Page 4

J esus Christ. Nothing was looking right.

I tugged the calf-length black, lacey dress down further, trying to suck my stomach in. Maybe I should’ve bought some shapewear? Shaking my head, I leaned forward into the mirror. I didn’t know what I was panicking about. It was going to be a store full of rabid women today with a female author. No one will be examining what I'm wearing.

I had taken the time to put earrings in all six holes in my ears and even straightened my hair today. I thought I looked nice, nothing spectacular of course, as I adjusted my black glasses on my face. My make-up was usually neutral but today I’d gone dramatic around my eyes. I’d chosen my black frames because they made the color pop. Even my boring brown eyes looked sparkling today. My ivory skin was set off against the black of my dress and the tattoos I had covering my own body. I glanced down at my smartwatch and cursed. I had thirty minutes to get to the store to meet G. Barlowe before opening.

Jogging out of my slightly messy bedroom, I knew I’d hate myself later when I had to clean up all the haphazardly tossed clothes that hadn’t passed the vibe check this morning. I grabbed my tote bag and tossed my phone in it, stepping into my black ballet flats that I kept by the door with my other two pairs of shoes.

I was not one of those girls with a hundred different pairs of shoes and I couldn’t even fathom wearing heels as much as most women, much to Sara’s dismay. I used my money on Lovelorn and my personal library here at home.

I walked over to my bookshelf grabbing the physical Advanced Reader Copy I’d been sent from G. Barlowe. I was going to see if she’d personally sign it for me with a message. I’d already read it three times.

My fingers traced over the gorgeous cover. She even got CallSign GhostX to model for her debut novel, coming out of a fog-like smoke, wearing that mask that only showed his green eyes with his blonde hair that occasionally fell into his eyes. His gun was tucked into the waistband of his pants, making him look like a predator that was coming right for you.

The gun and hair did it for me .

I probably needed therapy.

Barlowe was going to specialize in masked, dark romances and I was excited to see where her books went after this. Hugging the book to my chest – because hello, who wanted bent edges from being tossed into my tote? – I jogged back to the door, shutting and locking my apartment behind me.

This was it. I was going to meet one of my favorite people in the world. Was it weird one of my favorite people in the world was a dark romance author that I’d never met? Maybe, but weird was kind of my thing.

I hurried on my way, nerves ratcheting up with every step I took. Stepping out onto the busy New York sidewalk, I turned to follow the stream of pedestrians going in the direction of LoveLorn and tried to calm my breathing.

I really hoped I could make it there with enough time before G. Barlowe, so I could try to decompress. Even though I had a whole three blocks to trek and the pedestrian traffic was insane this morning, it felt like it went quickly. No one was standing outside the doors so I’d managed to beat her here. I unlocked the door and shut it behind me, resecuring it. I gave the space a onceover and smiled as I hurried to my office to drop my bag and book on the desk. I drew my phone out and checked it.

G. Barlowe:

I’m about a half a block away. Just giving you a heads up.

She’d sent that two minutes ago. She was going to be here any minute. Placing my hand on my lower stomach, I let out a shaky breath. Hopefully I didn’t do something embarrassing, like pass out or hyperventilate. I couldn’t believe this was happening. Hearing a knock from the front of the store, I jumped, nearly dropping my phone.

She was here.

Sliding my phone into my dress pocket, I rushed out of my office towards the front of the store. My eyebrows drew down noticing a tall, broad man outside the door. Surely customers weren’t lining up already?

Walking closer to the door, I noticed that the man was extremely attractive. The jeans he was wearing were dark and form fitting, encasing his thick thighs down to the combat boots he was wearing on his feet. My eyes trailed up through the glass taking in the equally form-fitting black shirt he was wearing under a suit coat. I could also see tattoos peeking out where there was exposed skin, everywhere except for his face.

Good God. Whoever this man was shopping for was a lucky woman.

I was nice by nature so planned on opening the door to let him wait inside if he was here to buy a book, although disheartened I couldn’t meet G. Barlowe alone. Unlocking the door, I opened it leaving a small space.

“Hi, we’re not quite open yet. Are you here for the signing?”

The man smiled at me, his teeth gleaming. His face looked like it belonged on the front of a magazine. Chiseled and covered with bearded scruff. I found myself biting my lower lip as his green eyes ran up and down my body slowly. He quirked his pierced eyebrow at me and slid his hands in his pockets.

“Yes. I’m here for the signing, Waverly.”

I jerked back, eyes widening.

That voice sounded some sort of alarm in my brain, but I shook my head.

His eyes drew slowly down my body in a way that heated the blood in my veins and I found myself caught between opening the door wider and slamming it shut in his face. There was something predatorial about the way he was taking my body in and it caused shivers to run down my spine.

