“Thanks so much. He’s going to love it.”
“This is for you.” I hand her the second book. “This is a special collector’s edition hardcover copy with foil edges. It was in a subscription book box, but I managed to get a few extra copies. I wrote you a personal note.”
She moves to open the book, but I close her hand over it. “Read it at home.”
Her lips curve into a smile. “Okay.” She holds it close to her chest, hugging it like it’s precious treasure. “I will cherish this forever.”
I can tell she means it. “If you want more signed copies, now or at any time, just ask.” I spin around in my chair, motioning toward the full bookshelves. “As you can see, I have multiple copies of each title.”
“I would totally love signed copies, but I’ll have to save up for it.” She tucks the two books into the box with the swag, taking care not to damage them, before she closes the lid and secures the content.
“You’re my friend, Stevie. You don’t have to buy them. I want to gift them to you.”
“I can’t let you do that.”
“Why not?” I know she has some hang-ups about money. It’s why I don’t force anything. But this is different. It’s not going to cost me anything to give her these books.
She stares off into space for an indeterminable amount of time before swinging her gaze back around to me. “I’m fiercely independent, and I don’t like others paying for things for me. I think you already know that.”
I nod, watching the agony spread over her features as she tries to figure it out in her head.
“But that kind of attitude got me into trouble with Garrick, and it’s one of my biggest regrets. That I couldn’t just be gracious about the gifts he wanted to give me. I swore I was going to work on it, but look how I automatically reacted to you just now?”
“It’s hard to change the habits of a lifetime. It’s not something you can do overnight, and you’re doing it the right way. You are self-aware, and you’re stopping to consider it.”
“I want the books,” she blurts, eyeing my shelves with greed and longing. “I want them all.”
I chuckle. “Then you shall have them all.”
“Only if you let me pay you back in kind.”
I arch one brow on instinct, fighting a laugh when her cheeks inflame.
“Oh my god. I did not mean that how it sounded! I’m not offering sexual favors. I meant like I could bake stuff for you or maybe help with your books or some aspect of your business or something.” She buries her red face in her hands, and I can’t hold my chuckle back any longer.
“Stevie, it’s fine.” I pry her hands from her face. “I know you didn’t mean it like that, and I have a proposal for you.” I purposely use those words, grinning as her eyes widen. “Not that kind of proposal,” I chide, tweaking her nose. “Someone has a one-track mind.”
“Someone hasn’t had sex in over a year!”
We both startle at that admission, and her cheeks are on fire again.
“Holy shit! What is wrong with me tonight? Please pretend I didn’t say that.”
“Would it help if I said I haven’t had sex in over two years?”
Her mouth hangs open. “You haven’t?”
I shake my head.
“Why the hell not?”
“I’m pretty much a hermit since I became a writer, but that’s not really the reason. I haven’t had a relationship since high school, but finding women for one-night stands hasn’t been challenging. When Brielle and I started fake dating, it felt wrong to pick up women for casual sex. I would’ve been discreet. No one would have known, but it didn’t feel right.”
“Did Brielle show you the same respect?” she wonders, tilting her head to one side.
“I honestly don’t know. It’s not something we ever discussed. If she was fucking anyone, she didn’t tell me.”
“You’re an enigma, Greyson Beckett Colbert III.”
