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Even a single second more of this kind of sustained lighthearted hopefulness didn’t seem feasible.
But holy shit, I was willing to risk it.
A smiling staff member opened the door for us when we approached the big brick building.
“Thank you,” I told her.
She blushed after a quick glance at Liam. “You’re welcome. We’re thrilled to have you both here. Take your time, and let us know if there’s anything we can do to help.” She locked the door behind us. “The store is yours.”
I gave him a wry look because he must have paid them a fortune.
We wandered through the stacks, each of us with a basket in hand, while he asked me perfect first-date questions. I steered us toward the romance section.
“Cats or dogs?” he asked.
“Dogs.” I glanced over my shoulder. “You?”
“I like both actually.”
My face must’ve shown my surprise.
He shrugged. “I want one of those asshole-looking cats that hates everyone except us.”
“So ... you want the feline version of you?”
He gave me a dry look, and I laughed.
“Movie that always makes you cry?”
“Ooh.” I picked up a book and studied the cover before setting it into the basket I was holding. “Old Yeller.”
“Fuck that movie,” he said. “You’ve watched it more than once? What is wrong with you?”
I sighed. “Sometimes you just feel like crying, Liam. It’s good to get it out.”
“Whatever you say, Valentine.” He nudged me with his shoulder. “Don’t ask me to watch it with you, though. I’d rather gouge my eyes out.”
“Noted.”
“Old Yeller,” he muttered. “Fucking awful.”
I hid my grin while I checked out a couple more books.
In the next aisle over, I found a few that Rosa loved and tossed them into my basket for her. He laughed when my pile of books started nearing Mira’s height. I quirked an eyebrow. “What are you laughing about? You’re the one who’s gonna carry these.”
After carefully setting down his basket, Liam walked toward me, a predatory gleam in his eye, and I backed up against the bookshelf. My basket fell with a thump.
He braced one hand on the shelf next to my head and caged me in, taking a quick glance down the aisle to make sure no one was within view.
His other hand brushed along the outside of my thigh, flirting with the edge of my skirt. My breath came in shallow pants when his nose traced along my cheekbone.
“Buy every fucking book you want, love.” He kissed the edge of my lips, and when I turned my mouth toward his, he pulled back, his eyes nearly black with how much he wanted me. “Buy the whole bloody store and you won’t hear a word of complaint from me.”
My hands curled helplessly into the fabric of his shirt while I tried to tug him closer. “Don’t tempt me.”
“You mean like you’re tempting me with this?” His fingers dipped underneath the skirt and traced the edge of my black lace underwear. Then he snapped the elastic against my skin, and my head fell back with a helpless moan. “What color is it? I want to imagine it while I watch you walk in front of me.”
“B-black,” I whispered.
