Chapter 15
Chapter 15
Arguing with him was a waste of breath.
Changing his mind? That would be harder than melting a glacier
with a match. So I shut up, got in the truck, and started searching for
Anchorage bookstores on my phone.
Declan made a call while driving.
Someone said something on the other end, and he laughed.
Not the cold sneer he reserved for me. A real laugh. The corners of his mouth lifted, the ice melting from his eyes. He looked… alive.
A version of himself he’d never never let me see.
“Yeah, talk later. Busy today p>
His gaze flicked to me.
In a split second, the smile was erased. Like a switch flipped back to factory settings: cold, hard, unapproachable.
Fine. Master of disguise.
I fought the urge to flip him off. “Here.” I jammed my phone with the GPS open into the dusty ashtray slot.
Declan glanced at the map. Didn’t speak. Just floored it.
First indie bookstore. Declan trailed me like a ghost. Silent. Staring at me like I was a suspect in a lineup while I browsed.
I gathered a stack of Parable of the Sower. When I turned to ask for
Chapter 15
help, he was gone.
I scanned the room on my tiptoes.
Found him in the history section.
He was leaning against the shelves, holding a thick book on the
Mauryan Empire.
The sight was… jarring.
His hands were massive; the book looked like a paperback toy in his grip. Rough fingers turning pages. He was focused, brow smooth. The hostility was gone, replaced by a quiet, almost “scholarly” vibe.
Damn it. Heat rushed up my cheeks.
Get a grip, Tessa. He’s reading a book, not taking his shirt off.
I didn’t know why I was panicking, but I scrambled back to the fiction section before he caught me staring.
When Declan walked over, I had the books on the floor. He glanced at the pile. His jacket was bulging–the corner of a bookstore bag poking out.
He bought books?
Before I could speak, he crouched and scooped up the stack in one
“I got it.” I reached for them.
He ignored me completely. Long legs striding straight to the register.
Paid. I went for the bags. A massive hand beat me to it, hoisting the
heavy load effortlessly.
Chapter 15
With anyone else, I’d call it chivalry. But Declan? With that cold
face? It felt condescending. Like he was saying: Weak city girl. Can’t
even carry a few books.
Back in the truck, I gave the next address.
“Not done p>
“Nope. If the next one doesn’t have enough, we hit a third. Unless
you want me going back empty–handed p>
Declan sighed. Sounded like his patience just snapped, but he
resigned himself to it and started the engine.
Third store was in a mall.
Crossing the parking lot, Declan stopped dead.
Chin up. His eyes snapped to the shadows in the alley.
The wind shifted. He closed his eyes, nostrils flaring as he
inhaled–deep.
Then, he went rigid. A sudden, deadly stillness that made the hair on
my arms stand up.
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Chapter 16
Chapter 16
Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.