Page 63

“Sir, if you’re looking for just a basic e-reader, the NOOK . . . ”

Blake listened with half an ear as the store clerk went over all of the descriptions and features, while all he could think about was Hannah.

What else was new?

Chapter Seventeen

HANNAH DABBED A damp paper towel on her face and neck, noting her flushed cheeks and wishing she could will away the high color. She hadn’t meant to run away like a coward, but Blake’s body so close to hers, the feeling that he was about to touch her, had sent her senses into overdrive. She’d closed her eyes, waiting for the press of his mouth on her neck or the brush of his fingers on the skin of her neck . . .

Instead, the store clerk had shown up, and Hannah had run away like a coward.

But honestly, how much more could she take? He was driving her wild one minute and dousing her hopes the next.

If he was about to kiss me, then I pretty much screwed myself.

But he’d been the one to say he had no interest in anything more than friendship, so why had this whole night felt a little like a . . . well, a date?

Knowing she couldn’t hide any longer, she walked out the door and found him right around the corner.

In the romance section.

He turned and grinned at her. “There you are.”

Hannah smoothed a hand over her hair nervously. “Here I am. What did you decide?”

“I don’t know yet. Still thinking about it, and thought I’d come back here to browse while I waited for you.” Blake picked up a book off the shelf and held it up to her. “Have you read this one?”

It was a Maya Banks novel and very steamy. She’d read it last year, after finishing the first two books in the series and becoming obsessed with it.

“Yes, but I don’t think it’s your style.”

“Because it has flowers on the front.” Blake waggled his eyebrows and gave her a lecherous grin. “Does that mean this is an erotic romance?”

Hannah crossed her arms and pursed her lips. “I thought you weren’t going to tease me anymore?”

“I said I wouldn’t tease you about regular romance, but erotic romance . . . Now I’m curious.”

He started thumbing through the book and opened his mouth as if he was going to start reading it aloud.

In the middle of Barnes & Noble.

Hannah flew across the space between them and covered his mouth. “Don’t you dare.”

His eyes crinkled up, and something wet brushed her palm. She jerked her hand back and wiped it on his sweatshirt. “Gross, did you just lick me?”

“Yes, you interrupted my performance art.”

“Seriously, Blake, don’t.”

Blake closed the book and gave her a sheepish smile. “Fine. I’ll just buy it to see what all the fuss is about.”

Oh, Hannah couldn’t wait to see the salesgirl’s face when tall, manly Blake went through the checkout with an erotic romance.

“Oh, please. I cannot wait for this.”

“What, you don’t think I’ll do it?” There was a challenge in his hazel eyes that gave her a little thrill.

“No, I think you’ll chicken out.”