“I don’t mind.”She placed Sunny on the countertop.The pup immediately went to investigate Justin.“She’s really laid back.”
His brows rose.“Sounds like you’re tempted to adopt her.”
“I can’t deny it.The idea is very tempting…but I can’t.I doubt I’d be allowed to have a pet in the apartment.”
His brows scrunched together.“You don’t know if your apartment building allows pets?”
A bit of color crept into her cheeks.“I, uh…I wasn’t interested in getting a pet.”She glanced downward.“So, I never paid attention to whether they were allowed or not.”
His attention returned to the dog.He reached out to scratch Sunny behind one of her floppy ears.“You’re a cutie.”
“I think she likes you,” Felicity said.“Maybe you could foster her.”
He took a step back.He waved his hand to ward off the thought.“Oh, no.I don’t think so.”
Felicity reached for the puppy before it fell off the edge of the counter.She held up the puppy and made a pouty face.“How can you say no to such an adorable face?”
He looked directly at Sunny.“No.”Then he focused on Felicity, and for a moment he forgot what he was going to say.It took him a moment to remember.“No.”
His refusal to consider adopting the dog caused the smile to fall from Felicity’s face.He regretted his boldness.He’d enjoyed the brief warmth of her smile.It’d been a very long time since she’d smiled at him.He’d forgotten how her happiness acted as a magnet and drew him in.
And then just as quickly he reminded himself not to get close to Felicity again.He’d kept a wide berth around her over the years…until now.
There was absolutely no way he was setting himself up to be hurt again.Once was more than enough.
Felicity sighed and gently put Sunny on the floor.“I have your book behind the counter.I’m really sorry about the mix-up.I don’t know how that happened.”
He swallowed hard.He knew how it happened.He’d been utterly distracted by her mere presence.She could have given him one of those books with a bare-chested guy on the cover, and he would have happily paid for it before taking it home.Only later would he have realized it was most definitely the wrong book.
She’d always distracted him.He couldn’t believe she could still weave a spell over him.What was wrong with him that he’d let that happen?
She processed his refund for the gardening book and then rang up his fantasy book.“I remember how much you loved to read.Remember we used to exchange books?”
He nodded.“I remember you only liked the ones that had some romance in them.”
She held up the paperback he’d just bought.“Any romance in it?”
A hint of a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.“I don’t know if I should answer.Maybe I should let you read the series to find out.”
She looked at the cover before she turned it over and perused the back cover blurb.Her gaze rose to meet his.She arched a brow.“So, you don’t know if it has any romance?”
He remembered how relentless she could be when she was curious about something.It was best to just answer her.“Yes.There’s some.”
She smiled.“But it’s not the main storyline.It must be good if you’re on book eleven in the series.I’m jealous.”
Wait.She was jealous?Of what?Did he miss something?Should he ask what she was talking about?Or just pretend he hadn’t heard her?
Her words echoed in his head.He swallowed hard.“Jealous of what?
“Since I started working in publishing, I rarely have time to read just for the fun of it.Most of the time I read submissions from agents.Some of them are good.Others are so-so.But every now and then, I find a diamond in the rough.It makes reading all of the other manuscripts worth it.”
It made him wonder what category she’d put his manuscript in.The good?The so-so?Or another category for the awful ones?The thought left a sour feeling in the pit of his stomach.
Then he realized she would never read it because he didn’t write romance.He breathed easier.
When he saw her once more checking out his new book, he said, “If you’re interested, I could loan you the first book in the series.”
She paused as though to give it some thought.Then she nodded.“If I get a chance, I’ll take you up on the offer.”
