Page 55 of Mr. Swoony

“You’re my sidekick. You haven’t let me pay a dime—today is my treat.”

“Like a date?” I’m so tempted to touch her, but refrain. Instead, my hand nudges her along by her hip.

“Not a date.”

We stand away from everyone else, waiting for our names to be called. “If you’re paying for me, it’s kind of like a date.”

“It’s not a date. And to answer your earlier question, you can call me Lulu, but I can’t promise I’ll answer to it.”

Just then, the guy behind the counter calls her name and sets down her drink.

“He can, but I can’t. So unfair,” I say.

“Lulu’s sidekick,” the girl who made my drink says, sighing to her coworker before going to make another drink.

With both of our drinks in hand, we walk out of the café and down the street.

Eloise doesn’t tell me where we’re going, but I’d probably follow her wherever she wanted. All I think about is her, and it’s been hard to know she’s naked in the shower or wearing some barely-there pajamas to bed on the other side of the wall.

We cross a street, and she smiles at me as we walk up to a bookstore on the corner.

“Why did you think I wouldn’t want to come here? You assuming I’m a dumb jock?” I open the door, and she walks in.

“You don’t have any books in your condo.” She twirls around and walks backward. “Have you written your list yet?”

“No. But I’m thinking about it.”

“We could each read a book.” She twirls back around, and I admire her ass before she turns right and stops.

“If you want me in your bed reading you a goodnight story every night, just say so.”

She chuckles. “I have a feeling I’d wake up, and you’d still be there, spooning me.”

“Look how well you know me already.”

Her head is tilted up, reading the genres on top of the shelves. “Maybe I’m just a good judge of character.” She seems to find what she’s looking for and heads down an aisle with purpose.

When she stops in the romance section, I ask, “Are you telling me something? I’m game if you want to read an erotica book and reenact the scenes.”

She picks up a book and reads the back, ignoring me.

I walk around the section, checking out some titles like Vow of Revenge, about an academy for the kids of mafia bosses where apparently the dead fiancé from an arranged marriage shows back up.

“What kind of romance books do you like? The bad boys who push you to your knees or the sweet Prince Charmings on bended knee?” I lean my shoulder against the bookshelf to face her. “Something tells me you like a bad boy with a dirty mouth.”

Her cheeks pinken. Fuck, I love earning that reaction.

“It’s okay, you don’t have to tell me.” I push off the bookcase. “It can be our little secret.”

“Why don’t you go look at the sports biographies or something?” She shoos me away with her hand. “I’m sure you’ll find a fan to fawn over you to keep you busy.”

I walk over to a nearby table. “I like it when you fawn over me.” I sip my cold brew. “Should we stop on the way home and pick up some cigarettes?” I quirk an eyebrow, and she groans, putting down the book in her hand and venturing down the aisle.

“Your ego seems to grow a little more every day.”

“You love my ego, don’t deny it.” I see a title of a book and pick it up. “Faking it with #41? Sneaking Around with #34? Are these about athletes?” I flip it over and find out it’s about a team of hockey players. Scanning the table, I realize it’s all books about hockey players. “Is this a thing?” I hold one up to show Eloise.

She glances over. “Appears so.”

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