Page 9 of Reluctant to Love

For the next few hours, I’m so busy signing books, talking to readers, and posing for selfies that I forget all about Eleanor.

Until I catch a flash of auburn.

My eyes flick up just in time to catch her pass by. Her hair is pulled high into a ponytail and she’s wearing a black and white striped top that’s slightly cropped, revealing a hint of creamy white skin. Her black jeans hug her curves but it’s her red lips that distract me.

Damn, I want to kiss her so badly.

“Ellie,” I call out, catching her attention. She stops and looks at me, her red lips in a full pout. I motion to her. “Come here.”

She looks around the room, confused but I persist in trying to get her over to my table. Slowly, she walks toward me. “What do you want,” she asks, turning to glance at the line of people waiting for their turn with me. “Everyone is waiting.”

“Just come and sit next to me.” I place my hand on the empty chair next to me. “Please.”

Reluctantly, she complies and sits awkwardly in the chair.

“What am I doing here,” she mumbles as I greet a reader and sign their book.

“Just listen to the things they say about our book,” I whisper in her ear.

“Yourbook,” she says with a roll of her eyes.

Under the table, my hand lands firmly on her thigh and it remains there for the next few hours. I feel her start to relax under my grip and a few times, she manages to engage in conversation with the readers.

“I was so bummed to see Tristan and Yseut separated at the end of book four,” one reader says as I sign her book.

“Me too,” Eleanor interjects. “They were finally reunited and then boom! Separation.”

“I can’t wait to see what happens next.” The hopeful tone in the reader’s voice makes me lifts my eyes.

“Me too,” I answer truthfully as I push the book across the table.

Beside me, Eleanor smirks.

“Need a hand,” she says low enough for only me to hear it.

“Only if you’re offering, sweets.”