Page 1

Chapter 1:

Ivy wove through the aisles of the bookstore, her eyes scanning the shelves for the familiar spine of her favorite novel. Ivy inhaled deeply, the mix of freshly brewed coffee and the musty scent of old books filling her lungs. The soft rustle of pages turning and distant laughter from other customers created a comforting symphony in the background, wrapping her in a bubble of warmth.

Her hand brushed against a leather-bound book titled "Shadows of the Heart," and she couldn't resist the urge to pull it out. It had been years since she'd read it, but the story remained a cherished escape.

As her fingers curled around the book, she found a stranger's hand resting atop hers, claiming the book as well. Her eyes traveled up his muscular arm to a broad shoulder, landing on a handsome face. He had dark brown mid shoulder-length hair that curled slightly at the ends. It was in a side-swept style, framing a clean-shaven jawline, ivory skin and mesmerizing blue eyes. He towered over her, a wall of muscles. She felt her cheeks warm, and her heart fluttered as she met his gaze.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice barely audible above the ambient noise of the bookstore. She felt a ridiculous urge to apologize for simply existing in his space.

The man chuckled softly, a warm, resonant sound that sent shivers down her spine. "No need to apologize.Ladies first." He put his hand up, gesturing towards the book in a gentlemanly manner.

"No, you go ahead," Ivy said, her voice tinged with a nervousness she hadn't felt in years. "I've read it like a hundred times already."

"Really? That many?" He raised an eyebrow, playful curiosity dancing in his eyes. "What's so special about it?" There was genuine interest in his tone, as if he truly wanted to know what captivated her about the story within those aged pages.

“It’s got this love story with a twist. You know, the kind that just sticks with you,” she replied, her cheeks warming at the thought of the complicated, passionate romance at its core. She could feel his gaze on her, studying her, and it made her breath catch in her throat.

Ivy's heart skipped a beat. He had a way of speaking that was a deep, hauntingly seductive tone that seemed to vibrate through her very being. She found herself unable to resist his charm, drawn to him like a moth to a flame. And that smile. He had a disarmingly genuine smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes and lit up his entire face. She felt like he could make her do anything with just that smile. "It's about love and loss, but with a twist of fate and magic that binds two souls together across time. It's a beautifully tragic tale," she said, her eyes lighting up as she spoke, lost in the memory of the story's intricate plot and unforgettable characters. She realized she was rambling, but she couldn't seem to stop herself. Talking about the book felt like talking about a part of herself.

As she smiled at the stranger, the warmth in her chest felt genuine, a flicker of hope and possibility igniting within her. “He’s a breath of fresh air,” she thought, but in the back of her mind, the insistent reminder of her turbulent past with her last relationship, her daughter’s father, loomed like a dark cloud, threatening to extinguish the fragile spark. He had a way of making her feel worthless and undeserving of happiness, and those feelings were deeply ingrained.

The man's gaze grew intense with a hint of amusement and… something else. Recognition? Understanding? It was gone before she could grasp it. "It sounds intriguing. Maybe you could tell me more about it sometime?" He offered, his voice a tantalizing blend of mystery and allure, laced with an invitation she wasn't sure she was ready to accept.

Ivy blinked, surprised by his blatant interest. The prospect of spending time with him, outside this fleeting moment, was both exciting and terrifying. "I'd love to," she said, her voice stronger now, masking the turmoil inside her, "but I should get going. I've got a coffee waiting for me in the café." She gestured to the coffee shop inside the bookstore, a flimsy excuse to end the encounter before she got in too deep. The last thing she needed was another sheep in wolf's clothing. After all the heartbreak she went through in her last relationship, the thought of another relationship made her stomach turn with anxiety and fear. She couldn't bear the thought of opening herself up to that kind of pain again. Dating was a minefield, and James had left her with enough shrapnel wounds to last a lifetime.

She smiled at him nervously, a quick, tight smile that barely reached her eyes, and started towards the coffee shop, escaping the captivating gaze and the unsettling possibilities he represented. She needed a distraction, a jolt of caffeine, anything to clear her head and remind herself that she was better off alone. The safety of solitude was far more appealing than the potential heartbreak of romance.

