Chapter 20
Serenity
I SAT BEHIND THE TABLE, a bright yet anxious grin on my face as I dipped my head in greeting to people as they passed by me.
They probably thought I had bugs crawling on me from how much I shifted and fidgeted in my seat, which sat front and center to the bookstore’s entrance.
I’d been so nervous about today that I’d tried on four different outfits this morning before finally settling on my black skirt, periwinkle top, and wild hair half up.
My new trilogy decorated the table with its bright colors, flames, and dragon scales. I rolled my blue sharpie around and twisted its cap as I waited on pins and needles for patrons to stop and buy my now complete book set.
Even more than those strangers, I waited for a certain guitarist to arrive.
It had been torture trying to hide my identity as SC Draven from Dante, especially this past month.
With how often we hung out these days, I worried about spoiling the surprise.
I had to hide every box of books containing my author copies when they arrived, and I turned off all my social media notifications when he was around.
But just as release day for my book was finally here, reveal day was, too.
He’d finally see the author who had become one of his favorites.
He’d finally see who I was and who I wanted to be.
My phone buzzed in the pocket of my skirt. I quickly dug it out, warmth surging through my veins when I saw Dante’s name lighting up the screen.
“Hello?” I answered, barely fighting my nervous overly-wide grin.
“Morning, beautiful,” Dante responded. “I’m about to be at the bookstore. Are you on your way?”
“Actually, I’m already here. I’m inside.”
“Oh, yeah. I see your car now. You better not have already talked to the author and gotten her signature without me.”
I laughed softly at the half-hearted threat in his voice. Instead of abating his worries, I watched the entrance and mused, “She was so nice. I love the pen color she used to sign my book.”
“You’re shitting me,” he gasped. A car door slammed in the background. “If you’re serious, you’re going to be in for some hard punishment later. I—”
The door to the shop opened, and no sooner had Dante stepped inside than his eyes locked on mine and his mouth went slack.
He had a ballcap low on his head and had just been pulling a black face mask over his mouth when he seemingly froze.
We’d discussed prior to this that he should come with the hat and mask so that he wouldn’t get ganged up on like he had during our trip to the zoo, but even with the hat nearly hiding his eyes and mask resting beneath his beared chin, I saw the shock painted across his face. There was no containing my grin.
“Surprise,” I chirped into the phone still pressed to my ear.
We both hung up as Dante slowly crossed the entrance to my table. I stood and wrung my hands in front of me while my heart nearly beat itself out of my chest.
Dante’s gaze bounced between the numerous copies of my books, which were spread out on the table, before swinging it back to me. “You’re SC Draven?”
“In the flesh.” I shifted on my feet as I asked softly, “Are you mad that I kept it a secret?”
He leaned across the table so that his face hovered inches from mine. “I suppose you’ll find out later, SC Draven.”
A warm shiver rushed down my spine to settle between my thighs. The dangerously sensual purr in his deep voice promised something wicked.
I bit the side of my lip as heat swarmed my cheeks. “Can’t wait.”
He hummed, low and rough, and readjusted his stiff stance to stand back to his full height. Crossing his arms, he cocked his head. “I was going to give the author a piece of my mind about that brutal cliffhanger, but I guess you’ve already heard it, huh?”
“Just a bit,” I laughed.
He nodded and waved a hand at the set of books displayed in front of me. “I’d like to buy the entire trilogy.”
Happiness unfurled in my chest as I sat back in my seat and grabbed one of each book to sign.
Even though Dante had read the first two books from the library, he wanted his own copies for his collection.
That fact had me floating on a blissful cloud, so much so that I worried I might drift to the ceiling on an updraft.
I grabbed my blue sharpie to sign his books, but before I could, Dante chimed in, “Can you make it out to me?”
“Of course. Just ‘Dante?’”
He rubbed his chin where his mask still waited. “Hmm. That doesn’t sound good enough. Krail calls Ember his Ember, right?”
I wasn’t sure what my villainous main male character’s endearment for the main female character had to do with me signing Dante’s books. Still, I nodded.
