I need anin, and yes, I absolutely will use her love of literature to endear me to her. In my defense, I did tell her I play to win.
A light pink hue blooms across her cheeks. “I’ll put this one away, then.”
When she reaches up to return the book, her sweater rides up, showing off the curved flare of her waist. Images of my calloused hands gripping her hips as she rides my cock play through my mind.Fuck, get it together.
When she wobbles on her toes, I close the distance between us and slide the hardcover back into place, brushing my body against hers in the process. It does the exact opposite of helping me get my shit together.
“Um. Okay. So, like,anybook I’ve read?” Maya sidesteps away, her eyes darting around the shelves, focusing on anything but me.
“Your favorite book of all time,” I amend.
“That’s… that’s like asking me to pick my favorite child.” Lips parted and eyes wide, she looks borderline scandalized. “The answer is also dependent on so many things. I could tell you my favorite comfort read, my favorite motorcycle club series, my favorite contemporary romance, my favorite classic. The list goes on. I can’t give you just one.”
Then she really dives in, listing titles, her favorite characters, and plot twists that wrecked her. I simply listen in rapture. Goose, too, who’s stopped sniffing everything in sight and sits silently to my left, head cocked and eyes locked on Maya like she’s reciting poetry just for him.
After a solid five minutes, she goes quiet, nibbling on her lower lip. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to ramble. I get a bit carried away sometimes. Don’t even get me started on book boyfriends.”
I throw her a curious look. “What’s a book boyfriend?”
“What’s abook boyfriend?” The heated intensity of her stare cuts through the shield of confidence I wear like a well-earned badge.
“Book boyfriends fill the gap where men fail to deliver,” she explains. “They’re everything a personwishesexisted in real life—romantic, emotionally available, committed. They know exactly what to say. And if they annoy me or disagree with my very correct opinion? I can shut the book and shove them back on the shelf.”
“Sounds healthy,” I note, holding in a laugh. “Although I doubt a book boyfriend can offer you certain kinds ofreliefa real man can.”
Her loud, carefree laugh tightens my balls like a warm fucking hand. “You’d be surprised.”
Fuck.
“Want to make a bet?” I waggle my brows, becausefuck, that is one bet I’m sure to win. No doubt in my mind.
Maya’s cheeks burn instantly. Yeah, she clearly remembers our last bet.
I let a self-satisfied smirk take over.
“Nope.” She shakes her head resolutely. “No more bets.”
“Mm-hmm.” I take a step closer. “Now you’ve got me curious. I want to read something with a book boyfriend who can apparently compete with the real thing.”
Maya’s eyes brighten deviously. “Oh, I know just the book.”
We work our way to the front of the store, passing sturdy bookshelves that line the walls and curve around hidden reading nooks and tables.
When she points to a book featuring a shirtless purple alien with a furry tail, I can’t help but chuckle. “I walked right into that one, didn’t I?”
“Aliens make good book boyfriends,” she says with a teasing grin.
“It looks promising,” I lie through my teeth. I’m going to get my ass handed to me if I read this in front of my teammates.
She snorts at my forced tone. “Don’t judge a book by its cover. I thoroughly enjoyed this one. But if you’d rather read something else?—”
“Maya,” I cut her off, gently taking the book from her hands and holding it the way she did, like it’s something to be revered. “I asked for a book you’ve read so we can talk about it. And so I have another excuse to see you.”
Her pouty lips part, and a slow, telltale flush crawls up her neck. “Why?”
“Because I like you.”
This may only be our third encounter, and maybe none of them could be considered romantic, but Jake’s words hit home. Not that I’ll ever admit that to him. If anyone can make a relationship work, it’s me. Perseverance is my middle name. I just have to approach dating like I would a game: show up, commit, work hard, and fight for what I want.
