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"Hi," I said awkwardly. "Can I help you find something?"
"I'm hoping you can," the man said."You see, I've come across a dilemma. My friend loves to read, but he's quite a picky reader. He prefers classic authors like Hemingway or Dickens – you know, the classics. And he adores mysteries. So, I'm here to surprise him with a gift." He paused, scanning the shelves with a curious gaze. "Any suggestions?"
I tried to focus on what he was saying, but my attention was drawn to his enchanting eyes. "Oh, um, sure," I stammered. "Let's see..." I trailed off, thinking hard.
Then my eyes found a hardback copy of We Have Always Lived in the Castle. "Here you go," I said, passing him the book. "This is a great book, and we have a first-edition copy."
The man chuckled softly, running his fingers along the cover. "Well, I guess I can trust your judgment on this one. Thank you." He handed me the book and our fingers brushed against each other accidentally. My heart skipped a beat, and I could feel the electricity surge through my veins.
He leaned against the counter, crossing his arms confidently. "So, tell me, how long have you been working here?"
"Oh, I've been helping out part-time for the past few months," I replied, trying to sound casual. "I love books, so it's not much of a chore."
I rang up the book and carefully wrapped it in brown paper, very aware that his eyes hadn't left me since we spoke. I felt hispowerful gaze on my skin, leaving goosebumps on my arms and neck.
"Well, here you go," I said after a long silence. "I hope your friend likes his book. Mr. ...?"
The man took the book. "Hayashi," he said. "And thank you," he said. He glanced back at me once more before leaving.
I let out a sigh and collapsed onto the stool behind the counter. My heart was pounding, and my hands were shaking. Never before in my life had I met someone so intense and so alluring. It was more than his handsome appearance, his very aura was exhilarating.
I looked out the window into the dark street, wondering if I would see him again.
Chapter four
Sasuke
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Harris' cute little girlfriendwould be my ticket to finding that rat.
That was her, no doubt about it. Although she looked a bit different from her picture, the shot we had was about a year old, so that made sense.
That girl's beauty captured me in a way that I hadn't ever felt before. She had long brown hair that fell in waves and a dimple on her right cheek when she smiled. Her eyes were brighter, a deeper shade of blue than they appeared in the photo.
I shook myself from my thoughts. I couldn't afford to get infatuated with her. She was nothing to me. The means to an end. Bait for Harris.
I waited until the bookshop closed and the lights turned off. I watched her every move as she locked up and stuffed the key in a fake flower pot outside the door.
If I weren't trying to be stealthy, I would have laughed. Sure, this town seemed safe enough, but no one should be that confident to leave their keys out. And now that I was here, her little city had become dramatically less safe. Lucky for her, I was only here for one man.
As soon as she put her earbuds in and walked away from the streetlight, I made my move.
I followed her closely, taking my time before striking. Her scent, a delicate blend of lavender and citrus, wafted through the air like a siren's song that drew me closer. I grabbed her bag and yanked her back hard, causing her to stumble into my arms. The pepper spray she kept in her hand fell to the pavement with a clatter.
She gasped, wide-eyed with fear, as I pressed my lips roughly against hers. She tasted like heaven and herbal tea.
"You're mine now," I growled into her ear and put a hand over her mouth so she couldn't scream.
She whimpered softly, trying to pull away, but I held her tight.
"Fight me," I challenged, relishing the feeling of control.
I laughed as her face went pale with fear, and she struggled against me. She didn’t have hope in hell. I was thin but strong, and she had no chance of overpowering me. I tightened my grip on her, pressing my body against hers.
I leaned in close, speaking against her neck in a low growl. "Sorry darling, this is just business."
***
