Page 2 of Bound By Honey

"Working here doesn't give you an excuse to cut in front of us to see the Charming Four," the other added.

Sage had no idea who the Charming Four was, but she would not let anyone disappear with one of her books. Dropping to her knees, she crawled through the crowd until an opening appeared.

Standing up, she came face to face with a solid chest of familiar grey.

"Can I help you?"

Her eyes rose to find muscular shoulders, a square jaw, and the most arrogant smirk she had ever seen on any man. Three other men stepped up behind him. The four towered over her, making her heart drop to her stomach.

Her bravery had abandoned her. What had she done?

Sage's eyes flitted down to the hands of the man in front. They held no book.

She panicked and pushed him to the side.

Her eyes scrutinized the man on the left. His straight red hair was half pulled back, revealing high cheekbones and bright blue eyes wide in surprise.

His hands were empty, though.

She could feel the muscles in her neck tighten as she became more stressed.

Standing in the middle was the tallest of the four. His dark brown eyes held only sympathy as he took in her panic.

She was disappointed to find that his hands were also empty. Sage wanted to cry.

The man on the end appeared to find this entire situation funny. Sure, she might seem a bit excessive to some, but she would lose her dream job if she lost one of these books.

Sage desperately wanted to wipe that smug smirk off his beautiful tanned face. His short blond hair, violet eyes, and petal-pink lips made him look so perfect he almost didn't look real.

A glance down at his hand revealed the familiar, brown, leather book.

She pointed at it. "You can't leave with that book!" she yelled.

Without hesitation, the blond man raised an eyebrow. "I will return it later."

Sage glared at him, her jaw set in determination.

"No, you have to either go back upstairs and check it out with Freddy or give it back now," she insisted.

The handsome stranger only shook his head and laughed.

"I'm afraid I can't do that," he replied calmly.

Angered and frustrated, she lunged at him and tried to snatch the precious book.

He easily sidestepped her, but her fingers connected with the book’s bottom. She latched on, refusing to let go.

"Give it back!" she yelled in a panic.

"I'm sorry, but I can't," he replied again without a care in the world.

"Can't or won't?" she spat.

A dimple appeared on his right cheek as he chuckled. "Perhaps a bit of both?"

The book disappeared into thin air with a flick of his long fingers.

Sage gaped at him as she tried to think of some way to get him to give her back the book.

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