered as I was.
"Wanda," he said. "Give the girl a break."
"Are you Mira?" the woman in the leather jacket asked with a knowing smile. "I'm Wanda, Gunnar's grandmother, and this is my friend, Daisy. Gunnar talks about you often."
He does?
"Nice to meet you," I replied, trying to hide my nervousness.
"Alright, you two, mind your own beeswax," Colby teased. He turned back to me. "They're retired and bored, and get into more trouble than they should."
Wanda stepped forward. "I heard you wondering if Gunnar has feelings for you."
"That's not what I said!" I protested.
"Context clues!" Daisy singsonged.
Wanda nodded, patting my arm. "I wanted to assure you that you are all that he's thinking about. One might even call him obsessed."
"The other day, he called a Road King a Sportster," Daisy added. "Imagine! He must be out of it if he's completely forgotten his encyclopedic knowledge of motorcycles."
"Um, okay?"
Wanda nodded to her friend. "Needless to say, he's more than a little frazzled by your presence. I told him to call you and ask for a date, but he's a little nervous, You might have to reach out."
"Gunnar Malloy, nervous?" Colby sounded about as confused as I felt.
"Everyone gets nervous when they meet the love of their life, Colby Storm. You should know that," Wanda said to Colby, and Colby blinked at her, then blushed bright red. It made me want to ask who the love of his life was. And did that mean Gunnar was the love of my life?
"I'm so confused," I groaned, burying my face in my hands.
"Come on, dear," Daisy urged, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "Tell us about your dates with Gunnar. Maybe we can help."
My heart thudded as I struggled to find an appropriate response. What was I supposed to say? That Gunnar had pulled off a back road and cuffed me to his tailgate then fucked me raw, leaving my bare ass covered in his cum?
"Uh, well, we, um…" I stammered, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. "Spent a little time outdoors?"
"Relax, Mira," Wanda said gently. "We're just curious about how my grandson's doing in the romance department." She winked at me, and I couldn't help but wonder if she had any idea about his darker desires. "Daisy's grandson went on a date with the girl from the cupcake shop!"
"Right." My mind raced as I tried to think of a suitable answer for these nosy, yet endearing, older women. Wanda and Daisy stared at me expectantly, waiting for details about my date with Gunnar. There was no way I could share the intimate power dynamics that played out between us.
"Uh, we went to the aquarium," I blurted out, panic overtaking me.
Wanda furrowed her brow, looking confused. "What aquarium? The one all the way down in Newport?"
"Actually," Colby interjected, a wicked grin spreading across his face, "Gunnar took Mira to a BDSM munch."
