Page 28 of Dreams and Desires

She rolls her eyes and turns to walk away, but I quickly jump out of the car and grab her hand. The rain starts to fall harder, and she looks stunning, with droplets catching in her hair and glistening on her skin.

“Juniper, wait,” I say, holding her gaze. “At the hospital, I wanted to ask you out. But it didn’t come out right.”

She looks at me, surprised, her eyes wide and searching mine for sincerity.

“Let me take you out. One date,” I say, my voice earnest. “What’s the worst that could happen?”

For a moment, she just stands there, and I can see the conflict in her eyes. She seems to consider it, but then a car passes by, its headlights flashing, and it’s like the lights snap her out of it. She yanks her hand away, her expression turning defiant.

“Absolutely not.”

“What if I say‘Please’?” I wink at her, and she glares at me.

“I’m not falling for your games, Zade. Find someone else to play with.”

I let out a breath through my nose. “Alright,” I say. “But I’m not walking away that fast.”

She turns on her heel and walks away, but as she reaches the door, she glances back at me, her eyes lingering for just a moment. “Goodbye, Zade,” she says firmly.

I watch her go, my heart racing. As soon as I leave Juniper’s place, she’s all I can think about. I’m stuck between pushing forward with the project and this crazy pull toward her. She’s driving me insane, but in a way that makes me want more. I want her. I need to win her.

I let out a frustrated sigh and rub my temples. “Driver, take me to the nearest bookstore,” I say suddenly.

“Yes, Mr. Patterson,” he replies, changing direction smoothly.

I remember the book Juniper was reading at the cafe and how she was lost in its pages. Maybe if I get her what she loves, I can get closer to her. It’s a long shot, but it’s all I’ve got right now.

The car pulls up in front of a small bookstore with a flickering neon sign. I step out, pulling my coat tighter against the cold, and head inside. The smell of paper and ink is comforting. It somehow brings peace to the chaos in my head.

I wander through the aisles until I find the romance section. My fingers trace over the spines of books until I find a section called ‘TikTok Smut’. The holy grail of books—the ones I know Juniper will love!

I start pulling titles off the shelves, one after another. The covers are vibrant, and the titles promise passion, drama, and steamy romance. By the time I’m done, I will have around thirty books stacked up. There's no way she’ll refuse a date with me when I woo her with this.

I haul the books to the checkout, feeling slightly ridiculous but determined. The cashier stares at me for a second too long, probably trying to figure out if I'm actually into this stuff, but he keeps his mouth shut. I pay quickly and head back to the car, stacking the books on the back seat. She might hate me right now, but there’s something there—something I can't ignore. And maybe, with these books, I'll have a shot at winning her over.

Chapter Twelve

Juniper

It’s early morning, and I’m sitting at my small desk, the soft glow of my laptop screen the only light in the room. The curtains are drawn tight, shutting out the outside world. I’m supposed to be focused on managing Sweet Fairy’s social media pages —where I worked alongside Cora as a baking assistant and social media person at her café in Silverton—but my mind keeps drifting back to Zade. His gaze yesterday—so intense, so dark—was unsettling, like the men in those brooding romance novels I so love.

I shake my head, trying to concentrate on editing a caption for a photo of a beautiful strawberry tart. “Indulge in the sweetest slice of happiness today! SweetFairyBakery.” I hit the post button.

I know I need to pay attention to my job situation. Cora has been more than generous, paying me my full salary even though I’m doing less than half the work I used to. But I know it can’t last forever. I need to find something new, something where I can actually use the baking skills I learned from Cora. Determined to make a change, I open a new tab and start searching for openings in bakeries and pastry shops. I have to find something soon.

Then, out of nowhere, I hear a car horn outside. It’s way too early, and it’s Sunday. I peek out the window, and there’s Zade’s car. My chest tightens. I feel it building—annoyance, sure, but there’s something else under it too. I don’t want to call it what it probably is. I throw on a robe over my T-shirt and shorts and storm outside. I rap on the car window, and it slides down to reveal Zade, looking infuriatingly composed.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I demand. My tone comes off sharper than I intended. “Wasn’t I clear enough last night? Are you—Oh my God, you’re stalking me!”

Zade leans back in his seat, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Stalking? Please. You wish. Think of me as a generous benefactor in your otherwise mundane life.”

I cross my arms, narrowing my eyes at him. “What are you talking about?”

With a flourish, he reaches into the passenger seat and pulls out a large bag from Barnes & Noble. “Booktok section. All signed copies,” he says, handing it to me like it’s no big deal.

For a split second, I’m overwhelmed with joy. Signed copies of my favorite books? It’s like a dream come true. But then I shove the bag away, hating how his gifts tug at something deep inside me—something I’m not ready to face.

“Why are you doing this?” My voice trembles as emotions I’ve beenholding back bubble to the surface. “Is this some kind of game for you? Please, just leave me alone. Leave this town alone.”

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