Page 13 of Just For Me
I already knew, of course, but she didn’t know that. And I liked the way her eyes widened behind those sexy librarian glasses when I called her Kat.
“What? Oh, nothing so exciting, I’m afraid. I’m an accountant. I crunch numbers all day.” She pushed her glasses farther up on her nose. I’d seen her make the gesture countless times when she was reading, and recognized it as something she did when she was feeling a little anxious. “What kind of books do you write?”
I smiled. “Promise not to laugh?”
“Why would I laugh?”
I shrugged. “Some people do.”
“You write romance, don’t you?” she breathed. I nodded. “Oh my God. You really are him, aren’t you? Nick Penn?”
I nodded.
“Holy sh... I mean, wow.”
“It’s not a big deal, Kat.”
“Not a big deal?!? Do you even know who you are?”
She was so cute. I laughed. “Yeah, I think I do.”
“Of course you do,” she said, still looking somewhat shell-shocked. “All this time, my subconscious had it right,” she murmured.
“Excuse me?”
“Uh, nothing. Can I just say I’m a huge, huge fan?”
“You could, but I’d rather hear you say something else.”
“Like what?”
“Like you’ll have dinner with me.”
She blinked. Once again, I’d surprised her. She seemed genuinely puzzled.
“You want to have dinner with me? Why would you want to do that?”
I put my coffee mug down and leaned forward. It was time to fess up and hope she didn’t laugh and toss me out on my ass. “Because for the past eight months, I’ve been watching you come into my grandfather’s bookstore and every time, my heart speeds up, my mouth gets dry, and I feel like I’m in high school all over again.”
“You do?” Her eyes went positively owlish, and I decided I really liked surprising her. I made a mental note to find new ways to do so, ways that would keep her looking at me just like that.
“Yes.” I let that sink in for a moment, until I saw the doubt start to creep in. “You say you’re a fan of my books. Have you ever read the dedications?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“Maybe it’s time you did.” I retrieved the bag from where she’d left it on the counter and pulled out my latest.
The slight trembling of her hands did not go unnoticed as she took it from me. Nor did the way her eyes searched mine, hopeful and yet afraid.
“Go on,” I coaxed gently. Then it was time for me to hold my breath as she read the words I’d written just for her.
Chapter 11: Kat
Istared at the words, not quite believing what I was reading.
This book is dedicated to a very special woman. She’s beautiful and intelligent, and when she smiles, my whole world is brighter. She’s my inspiration; the perfect heroine to my hero. And the tragic beauty of it is, she has no idea.
Week after week, I’ve been content to surreptitiously watch her from afar, quietly imagining all the things I’d like to say to her. The things I’d like to do with her. To her.
