Page 24 of Book Boyfriend
“Not once.”
His head rolls back in surprise. “Wow. You really aren’t like other girls, are you?” He sighs when I cross my arms and turn away from him.
“A close friend of mine was bragging about this incredible book she read calledBook Boyfriend. She wouldn’t stop talking about it. One day when I was waiting for a flight to New York, I found myself with a little extra time. I wandered into a store and saw the book on a shelf. Greer isn’t a name you hear every day. Out of curiosity, I picked it up and flipped it over. Imagine my surprise when I saw your photo.”
I shrug half-heartedly. “It’s not like I lied about anything. We never discussed what I did for a living.”
“I know that. I figured you gave me a fake name along with a fake number. I searched for you, you know. I regretted my decision to not go to the airport that morning after the phone number turned out to be for a pizza place.”
My heart skips a beat. I remember feeling sad he didn’t come that morning. It makes me feel better to know he was even considering it.
“I read it.”
My head rotates abruptly to look at him as my eyes bulge. He read it? The book? Oh shit.
“I stood in that store and read the first chapter. I’m not gonna lie. I was flattered.”
I stand and straighten my sweater as I gaze down the road. “Well, don’t be. You gave me an idea, but the story isn’t about you in the least.”
He tries not to smile as his lips press together and he nods. I see his tongue push into his cheek. He doesn’t believe me. I’m the worst liar in the world.
“So it’s a coincidence that Penn Fitzgerald has the same initials as I do?”
“Huh. I never even considered it.” I attempt conviction in my voice, but I’m sure I fail miserably.
He leans back on the bench and places his left arm on the edge. He tugs at his tie with his free hand to loosen it. “Regardless, it made me happy. Happy because I finally had a name to go with a face.”
“I didn’t lie to you. My real name is Greer Hanson. I just don’t use it when I write.”
“I realize that. And I also know you’ve written twelve other books. Very impressive. I’m working my way through them in chronological order.”
“What? Why?” I ask.
“Because I want to know more about you. Reading your words makes me feel more in tune with you. I’m guessing there’s a part of you in every story. I’m starting to feel more familiar.”
I push up the sleeves of my sweater to avoid meeting his gaze and realize I’m still wearing the pin. I pull it off and stuff it into my pocket. I can’t believe he’s reading my books. In all the time we were married, Ollie never finished a single one. He claimed to have tried but said they weren’t his thing. “You’re a romance reader, huh? Who knew?”
He looks at me through the tops of his eyes and squints a little. I feel a flutter in my stomach. “I am now.”
I try to toughen up. I don’t want him to think his good looks and charm are affecting me. “To be honest, all you’ve done is confirmed that you really are a stalker. Maybe I should get a restraining order after all.”
“Nah. I’m mostly harmless.”
“Mostly . . . That’s not even funny.”
He stands and moves a step closer. “I think if you search your memories, Macy Greer, you’ll remember you weren’t scared of me at all on the beach.”
After our eyes meet briefly I immediately turn my head and focus on the officers by the entrance to the restaurant. I wasn’t scared of him on the beach and I’m not scared of him now. What I’m really afraid of is his proximity and my willpower.
He reaches out and moves a strand of my hair away from my mouth. “Your hair is longer. It’s sexy. I like it. I’d like to see what it looks like splayed across my chest in the morning.”
I gulp. “What did you say?” I yell to Marcus. “Oh sure, I’ll be right there.”
I scurry away from Fisher and his panty melting words and pretend Marcus called me. Marcus does a double take when I say his name and walks toward me.
“What’s up? Did you change your mind?” he asks, cracking his knuckles and eyeing Fisher over my shoulder.
I shake my head. “No, no. I just need you to do me a favor. Can you check him out? Tell me if I should be worried?”
