Without responding, Corbin walked ahead. Bastard had a plan and wasn’t sharing. He could share pussy butnot whatever devious scheme was hatching inside his mind? Asshole.
Five minutes later, we were both right outside Pages & Purrs, the secondhand bookstore that also doubled as the owner’s tax write-off for her status as the town’s crazy cat lady.
Leaning against the brick exterior, my shoulder welcomed the slight warmth from the sun-heated surface as I waited. My boot tapped with growing impatience while Corbin just stared at the door to the town’s literary haven.
“Why are we standi?—”
His hand slapped over my mouth, cutting off my words as the jingle of small silver bells affixed to the store’s door handle sounded as someone exited.
The first thing that I saw was the way her hair got caught in the wind, with the midnight strands defiantly reflecting the sunlight. As she turned to look behind her, her smile was carefree, and her laughter sent a shiver down my spine.
“Beth, you are a terrifying, walking hazard! How have you managed not to trip your way straight into the back of an ambulance yet?” she said to the younger girl exiting behind her.
Damn Corbin. Damn him to whatever hell eventually awaited us.
Without any gentleness, I wrapped my hand around his wrist and shoved his hand away from my mouth, only after snapping my jaw shut.
I wanted to hate her, and maybe I did in a way.
She was gorgeous with hips that swayed effortlessly and sharp eyes that could cut through any man who had a functioning dick. Her voice sounded like the moon rising over the cornfield at night — luminescent and all-consuming.
The two of them chattered, each of them carrying a small paper bag bearing the Pages & Purrs logo.
“I’ll see you at home, Harlow. Don’t forget the apples that Mom asked you to pick up,” the younger girl gleefully reminded the older, taking her sister’s shopping bag before turning and striding off down the sidewalk.
Harlow.A hill to be conquered, or perhaps the hill I would die on. Only time would tell.
The object of desire that my best friend was inexplicably linked to turned her back on us as she waved off her sister.
Before Corbin could make a move, I pushed past him. If my shoulder just so happened to collide with his, I’d blame it on the wind.
I was right at her back the moment she spun around to be on her way. Stopping short of colliding with my chest, she gasped out in surprise as she stared up at me. Her glossy, pink lips parted in a small ‘o’ at my unexpected proximity.
She had to stand somewhere around five-three from my towering view of the top of her head. When she straightened with a sudden snap of composure, it gave her at least another half inch.
“Sorry,” she murmured politely.
“Are you?” I canted my head, internally enjoying needling her.
The fire lit up in her eyes. So, she wasn’t a pushover.
Interrupting our little introduction, Corbin arrived at my side in the blink of an eye. His arm slung itself over my shoulders while he patted my chest roughly with his free hand. A solid thunk echoed inside my ribs.
“I apologize for my friend. He hasn’t had his court-mandated coffee yet this morning.”
Her expression softened fractionally. Mine hardened in Corbin’s direction.
“Lucky for him, I’ve had mine.” A slight quirk of her lips.
Sexy little tease.
“I’m Corbin, and this is Bale.” He extended his hand to her.
I watched as her eyes darted between us, a spark of interest or maybe it was curiosity? Didn’t matter which, we had her hooked one way or another.
Chapter
Four
