“Faye!” In his excitement, he loses grip on the books, sending them tumbling. I rush over to help retrieve them. “Sorry,” hemumbles, pushing his falling glasses back up his nose. “I guess I was just happy to see you.”
Our fingertips brush as I hand him back his copy ofPride and Prejudice, and it feels like an electric shock zaps all the air from my lungs. He releases a fresh burst of pheromones, showing that he feels it too. Our connection.
I jerk my hand away and stand. As well as my usual scent-blocking panties, I’m wearing two scent liners. This will be an excellent test of how well they hold up.
“What do you think of it?” I motion to the book. Books are a safe topic, right?
“It’s good so far.” He tilts his head, regarding me. “But I’m not sure about their relationship. Why is he acting like a total ass?”
“That’s the best bit. Well, not him being an ass, but the slow burn,” I explain. “The yearning, the way he tries to ignore their attraction, and how she’s determined not to like him. It’s obvious he wants her even more than she wants him, but he’s afraid to let himself admit it.”
“Damon sounds a lot like Mr. Darcy,” Ren murmurs before changing the subject. “Do you like to read?”
I nod. “It rains a lot in Clover Hollow, so there’s not much else to do. There’s nothing better than curling up by the fire with a good book.”
“And here I thought you couldn’t get any more perfect.” Ren’s compliment has heat racing to my cheek . He jerks his head toward the Tea House. “Shall we go inside?”
Nodding, he holds the door open for me, then we head inside. It’s a small, intimate cafe with a rustic treehouse-like vibe. My mouth waters at the smell of freshly ground coffee and steeped herbs hanging in the air. The place is quite inviting, with all the books and plants lining the walls and the cozy nooks to sit in.
“It’s so lovely,” I say as I take it all in. This will definitely be a regular haunt for me.
There are plenty of students inside, but it doesn’t feel too packed, and I’m pretty sure Ren is the only alpha in here, which puts me at ease.
Ren points at the menu board. “What would you like?”
There’s so much to choose from. There are coffee beans from all over the world as well as a variety of tea blends. Not only do they have every type of milk you can think of, but they also have cool-sounding foams.
A friendly-looking beta smiles at us. “What’s it going to be?”
Ren orders a Guatemalan Antigua coffee then turns to me.
“I’ll go with a chai with cinnamon sprinkles, please.” I ruffle around in my purse.
“Why don’t you find us a table?” Ren suggests. “I’ll pay.”
“It’s okay,” I insist, retrieving my wallet before settling my bill. “I’m happy to pay for my own.”
“I’ll bring your drinks over when they’re ready,” the smiley barista says before turning to start up the machine.
“This place is amazing.” I scan the cafe, noting the adorable wind chimes hanging by the window as we get comfortable in a quiet alcove with a red cushy sofa.
Ren’s entire posture has shifted. It’s like he’s shrunk in on himself, his shoulders slouched, and the sparkle in his gray-blue eyes gone. Maybe it’s nerves?
“There are so many books here,” I continue blathering like an idiot, worried that I said something to upset him. “I can see some classics, and look at all the cookbooks! Delilah would love them. I’ll have to tell her they’re here.”
Ren nods along as I talk, but his smile doesn’t meet his eyes.
The barista brings over our drinks.
“Mmm.” The first sip is heavenly. “This may be the best chai I’ve ever had.”
Ren says nothing.
“Are you okay?” I ask. “You seem a little … off.”
His scent has dulled; his dreamy Earl Grey aroma has lost some of its usual potency and smells a bit like dry grass.
“I…” His gaze hones in on the bottom of his coffee cup. “Sorry, I guess I just assumed that this was a date. If I made you uncomfortable when I said you were perfect?—”
