Page 22 of Touch My Shelves

I didn’t say that, did I?

I glance up and our gazes lock. As I stare, his eyes turn from serious and remorseful to sparkling with laughter, and his soft-looking lips pull into a smirk. I have an urge to feel those lips against my skin. My neck. My breasts. My… Wowzers.

“So what’s the verdict? Am I canned? I get it and even though it’s not in my best interest to say this, I totally understand if you give me the boot. I was responsible for Freeya. I shouldn’t have allowed her to go inside the cave.”

Brax scrubs his hand down his weary face. “No, you’re not fired. I know what a handful she is. She’s very sorry you were hurt.”

Relief flows through me like an elixir. “She’s an awesome kid. I think we’ll get on well with some ground rules. Namely, no caves.”

For a moment, I think Brax is going to say something. He does, but not what I expected. He pushes up from his desk and says, “Take the rest of the day off and get some rest. I don’t think I’ll be getting any work done today anyway.”

“What do you do?” I ask and immediately a sharpness comes to his expression. “Should I not have asked that question?”

He lowers into the chair behind his desk. “It’s not that. I value my privacy and I’ve found the fewer people that know what I do, the better.”

“Are you in the mafia or are you a crown prince?” I say with a laugh.

He gives me a pensive look. “Wow, you have a vivid imagination going there. It’s nothing as sinister or royal as that. I write mostly sci-fi thriller books.”

“Get out of here. Anything like BJ Sully books? I absolutely love his newest series. I have every one of his books in hardcover. Well, I did before the fire. I’m not a big fan of the television show—it blows—but the books are incredible. They totally missed the mark there. I do have hopes for the new season, but I’m not expecting much,” I say offhandedly with a snicker.

When he doesn’t laugh along with me, I can’t make out the look on his face. About the same time, the bookcase behind his desk catches my attention. It’s filled with BJ Sully books. A lot of them.

I blink and shift my gaze back to his. Those eyes so much like… and I know. There’s goes the last of my rum-induced haze. Once again, I made a fool out of myself. Will my foot-in-mouth disease never stop? “You’re BJ Sully.”

Brax nods. “I am. I do hope you’ll keep that confidential. I’m on a tight writing schedule and I don’t need the added stress and bother of a leak getting out.”

Speechless is what I am, but I need to play it cool.

Do not under any circumstances ask him for a sighed copy.

Darn, I had his entire catalog of books, but thanks to the fire, they’re gone. “Of course. I won’t say a word. Does anyone on the island know who you are?”

He shrugs. “A few.”

And nobody told me?

“That’s so strange. I’ve found nothing on this island is secret or private. To me, it’s been like gossip central.”

“I don’t know why, but the locals protect me by refusing to give up info about me to anyone they don’t know.”

My mouth and fascination just won’t stop. “Why here? And what’s up with this castle?”

With a grin, he opens his arms in emphasis. “You said you read my books. Where better to write the worlds I do than in a castle? Right after Freeya was born, the first book was picked up by a network. My life got crazy fast and I needed the solitude. I told my assistant to find me someplace private and secluded. She sent me the castle specs as a joke. The joke was on her because I thought it was perfect.”

I’m in a room with my favorite author. He’s sitting in front of me. Oh gawd, he touched me. He groped me even. I refuse to fan girl. That would be another awkward moment between us. “Itisperfect. I love what you’ve done with the place.”

That was a stupid thing to say.

He chuckles at my asinine remark. “I don’t think I’ll ever finish with renovations.”

“Well, you’ve done a great job with keeping the authentic castle feel. I mean, my bed is topnotch comfy.” No. Please don’t start the bed monologue again.

Kill it. Kill it.

“And thanks for not firing me and, well, you know, not minding me throwing up all over you. That couldn’t have been pleasant.” I wince. For the love of all things chocolate—abort!

“I’ll just be going now.” I didn’t think I could, but I practically sprint from his office.

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