His eyes flicked back up, meeting mine, before he softened his expression again.

“I’m G. Barlowe.”

My brain short-circuited. Excuse the fuck out of me?

“I’m sorry” I began, opening the door wider and gesturing for him to step inside. “ You’re G. Barlowe?” I repeated, shutting and locking the door behind him.

Stepping inside my store, he gave it a glance, before facing me, his eyebrows drawing in with some concern.

“Yes, and you’re Waverly. We’ve been talking for the last year.” He slid his tattooed hands into his pockets, looking down at me from his height.

My hands drifted up nervously to my cheeks, overwhelmed, gazing at this man with confusion.

I laughed nervously.

“Are you okay?” he asked, smirking at me.

“I just thought you…”

“You thought I…?”

“Were a woman.” I finished.

G. Barlowe, the man , barked out a laugh.

“I’m sorry for the misunderstanding,” he spoke softly, his green eyes meeting mine. “I don’t think I ever explicitly stated my gender in our discussions or on my online platforms to protect my identity. Is that going to be a problem?”

“Oh, no!” I answered instantly. “I’m just surprised. I guess I've learned my lesson about assuming things.” I tucked my hair behind an ear nervously, deciding to change the subject as quickly as possible.

Turning, I walked towards the table I had set up for the signing, gesturing towards the display of his book that I’d set up the evening before.

“Just let me know if you’d like me to change anything,” I said with a shaky voice full of nerves. “I have drinks and food for you, as well as some small snacks for the patrons.”

He towered over me, standing close to my side, hands in his pockets as his eyes scanned everything I’d done.

Shit, was it too feminine? I was panicking.

“It all looks great, Waverly. You aren't going shy on me now, are you? We’ve gotten to know each other well throughout the past year. I’m the person you were talking to the whole time” His tattooed hand reached out touching my elbow gently, sending sparks shooting through my body.

I nodded, trying to pull myself together.

“You’re right,” I stated, taking a deep breath, and smiling up at him. “I’m sorry.”

“I think we need to erase that word from your vocabulary,” he spoke gruffly. “You have nothing to apologize for. It’s a mistake anyone could’ve made, and now we know, and can move on.”

“Of course,” I scoffed at myself, turning and guiding him through the bookstore towards the back where my office was.

“I did bring the ARC copy you sent me with GhostX on the cover,” I began. “I was wondering if you’d be able to sign it for me before we open and you get overwhelmed.”

“For my favorite fan?” he laughed, “Anything.”

“So…are you and GhostX friends in real life?” my fingers picked up the book from my desk and I turned, presenting it to him.

His eyes snapped up to mine as he reached out to take it.

“You could say that,” he smiled down at me. “Jesus. How many times have you read this?” he laughed again, looking at the already worn spine.

“Don’t judge me,” I sniffed, sassily. “It’s your fault for writing an amazing book and making women like me obsessed.”

“Obsessed, huh?” he asked, something flashing in his eyes as they met mine again.

My stomach twisted suddenly at something in his tone and expression, and my breath caught.

“Yes?” I said, though, it came out as more of an unsure question.

Suddenly, he leaned towards me, crowding my space. I moved backwards bumping into my desk behind me, hands gripping the edge tightly. He huffed a breath as he reached behind me and stood to his full height again, holding a pen .

He had only been reaching for a pen. Pull yourself together, Waverly . I thought to myself. My body was irrationally heated from his proximity and this was not how I needed to act as a professional. Opening the book to the title page he started writing as I caught myself still staring at his bearded jawline.

“What are you writing?” I asked, curiously.

“It’s a surprise,” he answered before clicking the pen shut. “You’re not allowed to read it until the signing is over,” he demanded, catching me off guard, “And believe me, I’ll know if you have,” he finished with a wicked grin.

My blood heated at the authoritative tone in his voice.

“Ok,” I squeaked.

I needed to breathe.

“I’ve got to go finish up some things in the store. Just make yourself comfortable,” I suggested, gesturing to the mini fridge. “Snacks and drinks are in there or I can have something delivered.”

G. Barlowe smiled down at me, like he knew what he was doing to me. Like, not only did he know what he was doing to me, but he also seemed to be enjoying it.

“I can fend for myself, I think,” he finally said softly.

“Of course you can,” I replied, moving around him and exiting the room.

Stepping into the hallway, I took a minute to lean back against the wall, breathing hard.

What the fuck is going on ?

My palms pressed against my cheeks trying to cool them as I shook my head. You have a store to get ready, Waverly .

I stood, shaking my hands out and moving down the hall into my much more familiar territory.

Get your act together .