Dante grinned and placed his hands on the table to lean closer. “That’s who I want you to sign it to. Yours.”
That easygoing happiness in my chest smoothed out into something lighter while the buzz of joy settled into something softer. The request had been unexpected, but as I thought about it while staring into those dark brown eyes, my grin widened. Nothing sounded better.
Without a word, I grabbed the three books for Dante and signed them.
My Dante -- your Serenity
I finished with my signature and stacked his new books neatly for him before handing them over. “Thank you for your purchase, sir.”
He took the three paperbacks and finally put his face mask in place. “Thank you for the story … SC Draven.”
A couple of girls approached the table, so Dante stepped aside so they could see me and the books.
He went to the check-out counter while I gave my book pitch to the two women.
They left my table with a signed copy of the first book, and that was enough to have my cheeks hurting from how much I was smiling, an expression I was accustomed to wearing but not used to truly feeling.
I sat back in my chair, too lost in my own exuberance to notice the presence at my back. It wasn’t until Dante’s strong hand landed on my shoulder and his warm masculine scent wrapped around me that I realized he had come up behind my chair.
He leaned down so that his unmasked jaw brushed over the shell of my ear and whispered, “Congratulations on your book release, Star.” No sooner had he whispered the words than he kissed my cheek and kept walking.
My gaze tracked him while unfamiliar flutters coursed through every vein in my body. How long had I craved to hear words like that from those I was closest to? How long had I ached to have my dreams and accomplishments validated?
Dante found a table in the corner of the bookstore where a mini coffee bar and reading section was set up with tables, plush chairs, and even a sectional.
He chose a small table that faced where I sat, and he met my smile with one of his own from behind his mask before focusing on the books he’d purchased.
He admired the two he’d already read, flipping through the pages with a softness like that which came when greeting an old friend.
Not long after he was done, he grabbed the new release, sat back in his chair, and began to read.
I wasn’t sure why he chose to read here.
Maybe it was because he was so eager to dive into the book that he didn’t want to wait for the drive home.
Or perhaps it was because I was here, and even though I was busy greeting potential readers and manning my table, just being in view of each other made us feel like we were together.
Affection for the man who’d helped change my world bloomed in my chest. He’d given me so many new experiences and feelings in the time we’d spent together.
For the first time in my life, I felt seen, accepted, beautiful.
I had tasted real pleasure at his hands, and instead of shame or embarrassment during those intimate moments, I became emboldened and powerful.
Which made me wonder if the other shoe was about to drop.
My mind hated to give me rest, so if things were going too well, my head liked to conjure up every scenario that could potentially ruin any bit of happiness I’d managed to find.
It was like I didn’t know how to exist without secretly self-sabotaging and doubting.
I just knew I was going to mess things up with him like I messed up most things.
But I didn’t want to this time.
I wanted Dante.
My phone buzzed with a text, quickly providing the distraction I needed from my spiraling thoughts. Though, the message from Bradley wasn’t exactly the distraction I would’ve preferred.
Why aren’t you in your office?
I sighed. He and I had spoken many times since I’d agreed to stop ignoring him a month ago.
He’d been nice and attentive since then—bringing an extra coffee to work for me, swinging by my office to say hi if he had to go there during the work week, inviting me out with him and his friends, despite knowing my answer.
It was like he was trying to prove without outwardly saying so that he could be a good boyfriend if I gave him another chance.
His text told me otherwise.
He knew January 30th was the release day for my book. I’d only talked about it and my trilogy finally being completed a hundred times. He knew I was off work on release days. At least, he would’ve known all of those things if what was important to me had also been important to him.
It’s release day for my book.
I set the phone aside, refusing to let him send me into a dark space. I was already battling the disappointment about my dad not coming today. I refused to let anything take this day from me. Not my own expectations of the worst, not my dad, and not Bradley.
At least, I’d damn sure try not to.
There was a decent amount of people that swung by my table, though a lot just browsed. My smile remained, even as they turned their backs to walk away. When the loud voice of doubt would creep into my head, I’d look at Dante, who had been glued to my book since starting it.