“What are you doing here? Do you work here too?” He shifted the subject, giving me room to think. His eyes settled on the books around me.
“Not really. Ernesto’s helping me with boxes since I’m moving. I offered to help in the store.” I lowered my voice slightly and leaned in. “But if I’m honest, it’s more for me. I get to see all the new books first.”
Luke’s expression shifted from confusion to a wide grin. “Fool.”
Was he talking about me or Ernesto? Either way, he wouldn’t stop staring straight into my eyes.Stop it!
“You really love reading,” he continued.
“I do.” I sighed. “You know that moment when you’re reading a book, and suddenly a sentence reaches out and grabs something deep inside you. Some feeling you never knew how to explain, some truth about your life you thought only you carried? And there it is, spelled out perfectly in someone else’s words. It’s as if the writer saw straight through you. And for a second, your heart feels understood... and full. I love that moment.”
“It sounds awesome.” Luke smiled warmly. Damn, why was he so cute? Those dimples were just like the Devil had painted this one himself. Just to torture me. Suddenly, I wanted to feel that hand on me again.
“Yeah, it’s like a high. Once you get it, you crave it, always searching for that moment again.”
“So you’re a junkie.”
“Something like that.”
“Do you smell them too? The pages?”
I didn’t reply, but couldn’t hide my smile. “That’s what I thought.” He laughed at me. The fellow reader. The audacity!
At some point, he began passing me books, and without even noticing, I’d started sliding them onto the shelves. We worked quietly for a while—he flipped some pages, I kept arranging.
“My two best customers,” Ernesto suddenly appeared. “Are you stealing books? Cause I will find out.”
Two best customers? Why have I never seen him before?
Luke threw on an exaggerated look of shock. “Ernesto, we would never do that.” Then he leaned toward me and whispered, “At least not with you noticing.” I caught his gaze, and we both broke into a grin.
I was torn. I knew he was the sort who disappeared before the morning light, who promised nothing and delivered exactly that. I’d seen it in the way he talked about women, about love, like it was something that only ever burned fast and brief. And I wasn’t built for brief. But when he smiled like that, when the edge in his voice softened just for me, something in me leaned in instead of away. Not because I bought into the version of himself he sold so easily to the world, but because I was starting to believe there was more to him than what he showed.
“Mhm,” Ernesto hummed, seeing right through us. Amused yet skeptical, he disappeared into the storage room. Soft music played, and I hummed along, feeling the golden eyes watching me.
“Look, Hazel,” Luke lowered his voice, “if you decide to go, I swear I’ll be on my best behavior. You can ask me any questions about myself or my life beforehand, if that makes you feel more comfortable. Report me to the authorities if you’re worried about going missing.” His lips curled into a slight smile. Mine followed. He paused for a moment. “I’ve heard it’s beautiful there. Always wanted to go.”
“Yeah, it is,” I said, lost in memories—my first surfing attempt, baking Pastel de Natas with roommates, hiking.
“I’ll think about it,” I let the words slip from my mouth, and Luke grinned widely, showing his big, gorgeous teeth.
“Excellent!” He turned to leave, but I remembered the thought that’s been bothering me for a couple of days now.
“Thank you for the note,” I blurted out. He stopped and turned back. “I really appreciate it.” I tried to avoid his eyes, but his serious expression and pained frown held me. It was like he had something to say but couldn’t find the words right away.
“Of course, Hazel. The offer still stands, just let me know.” I looked at my shoes, which seemed to hold the answer to an unspoken question, and forced a weak smile.
Luke flashed a smile before striding back to the counter to talk to Ernesto. I couldn’t help watching him go—the broad set of his shoulders under that black leather jacket, the dark jeans, the fitted shirt stretched over the chest I’d slammed into. The memory hit me hard, the solid feel of him, the way, for one breathless second, I’d felt completely safe in his arms.
Then it hit me—how many women had probably felt the same on that chest? An ick crawled up my spine. I didn’t want to be just another girl in his parade. But then, I reached into my pocket for the crumpled note and looked at the written words and his number.
If you need help. Or if you’re scared.
Let me know. I’ll come.
I glanced back at him just as he was leaving the store. Before the door closed, he looked at me and gave a wink. I quickly turned away, hoping he wouldn’t catch my expression.
Hazel, don’t be a fool!
