“Why?” Lucian quirked a brow.
Archer gave him a withering look, and something transpired between them in the silence.
Lucian sniffed the air. “On that note, I have to complete my weekly camera inspection.” After a slow turn, he crossed the room. “I won’t say anything.As usual.”
The door slammed.
Archer pulled me to him and held me in his arms. “What am I going to do with you?”
“Was that wrong?”
“No, Cici. There’s nothing wrong with being curious. But he’s right: books don’t teach you about etiquette and touching a man’s fangs.”
I smiled against his chest. “It’s just that I nicked myself this morning while shaving down there, and?—”
“Oh, did you?” He kissed the crook of my neck madly, and I pealed out a laugh as he dipped me back. Suddenly the air stilled while he held me that way, looking deep into my eyes. “I think I like you too much.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck while he pulled me back up. “Then let’s see where this goes. I mean… if that’s what you want. No pressure.”
“No pressure,” he agreed. “But after last night with the dickhead, maybe we need to cool down for a minute. You can get back to work, and Tak won’t think I’m a rake.”
“A rake?” I jerked my head back. “Where did you hear that word? Have you been reading my books?” When he tried to pullout of my grip, I held on even tighter. “You have, haven’t you? Admit it—you were reading a romance novel.”
“Fine. I confess. I wanted to see what Bear kept going on about.”
“And?”
He gave me a crooked smile. “And I think I need the audiobook version for my workouts.”
Chapter 24
Two weeks later
“Thank you so much for coming in today.” I handed a cloth tote containing two books to a customer.
The short blonde smiled behind her black-rimmed glasses and made her way out the door. Once she left, I flipped the sign on the door to showClosed.
In two weeks, I’d sold eighty percent of the books. The thirty-day lease was paid off, and I had money to start a new life, all thanks to my father’s passion. Seeing the barren shelves brought mixed emotions. I’d grown to love this store even though it occasionally challenged my shy nature. But it was nowhere as busy as it was in the first days. Now the customer visits were spread apart, and I spent my days reading while they quietly came and went. Several asked if I could acquire books on specific topics, and even more wanted fiction.
That’s what inspired me to keep going. After calling a fewpawnshops, I gave them cash offers for their entire inventory, which wasn’t much. Two boxes had arrived at the house the night before, and I spent the evening sorting through them, examining their condition and assessing the value.
Kneeling below the counter, I placed the cash inside the safe Lucian had bolted to the floor. I brought my earnings home daily, but since I planned on meeting the pack at the Rabbit Lounge, carrying a wad of cash didn’t seem prudent.
I jumped when a knock sounded at the door.
Lucian looked inside and pointed at the lock. Then he tried the door and walked in. “Is something wrong with the lock?”
“No, I was just on my way out. What are you doing here? Did you want to look through what’s left?”
He leaned his shoulder against the door. “I was sent.”
“Sent by whom?”
“The Packmaster heard you were walking to the bar by yourself. I’m the quickest runner, and I can see in the dark.” He flicked his gaze around. “So, you’re leasing it out another month?”
“That’s right.” I collected my keys from the drawer.
“You should shutter your entrance with steel to protect the merchandise. Criminals steal money, but in your case, you have valuable goods.”
