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“What?” He followed her gaze. They were right beside the famous four-story Barnes & Noble. He looked at her. “Do you want to go in?”

Her entire face changed. The same woman who could stare down clients and argue with furniture was suddenly looking at the bookstore like someone had handed her a Christmas present.

“Really?” A huge smile spread across her face. “I’ve wanted to come here since I moved. I just haven’t had time.”

Noah filed that away. Claire always found time for deadlines. Apparently, joy was easier for her to postpone.

He nodded. “Really, let’s go.”

Claire grabbed his wrist and started pulling him toward the doors. Noah laughed.

And that was how Noah Carter spent two hours following Claire Bennett around Barnes & Noble.

Noah discovered something new about Claire that night: she loved romance novels. He had seen the books on her shelves plenty of times, but he had never paid enough attention to realize what she read.

As soon as they stepped in, she ran straight for the romance section, leaving him to follow behind.

Claire claimed she was only browsing. Ten minutes later, she had four books balanced against her chest and was explaining why she couldn’t stand third-act breakups.

Noah nodded as though he understood. He did not. He understood that she looked happier than he had ever seen her. He picked up a book. “So.” He grinned mischievously. “These are the fictional men setting unrealistic expectations?”

Claire quickly ripped the book out of his hand. “Noah, you do not need any help setting unrealistic expectations. Give me that.”

Noah would have dropped the book if Claire hadn’t just snatched it from him. She had said it casually. Accidentally. But she had said it.

Claire froze. Her cheeks turned pink, and she immediately became intensely interested in the bookshelf beside her. Noah decided not to rescue her from what she had just admitted.

A bookstore employee approached them. “Do you guys need any help?”

“No.” Claire smiled. “We’re okay. Thank you.”

“Of course.” She glanced at Noah. “You must really love her to follow her around the romance section like that.”

“He does,” Claire responded, not giving Noah a chance to deny it. “I’m lucky.”

Noah knew she was performing for the employee. That did not stop the words from settling somewhere uncomfortably hopeful in his chest.

The employee smiled and walked off.

“I do?” Noah looked at her, raising an eyebrow.

She shrugged. “We’re supposed to be fake dating. May as well make it believable.”

“Right.”

He glanced at a stack of romcoms on the display table to his left. “These any good?”

“Maybe.”

He grabbed one, opened to a random page, and cleared his throat dramatically. “He tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and looked at her like she was the only person in the room.”

Claire looked horrified. “Noah.”

“I’m researching. This guy seems charming.”

“Give me that.” She attempted to snatch the book from him, but he quickly pulled away. He turned the book in his hand, reading the back cover. Roommates and fake dating.

“Fake dating.” He glanced at Claire. “Should we be concerned?”