Chapter 10 Aurora #2
“If Ezra’s here, he can manage any customers that come in while we talk.” He tries for casual, but the spark of curiosity in his eyes betrays him. “So … you met my employer this morning?”
Why does he sound so surprised?
“Yeah, I couldn’t find the key to open the shop, and he stopped to lend a hand,” I say, leaving out the part where Ezra touched me without my permission and laid some bullshit patriarchal claim to me.
My face flushes as I struggle to identify what I’m feeling.
Apparently, anger and lust run parallel.
“That’s interesting. I’ve never seen Ezra out and about, let alone around town long enough to offer help.
” Thane eyes me curiously, while a smirk plays on his lips.
“Anyway, let’s start by looking at the online shop I created.
Then we can get into the profit projections I calculated, how close they were to reality once the shop was up and running, advertising, all of it.
We should be able to cover everything in the next three hours. ”
And damned if this man doesn’t blush while he studies his watch.
“That sounds great! Thank you again for taking the time to walk me through all of this. Eve wants a full plan, which I’ve never done before. But this should help me get started.”
“Oh! Like I mentioned at The Cardinal, you’re more than welcome to look at the plan I created for Ezra.
Although I’m not sure he ever looked at it.
I did all the work before asking. He leafed through the pages and immediately agreed to let me implement.
He’s surprising that way sometimes,” Thane says, while booting up his laptop.
“I know he’s your boss and all, but Ezra seems like an … acquired taste.”
Thane looks down at his hands, and the hint of a smile touches his lips.
“I owe Ezra a lot. He helped me when I was at rock bottom and gave me a chance at a new life. I’d do anything for him, but yes, Ezra is definitely an acquired taste.
He can be condescending and downright rude.
He almost always misses social cues, like he learned them from a book instead of experience.
Which is weird, right? For a guy who’s been running a business for so long?
And sometimes, when he speaks, it feels like he’s from a completely different era.
But he’s a good man who does a lot of good in this town.
I’m not even sure he makes a profit off this place after he pays my ridiculous salary and donates to the local charities. ”
Maybe I got it wrong?
No. Just because he donates to charities and pays Thane a living wage doesn’t give him the right to touch me.
Plus, the way Ezra spoke to Thane still pisses me off, but it’s not my place to question their relationship. Thane clearly admires Ezra.
The next few hours pass in a blur of books, banter, and business talk. We even lightheartedly argue about whether BookTok is a legitimate marketing strategy—which, obviously, it is.
A little past six, Thane starts checking his watch every few minutes.
“Got a hot date or something?” I ask with a laugh.
What an absolute cutie.
He must be a god in bed to have Eve so twisted up because cuties are not her type.
“I sure do. Eve will be at my place by seven. She doesn’t seem like the type of woman who likes to wait,” Thane responds with a chuckle.
“I would say that’s an accurate statement. You’d better get going. Eve’s been talking about you all day. I’ve never seen her like this.”
I know I’m sticking my nose in their business. But I’m not about to let some fuck-boy destroy my beautiful friend and her budding crush. He’s a great guy, on the surface, but I need to make sure the man isn’t planning to dip out when he’s done with her.
Thane seems to understand what I mean and says, “She’s all I thought about today, too. That woman is something else. I had trouble keeping up last night.”
This lumberjack of a man turns bright pink, then immediately apologizes for his rude comment.
“If you think that was inappropriate, you should have heard the things Eve said about you this morning,” I say with a loud laugh.
While we pack our bags and clean up the papers strewn around the office, I catch Thane smiling happily to himself, which makes my chest feel warm and fuzzy. Clearly, my pixie of a best friend and this giant teddy bear are falling hard for each other.
I can’t wait to tease Eve about it tomorrow.
As Thane throws his bag over his shoulder, our eyes meet, and his smile fades into a flicker of concern.
“Hey, Eve told me she was going to hook you up with this new guy in town. I don’t know him personally, but Eve seems to trust him and is excited for you. I think she worries about you being alone. Have you talked to him yet?”
Thane’s eyes are kind, but a brief flash of fear passes through them.
It’s just a date with some boring asshole. What’s the worst that could happen?
“I have!”
Girl, dial it back. You’re not that excited.
“He seems nice, and we have a few things in common. I haven’t been on a date in years, so I’m feeling a little silly about the entire process. I hate small talk and the horrible flirting through text messages. I know it’s part of the ‘dating ritual,’ but I suck at it.”
