Page 96 of Puck Me Secretly

“Show me.”

I walked around the couch and like Vanna White, caress the edges. “This is my bookshelf.”

He stepped forward and scanned all the neatly lined up titles. “You’ve read all these?”

“Every single one.”

“Quite the eclectic collection.”

“What do you mean?”

“Harry Potter, Agatha Christie, James Joyce, Nora Roberts.”

“These books all have one thing in common.”

His eyes moved to my face. “Oh yeah? What is that?”

“They all tell a great story. Why don’t you like Christmas?”

“Christmas is a holiday built for families.”

“You’re not going home for Christmas?”

He dropped my gaze and pulled outHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. “I’m staying here for the holidays. Is this book any good?”

Max was going to be around for our time off. For some stupid reason that made me so happy. “What do you mean?”

“I’ve heard about this series.”

“The Harry Potter series is one of the greatest stories I’ve ever read.”

He put the book back. “If you’re a kid.”

“It’s for adults too.”

A smile teased his lips. “You’re really cute when you get passionate about stuff.”

“Youhaveto read Harry Potter.”

His eyes were on my mouth. “I’m not a huge reader.”

“These books will make you a reader.” I pulledHarry Potter and the Philosopher's Stoneoff the shelf. “Try the first book. Get through three chapters and if you hate it, you can stop reading.”

“For a kiss.”

“What?” I froze.

What about Lolita?

He stepped closer and put his hand on the shelf up above my head boxing me in. “I said, I’ll read three chapters if you give me a kiss.”

“What about your… girlfriend?”

His blue eyes widened. “Who said I had a girlfriend?”

I ducked my head down. “It was something I heard.”

“Then you heard wrong.”

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