She approached the counter and reached for her wallet and found only a gaping absence under her arm where it should have been. Panic began to unspool in her chest, her heart racing. Had she left it in her car? No, she was sure she'd brought it in with her. She must have set it down somewhere...

Her eyes darted around the store, searching for the black leather wallet that contained her lifeline. The line grew behind her, but she was frozen, her hand hovering in the air as she mentally retraced her steps. Then, the stranger places a $20 bill on the counter.

"Allow me," he said, his eyes meeting hers with a mischievous twinkle. "Consider it a trade."

Her eyes widened, and she felt the heat creep up her neck. "A trade?" she repeated, her voice a little shakier than she'd have liked.

"Yea," he nodded, that playful smile never leaving his lips. "I'll pay for you're coffee today in exchange for a date tomorrow afternoon."

Ivy felt a jolt of panic. A date? But before she could object, the barista took the bill and started preparingher drink, the caffeinated lifeline she desperately needed. She took a deep breath and turned to face him. "Look, I appreciate the offer, but..."

"It's just coffee," he said, cutting her off gently. "No strings attached. Think of it as me paying it forward for you're kindness in not taking the last copy of 'Shadows of the Heart.'" His smirk grew into a full grin, and she felt a small part of her resistance crumbling. He had a point. Plus, it had been ages since anyone had offered to buy her anything, let alone shown such persistent interest.

Her smile grew a little, despite her reservations. "You're not going to let this go, are you?" she asked, smiling at him. "Nope," he said with a smirk.

She giggled, the sound a delightful surprise to her own ears. It was a light, carefree giggle she hadn't heard from herself in what felt like an eternity. "Okay," she said, holding out her hand to shake his. He grabbed her hand, but instead of shaking it, he turned her hand and gave it a delicate kiss. Ivy's cheeks burned. All she could do was smile.

"So beautiful lady, what can I call you?" He said, as smooth as silk. "Ivy," she blushed. "Gorgeous." He said, letting go of her hand, he turned to walk away; as he does, he stops and turns around and calls out to her. "Oh, by the way, ma'am, you dropped this." He said playfully, holding her wallet. She could only laugh as she realizes what just happened. She walks to him and takes her wallet and asks him playfully, "So what would you have done if I had said no?" She giggles.

He just smirked, gave her a wink, and turned and walked away. As he walked away, he called over his shoulder to her. “See you tomorrow, Ivy.” Ivy couldn't help but watch him disappear into the crowd of people browsing through the bookstore. She couldn't help but wonder who this mysterious stranger was, and what he was thinking. Was he really interested in her, or was he just trying to get in her pants?

As she walked away from the coffee shop, she couldn't stop thinking about him. She didn’t know if it was his enigmatic smile, or the fact that he had never even told her his name. There was something about him that was both captivating and unsettling, drawing her in with an otherworldly allure that she couldn't quite explain.

She tried to push the thoughts away, but they lingered in the back of her mind. She thought about James, the last person she had tried to get close to, and how it had all ended in disaster. He had seemed charming at first, but beneath the surface, he had turned out to be a monster. Ivy's heart still ached from the wounds he had inflicted, and she couldn't help but wonder if she was ready to open herself up to someone new.

As she walked towards her car, parked a few blocks away, Ivy glanced at her phone and saw that it was already close to the time she needed to pick up her daughter Alice from school. She worried that she wouldn't make it on time.

As she quickened her pace, Ivy felt a mix of emotions swirling inside her. She was drawn to the stranger, to the way he had made her feel like she was theonly person in the world. But there was something about him that didn't quite add up, something that nagged at the back of her mind like a whisper. She couldn't quite put her finger on it.

Ivy made her way to the house. It was a quaint two-story, white with blue shutters and door. The porch that looked like it belonged in a storybook, with ivy growing over the front and sides of it. The leaves of the oak tree out front fluttered in the gentle breeze, and she could hear the distant laughter of children playing. She had exactly five minutes before she had to walk across the street to pick up Alice from school. The convenience of living so close to the school had been a lifesaver on more than one occasion.