Thane places his hand on my shoulder and smiles at me the way I imagine a big brother smiles at his little sister.
“I’m sure you’ll have a great time. Just … be careful. The guy’s new in town, and while someone vouched for him, we’ve had some … interesting characters drift through Lorewood over the years.”
Aw, he’s really trying to protect me. I’ll text Eve later so Thane gets some brownie points out of this. And by “brownie points,” I mean blowjobs.
“Thanks, Thane. I appreciate the advice. I have a good feeling about Jameson, and I’m sure Eve will fill you in after the date. She won’t leave me alone until I give her every detail, anyway.”
We walk out to the front of the shop together, and Thane wraps me in a tight bear hug.
“Enjoy your tour, Aurora. Ezra knows this place inside and out, so you’re in excellent hands.”
When I wrap my arms around my pseudo-big brother, Ezra glances up from his book while another dark shadow crosses his handsome features.
I’m not going to lie. I’m a little nervous about being alone with him, but I can’t ask Thane to stay.
As we pull apart, Thane gives me a wink and flashes me a wicked grin. Great. Now I’m blushing like I’m thirteen and he just passed me a note from Ezra in math class.
Am I that fucking obvious?
“Have fun tonight. Tell Eve I said hi—and to behave!”
I’m certain Eve won’t behave, which is probably why Thane can’t get enough of her.
When I finally summon the courage to turn around, I find Ezra watching me with his hands once again folded in his lap.
Good god, his posture is perfect.
His grey eyes bore into me, making me feel painfully self-conscious.
Eventually, I break his intense gaze, and my eyes drop to the book resting beneath his folded hands.
I can’t help but wonder what dark, devastatingly handsome sex gods read in their spare time.
The moment the title on the spine registers, a small chuckle escapes my lips, and I immediately slap both hands over my mouth to stifle it.
Ezra’s eyes narrow and his head cocks to one side, studying me with unnerving focus.
Great. I just pissed off the predator sitting in the wingback chair.
Behind him, something pulses once, just at the edge of my vision.
A shadow? A flicker of movement? Probably just the dim lighting.
“Is there a problem, Aurora? Perhaps my reading material is not up to your standards.”
He places the book on a pile beside the chair, uncrosses his legs, slowly rises, then takes calculated steps in my direction.
I fix my posture, digging deep for whatever spine I’ve got left.
Because, seriously, fuck this guy.
“N-no, not at all. It’s just … you seem so … I-I never would have guessed you’re a Grady Hendrix fan. I love his books and his humor. How to Sell a Haunted House is one of my favorites. I guess I thought you’d prefer Ulysses or something more … classic.”
Ezra erases the distance between us in three steps. He stands before me, almost too close for comfort. His warm cinnamon-and-pine smell wraps itself around me again, and I struggle to keep a level head.
Now is not the time to let my pussy drive instead of my brain.
He touched you without asking, you fucking moron. Don’t let him get to you.
“Now, now, Aurora.”
Ezra looks at me like a feast he can’t stop imagining between his teeth, his eyes thunderstorm-dark and crackling with restraint. Something stirs behind him—a flicker at the edge of the room that makes my skin crawl.
“I didn’t think you were the judgmental type. Do you know me and my reading habits so well that you feel comfortable commenting on them?”
My teeth find my lower lip, and suddenly my shoes are the most fascinating thing in the room.
Maybe I should give him the benefit of the doubt.
I wasn’t exactly running from him earlier, even if that’s a shitty excuse. It’s not like he’s going to touch me like that again, which makes every cell in my body cry out in protest.
Christ, body, I know it’s been a few years, but calm your slutty self down.
“So, let’s start again, shall we?”
Ezra’s grin is all teeth. Smug bastard.
“Would you like to ask me about my reading habits? Maybe what kind of literature I enjoy? Or … should we just cut to the chase?”
Ezra’s voice settles in my chest like the thrill of standing on a ridgeline as a storm crawls through the mountains.
His head tilts, just slightly, eyes heavy-lidded with something unreadable. He lets the pause stretch. So long. So intimate. I feel like I might crawl out of my fucking skin.
Finally, he speaks. “I was referring to the tour, of course.”
Oh my god, I am going to die.
Right here. In this bookshop.
Cause of death: Ezra Fucking Aster.
“I apologize, Mr. Aster. You’re right. I shouldn’t have assumed your reading habits. If someone said something like that to me, I’d probably lose my shit.”