Love and Lattes by Heather Thurmeier Read Free Book Online Page B

peace offering amid the awkward silence hanging in Rebecca's wake.
    "This is perfect, thank you." She took the book from his hand and flipped through the pages. She glanced back at the shelf with a puzzled expression and cocked her head to the side. "I don't know how I missed this one. I swear I looked there."
    "It's easy to miss. All the books tend to blend together on the shelf." He stood there staring at her, wishing he could say something else relevant to continue their conversation. "I guess I should let you get back to work, huh?" Real clever , he thought, begrudging his lame exit line.
    "I guess you should." She glanced between her book and him. "Thanks again for the help."
    "My pleasure." He walked passed her a few steps before turning back. He wished there was something he could say about their situation, but what? No sense dwelling on something that could never be.
    She watched him, tilting her head to the side as if she questioned his hesitation.
    "Listen, about the other night." He started, but wasn't sure where to go from there. "I really had a good time with you."
    She grinned and laughed, blushing a deep red. "I could tell."
    He laughed too. "No, that's not what I meant—well, I guess I mean that, too—but I actually just meant I liked talking to you, dancing, everything. It—it was nice."
    "I had a good time too, in all meanings."
    "I really wish we could go out again sometime. I had already been planning where I'd take you once I finally got a hold of you."
    "Oh yeah? Where?"
    "There's this little Spanish place called Luna that serves the best tapas." He shrugged. "Doesn't matter now, I guess."
    The smile slid off both of their faces as the weight of his last statement hung in the air between them. "Too bad. I like tapas."
    He nodded, his disappointment almost breaking through his boss exterior. "Something else we have in common."
    "I'm sorry." Julia spoke quietly and wrapped her arms around the book she still held, pulling it protectively against her chest. "It's just, I really need this job. I wish I didn't, but I do."
    Chase shook his head. He didn't want her to feel pressured into quitting just because he wanted to go on a real date with her. "No, of course you do. I shouldn't have said anything. I didn't mean anything by it. Just thinking out loud I guess." He wouldn't make that mistake again.
    "I'll let you get back to work. Let me know if you need anything." He turned and left without glancing back. He needed to get on with life without Julia. Their situation wasn't going to change, and the sooner he accepted reality, the better off they'd both be. He wouldn't pressure her again. They were stuck working together and that's all there was to it.
    Chase wove his way through the rows of books and ducked into the self-help room on his way to new releases. He kicked a book lying in the middle of the aisle and bent to pick it up before flipping the book cover side up in his hands. Banging in the Backroom: Tales of Workplace Romance Gone wrong . Oh, hell. Even the merchandise was on his case.
    Time to move on to the next girl, like always.

Chapter Five

    Julia let out a long slow breath as Chase walked away. She held her gaze steady on the book in her hands as though she looked intensely at each page, but in reality she didn't see a single word. Her peripheral vision had never been as important as it was in that moment.
    All she saw was Chase walking away in a pair of very snug jeans, a distinct aura of disappointment in his shoulders. She wished more than ever he wasn't her boss or that she could just quit. After all, she didn't exactly love the job. It wasn't like she'd made any lasting friendships with the other employees in the few hours she'd been there. Enemies, maybe.
    But she wouldn't quit for him. She wouldn't change her plans again for a guy. Not after last time. Chase would have to get used to her working here, and she would have to get used to ogling those nice tight jeans from a distance.
    When