Chapter 10 Aurora
Aurora
I clock out early, then knock on Eve’s office door to let her know I’m heading to the bookshop.
“Have fun,” Eve says distractedly, “and I’m glad you’re talking to Thane about this online shop stuff, even though I’m still not convinced this is the direction I want to go.
I know we’re like sisters, but this is my business.
If this conversation helps you provide me with a clear path forward, then I’ll consider taking this route.
Help me see the benefits of all of this, and give me numbers like profit projections, upfront costs, things like that. Then I can make an informed decision.”
Eve flashes me a shy smile. I know it’s difficult for her to pull off big boss energy, but she’s a phenomenal leader.
Plus, she’s finally outlined what she needs to decide.
“I’ve never created a business plan before, but Thane said he has one I can look at. Maybe it’ll give me some ideas. And I could look at businesses like yours that have done this successfully.”
I try to sound professional but can already feel the grin tugging at my mouth.
“Any message you want me to pass on to Thane while I’m over there?” I ask as I pack up my bag and waggle my eyebrows at her for once.
Eve laughs, then chews on her lip. “I’m not sure. Thane’s the first guy I’ve seen more than once in a long time. There’s a slight chance I feel a connection. Plus, the things he does to my body …” she trails off dreamily.
“Honestly? I’m afraid I’m going to fuck this up,” Eve confides, glancing down at her lap.
I’ve never seen Eve so twisted up over a guy before. I’m thrilled for her, especially since this thing with Thane is way outside of her own comfort zone.
“How about I don’t mention you unless he does? Besides, I saw the way he looked at you last night. He’s smitten, Eve, so I don’t think you can fuck it up right now.”
“Yeah … okay. If you say so,” she says, sounding utterly unconvinced. “I think there’s a bigger issue, anyway.”
How many more issues will I have to deal with today?
A mischievous smile spreads across my best friend’s face.
“I wonder if Ezra will be there this afternoon. He certainly seemed … um … curious about you this morning. At least from where I was sitting.”
Curious, my ass.
Ezra is a walking red-flag factory wrapped in a three-piece suit—the kind of man who’d burn my house down just to roast marshmallows because I casually mentioned craving one.
Jameson, though? He seems like the kind of guy who would send flowers and apologize if he were five minutes late. The kind of man who doesn’t pin me to a building and stake his claim like we’re in a dark fairy tale with questionable morals.
The kind of man who should be exactly what I need.
So why does the thought of that sweet, normal boy make me want to claw my way out of this timeline?
My eyes roll into the back of my head, but Eve doesn’t miss a beat.
She never does.
“Oh my gosh, you really do have a little crush on the hot bookshop owner! Wow, you set the bar high, huh? Crushing on that god of a man is brave. Even I won’t look in his direction.”
My face is so hot right now that I might set off the shop’s fire alarm.
“Last night was really strange. And remember the hot dream I mentioned earlier? Well … it was about Ezra. The thing is, though, I didn’t know what he looked like until this morning. And he looks exactly the same as the man in my dream. I’m a little freaked out about that.”
“At least you’re getting some in your dreams, and from the most gorgeous man I’ve ever laid eyes on.
Nice work, girl! But you probably saw him around town or maybe saw a picture in the newspaper and didn’t know it was him.
I wouldn’t worry about that too much. What I would worry about is seeing the man again in the flesh and trying not to think about what happened in your dream. ”
Eve laughs loudly as she pretends to wipe drool from the corners of her mouth.
No one in their right mind could ever forget seeing Ezra—in a picture or around town. He’s too fucking beautiful to forget, but I don’t say that to Eve. I’m having enough trouble with my sanity right now. I don’t need her worrying about me, too.
“Shit, I didn’t even think about that. Thanks for adding even more pressure to my afternoon.
Ezra’s an asshole. And he’s way out of my league.
There’s a reason I don’t fuck around with guys like him.
Besides, I have a date with Jameson. A nice normal date,” I say as I glance at my phone and the seven new texts from him.
At least he’s not ghosting me, but the dude has no chill.
“Aurora, I’m glad you’re going out on a date. If you get along with Jameson, great. If not, there are other guys out there, but let me be very clear about one thing. If you think Ezra is out of your league, you’d be very wrong. Because I’d say it’s the other way around.”
I laugh, but Eve doesn’t.
