The Accidental kiss

niel'

gain. It wasn't planned, and I certainly didn't need more books. In

g in the doorway, my g

letely immersed. A faint smile plays on her lips, as if w

, and for a moment, I just sta

am I

it. It's not about the notebook or any unfinished

nsettles me more t

me out of my thoughts. A customer walks in, glan

flicker of surprise in them before

r voice carefully neutral

e in this cozy little bookstore. "I was in the area," I

yebrow, clearly

re books?" she asks

turing vaguely to

but the look on her face tel

nding anything," she says, turni

ut some distance between us. But instead, I find mys

I'm not really paying attention to the ti

her, a kind of openness that's both refreshing and disarming.

is entire life surrounded by people we

a's

he doi

g, in my book

I figured he was just retrieving his notebook. But now? Now

tely out of place among the cozy chaos of the store. He's wearing another one of his perfec

ong here. And

with him nearby. My mind keeps replaying the way he looked at

confu

distr

ng to feel a li

way back to the counter, h

I ask, trying to ke

ing the book

he title: The

ing it up. "Classic litera

worth reading," he re

pt, and for a moment

ays, breakin

es

is words. "Would you ever cons

tches me comple

e? Wi

to respond, but

ickly, his expression unreada

o keep him at arm's length where he belongs. But anothe

art, my voi

s, stepping back. "You d

me standing there with a book in my h

niel'

as I t

he conversation in my head, cringing

e? To

even dri

see her again. To spend more time with her,

alk or casual connections, but

James is waiting for me, his u

cheduled for tomorrow morning," he s

barely registe

ght, sir?" James asks

ruth is, I feel any

t time in a long tim

a's

now why I

at a small café, nervously stirring my

part of me-a curious, foolish part-that could

him walking in. He's wearing a slightly more casual s

oice warm as he takes

y voice quieter

ir between us feels charged, like there's

r coming," he

ough I'm still not ent

ise, he's not as intimidating as I thought he'd be. He asks about the bookst

y, I star

it at one point, my words tumbl

intrigued. "Wh

I say, gesturing vaguely. "And yet yo

Instead, he leans back in hi

e different,"

ngs in the air between

mpliment or an insult," I sa

moment, the intensity

ompliment

art does the thing it sho