“All right, my turn,” she says when we’re back in the SUV.
I stare at her in annoyance. “Where do you want to go?”
“The bookstore. You said you’d buy me as many books as I wanted, remember? Pull out that credit card because my TBR is miles long.”
23
The bookstore is callingmy name.
Just Liliya—leave off the Lastro, thank you.
From now on, I’m going mononym.
Like Cher or Beyoncé.
Shockingly, Emilio kept our agreement of me signing my name on the dotted wife line and him taking me book shopping.
I’m all smiles while giving him directions to my favorite romance bookstore and coffee shop, Chapters and Coffee.
I shamelessly eye fuck him as he backs into a spot.
The way his strong arm flexes and his jaw is tense as he focuses on the task.
Something is so sexy about a man who can easily parallel park.
I parallel park like it’s my first day having hands.
Taylor Swift—another argument I won—plays in the background as he peers over at me.
“Pick me up in an hour.” I hold out my palm toward him. “A credit card or five hundred in cash, please.”
He ignores my hand, steps out as traffic speeds past him, and circles the SUV to my side. My door whips open, and he backtracks a few steps, giving me room to step out.
I frown and say, “I take it, this means you’re coming?” in annoyance.
He nods, circling his keys around his fingers.
“I prefer to shop for books in peace.”
“Either I come with you or you get your ass back in the vehicle.”
My runner rep is seriously messing with my freedom.
I throw my arms up in frustration and stomp toward the bookstore. When I reach the door, I loudly huff while opening it and try my hardest for it to slam in his face. He shoots his hand out, stopping it.
The bell above the door jingles as we enter the small bookshop.
There isn’t much room, and the selections are all limited to romance, but it’s the comfiest place I’ve ever set foot inside.
Delaney, the store owner who’s standing behind the counter, glances up from her book.
“Hi, Liliya!” She sticks a bookmark between the pages and sets down her book. When she notices Emilio behind me, she straightens her glasses, as if they could possibly be malfunctioning.
I normally only come here solo or with Dasha.
Rudely, I don’t bother introducing Emilio.
I don’t know how to.
