Page 65 of The Breakup Bookshop

‘So you’re staying, then? No plans for that crepe shop?’

There’s something serious behind the question. I’ve never thought about it before, but suddenly it’s staring me in the face. His wholefamilyhas moved away from Ullapool, all seven of his siblings to follow new paths, while his parents have no return date set. Even his ex – the lovely Elle – moved to Edinburgh. Now he’s asking if the flighty girl that fled London to heal her heart is serious about this. About him.

Or am I planning to bugger off and leave him too?

I take his hand across the table and squeeze it. ‘You’re not getting rid of me that easily, Rory MacGregor. I’m more than ready for those bloody tiles to come off.’

A smile spreads across his face.

*

I wander around the bookshop in a post-lunch happy haze, making notes of books I need to order. I can almost feel Rory next door, moving around his shop, assembling his own order list. It’s so strange how quickly everything’s changed since the day I arrived here. I’m starting to discover the easy-going, caring Rory that everyone loves.

I can definitely see what all the fuss is about.

As he arrives at the front door in the early evening, he closes the door behind him and walks towards me, placing his hands gently on my waist. Is his gaze always thisintense?

‘You forgot the grout,’ I point out.

He shakes his head. ‘Not tonight.’ As he pulls me towards him, my body melts into his.

My head screams at me to slow down and think this through. I can’t ignore all the doubts creeping into my mind. Seb. All the things that went wrong. Elle. Everything that could go wrong. Ignoring them will not make them go away. But the rest of my body is on another page. In fact, my body is on an entirely different chapter.

‘I bought you something.’

He hands me a tartan gift bag. I glance up at him. ‘What is this?’

Rory doesn’t answer. I pull the gift, which looks to be a small wooden plaque, out of the bag, and turn it around. The sign is covered in illustrations of books.

A ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign. Abook-themed one.

Is he freaking kidding me?

All thoughts of Seb magically disappear from my mind, any questions about Elle completely erased, as Rory leans down and presses his mouth on mine. The kiss is more urgent than in the courtyard and I fall into it completely. Utterly.

My whole body sizzles as he lifts me up and carries me across the room to the bookshop counter. I place my hand behind me, sweeping the area clear, as he stops for a moment.

‘I’ve always wanted to do that,’ I breathe, before raising my mouth back towards his. He pauses. Grins. And then leans in to resume the sensational kiss that makes my body beg for more. He dips me slightly towards the wooden surface and my back arches.

‘We need to close the blinds,’ I murmur. ‘Or we’ll be the talk of the village.’

But Rory isn’t one to follow my instructions. I should know that by now.

‘Fuck that,’ he says as he lifts me up again and lays me on the cool wooden ground behind the counter. ‘No one can see down here.’

I pull his T-shirt over his head.

I dig my nails into his back. He groans.

He squeezes my upper thigh. I gasp.

My breath turns shallow as he presses his body into mine, gazing into my eyes while we move together against the cold wooden floor. I look away, my face flushed, but he places his hand on my cheek and moves my face around to look at him, really look at him, slowing everything down for a second.

‘Stay with me.’

His low, gruff voice makes it sound like an order. An instruction.

So I do. My gaze doesn’t leave his and I’m lost in the strength of this feeling, being this close to and making love with someone new and different. But somehow, in this moment, it feels like I’ve known Rory forever. His scowls and questioning smirks have been replaced with gentle movements and tenderness. There is no doubt about this, about us, as I feel his heart thud in his chest, or maybe it’s mine. We are one, lost in each other.