My heart thuds at the sight.
Okay, yeah, she was right. Something about seeing her surrounded by books sends my brain straight into sexy librarian territory.
Goose spots her an instant after I do and barks at her like she’s a squirrel who just darted up a tree. He rears up on his hind legs as if he’s about to waltz on over.
“Goose,” I chastise under my breath as he tugs on his leash.
Maya’s head snaps up at the sound of my overexcited dog and a smile illuminates her face. As beautiful as it is, it doesn’t disguise the glint of apprehension in her eyes. But at least she seems pleased to see us. And byus, I mean Goose.
He lunges again, desperate to get to her. I don’t fight it this time, following his lead since he’s got the right idea anyway.
Maya steps out from behind the counter to meet us, and holy hell, her sweater clings to her like it was custom-made. Her painted-on jeans aren’t doing much to help my self-control either. When she bends to pet Goose, I barelymanageto keep my eyes on her face and not her perfect ass. I’m only human, after all.
“Hi, handsome man,” she croons with a soft laugh. Her voice alone is like a siren call. Gentle yet sultry. It’s clear she’s referring to my dog and not me, but I soak in the compliment anyway.
“Hey,” I greet with a welcoming smile.
She peers up at me. The smile is still in place, but confusion clouds her eyes. “Hey yourself. How are you?”
Without waiting for a response, she focuses on Goose again, showering him with attention, peppering his face with kisses.
I’ve never been jealous of my dog until now. For reasons unbeknownst to me—maybe it’s my newfound possessive streak flaring to life—I start rambling. “I’m okay. No complaints. We’re twenty-four games in and we’ve got more wins than losses, which is always good for morale. Especially since none of them have been consecutive losses and only one was an OT loss.” My lungs burn from lack of oxygen, but I don’t stop. “Clifton’s injury means he’ll be out the rest of the season, which sucks, but it’ll give Peruzzi a chance to help fortify our defensive depth…”
Tilting her head to the side, eerily similar to the way Goose is looking at me, she laughs. “So… you’re good?”
Heat creeps up my neck. Because for a minute there, I became the most painfully stereotypical athlete in history. “I’m good,” I confirm. “How have you been?”
“Busy with books, so the usual.”
“Reading anything good?”
Straightening to her full height, which isn’t very tall, Maya hits me with an adorably grumpy pout that shouldn’t make my dick twitch but does. “What a ridiculous question. Life’s too short to read bad books, Cole.”
“You should get that printed on a t-shirt.” The corners of my mouth curl up into a smirk. “I’m actually looking for something to read on the road.”
Or at least that’s my excuse for being here. In all honesty, there’s a chance motion sickness will kick in if I try to read on a plane or a bus, but the way Maya lights up and bounces on her toes makes me keep that detail to myself.
“Then you’ve definitely come to the right place,” she says, all her hesitation melting away. “What sort of book are you looking for? Memoir, thriller, historical fiction?”
“Uh… All of the above?”
Maya throws her head back and lets out an indulgent laugh.
Goose gives a happy yip at the noise, butting into Maya’s legs in a bid for her attention. No amount of training has rid him of that needy habit, but she doesn’t seem to mind.
Tapping her chin, her lips twitching, she asks, “Okay, what’s your favorite TV show? Or movie? That’ll give us a place to start.”
I list the last few shows I binged, and without another word, she turns on her heel and waves, motioning for me to follow. It’s sexy as hell watching her take charge.
Goose and I trail behind her as she expertly weaves through the shelves filled with colorful spines. A few other customers browse the aisles, and an older gentleman reads a newspaper in a nearby chair, but my focus stays on Maya.
She finally stops near the back of the store and pulls a book off a shelf. As she examines the cover, she lets out a sigh, as if finding this book has given her a deep sense of satisfaction. “This one’s supposed to be really good. I’ve sold three copies this week alone.”
I take it from her outstretched hand and inspect the cover like it will share the book’s secret with me. “Have you read it?”
Brows lifting in surprise, she shakes her head. “Oh. No, I haven’t, but a lot of customers say it’s like a mix ofSuccessionandYellowstone. Full of family drama and angst.”
With a shake of my head, I hold the book out to her. “I want something you’ve read.”