Her gaze sharpens, locking onto mine with an intensity that prickles over my skin like wild burrs. For a split second, I swear there’s something knowing in her expression, like she’s looking straight through me.
A blink, and it’s over. The strange edge in her gaze fades, replaced by her usual teasing smile.
“Get going! I’ve got a date with Thane at seven. I love you, but I might hold a grudge if you make that man late because we’re here discussing your unwarranted low self-esteem,” Eve says as she turns back to her laptop and invoices.
I give her a quick peck on the cheek, then head out the door.
Fuck. I was so wrapped up with Jameson and work that I completely forgot about Ezra’s little visit this morning … and his promise that he’ll be waiting for me at the shop this afternoon.
I’m still pissed about his behavior, but the memory of his bowed head, those stunning grey eyes on fire, and that sinful voice makes my body heat—whether the heat is anger or something else remains to be seen.
I stop in the middle of the sidewalk, trying to summon a calm that burns off almost instantly the second I think of that selfish prick.
Fuck it.
I won’t let anyone make me feel small. Especially Ezra Fucking Aster.
I take a steadying breath, square my shoulders, and march toward the bookshop.
When I push through the shop door, the bell overhead lightly tinkles. The smell of books, old and new, rolls over me in a wave of ink, paper, and time.
I close my eyes and breathe in the beautiful, intoxicating scent. But there’s another scent that’s layered within the book smell—cinnamon and pine.
When my eyes flutter open, I’m met with a quiet chuckle from Thane, who sits behind the counter, staring at me.
“A big fan of books, are we?” he asks with a huge smile on his face.
How embarrassing.
“Yeah, sorry. I kind of lost myself for a second there. I’ve always loved reading, so if Heaven exists, I feel like it would look exactly like this.”
“Well, welcome to Heaven then,” Thane jokes. “The shop is pretty dead in the afternoons, so we should be able to work uninterrupted. Where would you like to start? I could give you a tour, or we could jump right into the business talk.”
“Um …” I’m feeling torn between wanting to explore the bookshop and building this plan for Eve. But before I can make a choice, a smooth, deep voice drifts from the back of the shop.
“Thane, why don’t you and our guest begin with business? I’ll handle the grand tour after. I imagine she’ll appreciate something more … in-depth. Besides, if I recall, you have a rather important date this evening.”
Both Thane and I jump as Ezra seems to unfold from the shadows of the bookshelves.
Goddamn it.
He looks even better than he did this morning.
“Ezra! I-I didn’t think you’d be here this afternoon. Is there something you need me to do?”
Thane looks surprised and a little worried.
Ezra strolls toward a beautifully upholstered chair at the front of the shop, sits with deliberate ease, crosses one leg over the other, and folds his hands in his lap.
“No, Thane. I need nothing from you this afternoon. I simply felt like getting out of my house. And now that we have a guest, it would be quite rude of me as the owner to not offer her a tour, don’t you think?”
The possessive asshole looks up from his lap, and when his gaze collides with mine, the air in my lungs turns to stone. His smoky grey eyes drift over me, slow and shameless, like he’s mentally undressing me just for fun.
Heat blooms beneath my skin as the air thickens, like some invisible beast just shifted in its sleep. His gaze stays locked on mine, but something in it flickers—not with darkness, but with something gentler. Something he swallows so fast, I wonder if I imagined it.
“Aurora, wasn’t it? But your friends call you Aury?” Ezra confirms coyly from his shadowed seat.
“Uh, yeah. Like I said this morning, Mr. Aster, you’re very welcome to call me Aury, too.” There’s a bite to my voice that’s not usually there.
This man is so utterly confusing. I want to slap him as much as I want to lick up his fucking neck.
Ezra hums thoughtfully, then turns to a stack of books.
“Thane, let me know when you two are done. If everything is in order, you may leave when your meeting is over, and I’ll show Aurora around the shop.”
This motherfucker is obviously used to getting whatever he wants.
He didn’t even consider asking me or Thane what we would prefer, but I’m a guest here today, and I’m not in the mood to play games with the local god.
“Sure, Ezra. Thank you.” Thane’s tone is so restrained and compliant. Not at all like the flirty, confident man I met last night.
He looks at me and shrugs, then points to an office in the back.
We settle in around a dark wooden desk that could be an antique if it weren’t in pristine condition. The knots pop along the wood grain, and I trace my fingers around the eye-shaped swirls, trying not to think about the infuriating man sitting only a few feet away.