I give an awkward laugh and lean against the stepladder behind me, inadvertently dislodging my stack of erotica and romance books. They slide out at our feet with a thud.
Oh fuck.
We both glance down at the stack. The cover on top has a bare-chested gentleman with a suggestive bulge in his pants, a crown dangling from one hand, and the titleThe Prince of Pleasureacross the front in red script.
Oh my God.
My face is on fire as I glance back up to see Michael biting his lip, attempting to hold back a smirk.
“Just a little light reading there?”
“Um…” Mortification washes over me. I wish the ground would swallow me up and end this bloody nightmare right now.
He bends to collect the books, handing the pile to me. I hold them to my chest, against my hammering heart.
“Is this your usual reading material?” His eyebrows are raised and there’s a tug at the corner of his mouth.
I clear my throat, trying to think of something witty to say, but I’m drawing a blank. First he sees me in a slutty Snow White costume and now he catches me with an armload of erotica. He must think I’m a sex-crazed lunatic.
“It’s…” I start, but I can’t think of anything to say. I’m perspiring with embarrassment now. From the corner of my eye I see Geoff wander past and I’m struck by a flash of brilliance. “Oh, these aren’tmine. I’m just reshelving them.” I lean forward, lowering my voice in a conspiratorial manner. “It’s amazing what some people read.” I give what I hope is a carefree laugh and turn to jam the books onto the military history shelf, before focusing my attention back on Michael. “Now, is there something I can help you with?”
Michael glances from the shelf to me, amusement gleaming in his eye. “Sure. Where’s your travel section?”
I turn to show him, then pause. “I thought you came in here all the time?”
“Uh—” His gaze flicks down the aisle then back to me. “I do. I’m just… testing to see ifyouknow. You haven’t worked here very long.”
My jaw tightens. “Of course. This way.” I lead the way to the next aisle and indicate the travel section. Someone has shoved a few books in the wrong place and I quickly set about straightening them up.
Then, before I can step out of the way, Michael leans past me to grab a book. The buttons of his shirt strain across his broad chest as he reaches to the shelf, and when his hand brushes over the back of mine, there’s a shock through me. All the tiny hairs on my arms stand on end and I feel almost light-headed.
But Michael, oblivious, just takes the book and scans the back cover. “Do you know if this is any good?”
I try to formulate a response but I’m still reeling from his brief touch. And he’s close enough that I can smell him—an intoxicating combination of woodsy cologne and the faintest hint of sweat that’s doing something crazy to me. It’s just somanly. It’s been ages since I’ve smelled something like this and I just want to huff it all in until I’m dizzy.
“Alex?” Michael prompts, a V forming between his brows.
I catch Geoff watching me quizzically from behind a stack of books the next aisle over. Shit.
“Er… yes?”
“This book. Is it any good?”
I glance down at the book in his hands. It’s new, I think, because we were going to be getting it at the store back home but it hadn’t arrived before I left. It’s supposed to be the newWild, or something. “I haven’t read it, sorry.”
“Why not?” Tiny, almost imperceptible crinkles form around his eyes. “Because there’s nobody naked on the cover?”
Heat rises up my neck. I knew he hadn’t bought that little performance back there. My teeth grit in irritation but I force myself to stay calm. It’s time to show him I’m an intelligent woman with a wide breadth of knowledge—to put him in his place, once and for all.
Ignoring his comment, I turn to the shelf and pull out a slimmer book—one I actually have read and loved for years. “I’d recommend this, instead,” I say with an air of expertise.
He takes it and reads the back cover, running a hand over his short beard, his brow wrinkled in thought. I try not to stare but I can’t help myself. I know Agnes said he was lovely, but where is she getting that from? To me he’s been nothing but rude and obnoxious. But…God, he’s easy on the eyes. Up close I notice his beard has flecks of gray in it, which only makes him sexier. I’m guessing he’s a good decade older than me, at least. And he must be nearly a foot taller than I am—definitely over six feet…
He glances up to catch me staring and gives me an odd look. Flustered, I turn back to the shelf and yank out a bunch of books.
“Or you could try these.” I thrust the pile into his hands.
He shuffles through the titles and pulls one out on top. “What about this one?”
