Page 35 of Bookworm
“Starbucks is literally theonlyplace in Europe that will serve a Venti. But it gets some major side-eye from locals. Basically everything in Europe and the UK is pretty dainty…exceptfor the beer. They sure love ending their days at the pub with a big pint of cold beer and a meat pie.”
“That sounds…”
“If your next word is anything other than delicious, we can’t be friends.”
He looked slowly at me as we continued our stroll.
Friends.
Was that what we were?
“I was going to say that it sounds heavy. Meat pies and beer? It would sit like lead in my stomach. Must just not be my thing.”
I sighed dramatically and rolled my eyes. “Oh, fine. I guess we can still be friends. But if I have to try your stupid ramen, then you have to try a meat pie.”
“Are you making it?”
“God, no. I can’t cook.”
Adam ducked his head to hide his smirk, but I saw it all the same. “Then I’ll try it.”
I went to smack his arm, but he caught my hand gently in his, bouncing his eyebrows at me. “Ninja reflexes.”
“You hear that, Verne? Your daddy thinks he’s a ninja.”
He released his hold on my hand. “Think? Oh no. Iknow.”
“Oh, really? Would a ninja allowthisto happen?”
Swiftly, I lifted the hand he had just released and gently tapped my fingertips to his cheek in a faux slap of sorts.
He gasped, pressing his hand to his cheek, both of us exaggerating how dramatic the slap was. “I wasn’t ready!”
“What ninja needs to bereadyfor his attacker?”
“I was distracted by your feminine wiles!”
“Oh yes.” I winked. “I’m a wiley one.”
We both start giggling like crazy. Verne sensing that fun was happening without him, circled us, barking and bowing like he was ready for playtime.
His leash tangled around both our ankles and Adam and I both lost our footing, falling into the brick building next to us.
Still laughing.
Verne, still barking, as though he was in on the joke.
Our laughter slowly subsided until I realized that by how we were tangled in Verne’s leash, my body pressed flush against Adam’s, I was pinning him to the brick wall.
His hard length pressed against my hip bone and a swell of heat flashed through my body. Blinking, I looked up, taking a slow inventory of his face.
Soft, full lips that I was drawn to parted in a light exhale that smelled faintly of peppermint and coffee.
Bright blue eyes glimmered with a sharp spike of desire.
“Harper—” My name on his lips was rough and graveled. More masculine than I ever remembered his voice being.
I didn’t want to hear anymore though. Because I was pretty sure the next words out of his mouth were going to be all the logical reasons why we shouldn’t do this. Why we shouldn’t or couldn’t be together.
