It was, Ethan supposed, a possible lead. There might be someone there who could point him in the right direction of a book about the history of the town… or, perhaps, who would actually enjoy looking into Curtis’s family historyforhim, not that he dared to hope for something so convenient.
We should do whatever we can to get that – thathindranceout of our life,his pegasus chimed in helpfully.Let us go to this bookshop immediately!
He supposed it was unanimous, then: they were going to go to the bookstore.
“That sounds like it’s worth a shot,” he said gruffly. “Thanks.”
“Happy to help,” Chloe said, as she shrugged into her jacket and headed toward the front door.
“Wait,” he said, confused. “Are you –?”
“Going out for a walk? Sure,” she said. “Bella threw my plans out of whack, so I’m going to go clear my head and maybe get something to eat before I come back here.” She looked at him, tilting her head. “Why do you ask?”
Only because for a moment there, I thought you were going to come to the bookstore with me. And I really wasn’t sure how I felt about it.
“No reason,” he said glibly, shrugging into his suit jacket and following her to the door. “Enjoy your walk, I suppose.”
Her eyebrows knitted together, and Ethan wasn’t sure quite what to make of her expression. There was a long pause.
“And… would you like me to show you how to find the bookstore?” she asked eventually, her tone unreadable.
Ethan froze. Did shewantto walk him to the bookstore, or was she just being polite? Was there an impliedWell, too bad if you do, because there’s no way in hell I’m doing thatat the end there?
Even if she did want to take him there… didhewant to go withher?
Well, obviously he wanted to spend more time with her – there was something fascinating about her that he wanted to figure out.
But he was also feeling oddly overwhelmed by the weird confusion that this whole situation was causing. It wasn’t like him to catch feelings for other people –notthat he was catching feelings for Chloe, it was just the first phrase that had come to mind – and it was definitely not like him to make an idiot out of himself over it. He really needed some time to regroup.
This whole ghost thing was messing with his head, clearly.
And he didn’t think that talking to a book salesperson with Chloe in tow while Curtis nattered away and his pegasus made catty comments would put him in a great frame of mind. He had a whole invisible menagerie following him around, and he justknewit was only a matter of time before he embarrassed himself somehow.
More than he had already, anyway.
But really, when it came down to it, he needed to find the bookstore, and Chloe was offering to show him the way. They could go there and part on cordial terms, and then he could sort out what the hell was going on with Curtis. Thenmaybeafter that was all sorted, he could contemplate what was going on with Chloe.
It might even end up being moot – if the Curtis situation was resolved, then his father might let him get back to work like nothing had ever happened, and he would be too busy with the Swynford deal to even think about mysterious beautiful veterinarians that could skewer him with a glance.
Okay. She could walk him to the store, then they would part.That’s a sensible approach, right?
“If you’re heading that way anyway, then that would be appreciated, thank you,” he said smoothly.
Or what hehopedwas smoothly, anyway.
Chloe almost looked surprised for a moment, like she hadn’t been expecting him to agree, but then she nodded.
“Sure, no problem,” she said… and then hesitated, before seeming to come to a resolution. “Sorry. I guess I was… a bit abrupt before. I didn’t even shake your hand.” She grimaced, then extended her hand. “Should we have a do over?”
Ethan blinked, a little surprised. But then, he reached out, taking her hand without thinking much about it – and then he couldn’t think aboutanythingexcept the sparks of electricity that were shooting up his arm and through his body, and also the bellowing of the pegasus in his ear.
Our mate! She’s our mate! We have found her!
Chapter 4
What the hell were you thinking?!
Chloe gritted her teeth and did her best to walk like a normal person, trying to ignore the enormously tall, ridiculously handsome man at her side.
