Page 99 of Long Story Short

Josie fits here in this coastal bookstore. She seems to be right at home as she looks around, taking us deeper into the shelves.

She pauses all of a sudden. Her hand stills, and then she lets out a small, disbelieving gasp.

I quickly step beside her, bringing my body close to hers as I follow her gaze.

There it is. Her name. Right there on the shelf.

“See?” I mutter, looking at the line of spines with her name on them.

She doesn’t say anything right away. She just stares at her own books on a shelf here at a small bookstore in the Hamptons. She’s quiet, like she’s trying to take it in.

Finally, her gaze finds mine. I swear her eyes are a little wider and brighter now. “I always forget what it feels like,” she admits.

“What?” I ask, my hand finding the small of her back.

“Seeing my books out in the world. Sometimes I just forget what it feels like to remember these stories aren’t just mine anymore.”

I reach out, grabbing one of the copies from the shelf and holding it out to her. “Now you have to start signing.”

Her eyes flick to mine. “Tyson, I don’t know…” She bites her lip, like she’s anxious about signing the books that she’s written.

“Sign it,” I repeat, keeping my tone gentle. “For the person who’s going to pick this up and fall in love with your words.”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to add on to my statement. To tell her that I’m falling for her. But I keep my thoughts to myself, not wanting to scare her away.

Josie hesitates for a moment before she reaches inside her purse and brings out a pen. Her fingers brush against mine as she takes the book from me.

I watch in wonder as she signs each copy and puts them back on the shelf. Sometimes it still hits me just how talented she is. It’s crazy that she’s written books—multiple books—and we can just find them on the shelves of a bookstore we happened upon while taking an afternoon walk.

“There,” Josie says as she slides the last signed book onto the shelf. “Are you happy now?”

I nod as I pull her body into mine. “I’m always happy when I’m with you.”

This makes her face soften and her lips turn into a radiant smile. “You say the most perfect things.”

I take a step back with my arms still wrapped around her, bringing her with me until we’re hidden between two large bookshelves filled to the brim.

“Because you’re perfect,” I respond as I gently press her against the shelf, caging her body in with mine.

Josie rolls her eyes as her hands find my chest. She doesn’t respond to my comment, but she doesn’t need to. The smile on her lips at my words is all I need.

Slowly, I lean in, my hands finding her waist as my lips press to her neck. I begin to kiss a line along her collarbone.

“Ty,” she whispers, but there’s no real warning in her voice. If anything, there’s a hint of breathlessness—maybe even a bit of encouragement.

My lips curve slightly against her as I continue to kiss along her sensitive skin. Her fingers tighten around the fabric of my shirt as she pulls me into her, something I don’t even realize she’s doing.

“We’re in a bookstore,” she mutters, her voice soft as she moves her neck to the side to give me more access.

“Mm-hmm,” I hum against her neck. “I did notice that.”

“What are you doing?”

I slide my hand underneath the fabric of her gauzy shirt, loving feeling her skin underneath my fingertips. “Inspiring you,” I answer easily.

“Someone could see us.”

My gaze meets hers, finding her cheeks flushed and her lips slightly parted. Her eyes flick toward the end of the aisle like she’s checking for someone, but she isn’t stopping anything either.