Western Spark

Bookstore Romance

Author Note:

This is a deleted scene from Western Heat, near Chapter 20 - a sweet scene in a bookstore with Liz and Jake after they return his rental car. I ultimately removed it because the emotional beats mentioned here are revealed in a much more active way later on in the book, with impact that was much more visceral. Also, this filler scene didn't move either of them forward in their relationship tangibly.

I enjoyed writing it though, and thought it was a fun, flirty  glimpse into their growing attraction, from Liz's side. I hope you enjoy it!

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Liz stared blankly at the wall of romance novel spines staring back at her, on the shelf, perplexed at what to choose. She sipped her coffee and slid her gaze over to Jake, who was picking up books, reading the cover, raising his eyebrows and then gingerly putting them back, as if something sticky was on them.

"Women read this? No wonder we can never do anything right," he said quietly. "I mean, every single dude is a billionaire with perfect abs, royalty, or a special ops military guy who can kill you with his pinky, but won't because he's a good guy."

"My mom reads them. She has a book lending club. I hate the damned things. Love isn't like that. It isn't happily ever after," she replied bitterly.

"Easy there, Sister Mary," Jake murmured. "Why does your mom like them?"

Liz quirked a smile, thankful for his deflection to safer subjects. She'd asked her mom that question many times, after hearing about the latest 'bodice ripper' she was glued to. Her mom consumed at least two books a week, if not more. She'd always wanted to buy her an e-reader, but they were expensive, and she wasn't sure her mom would like the experience as opposed to holding a real book, turning the pages. Sometimes she thought it was more than just reading for her mom, but a form of meditation.

"She says she likes the happily-ever-after endings, and the fact that the women are usually in control of their own destiny. I think truthfully she likes the sex in them. I don't know though, sometimes the setups in these books feel really rape-y. Especially the older ones we find at the flea market. Turns me off."

Jake hmmed and picked one up. "What about this one? The dude on the front looks constipated. Says here he is a 'shifter'. What in the hell is a shifter?"

Liz held in a laugh, and shook her head. "Beats me. Maybe a fictional race car driver type? Who knows. I'll just get her some of these, the historical ones. She likes them best."

She swept up a bunch of the 'New Regency Releases' on the end of the aisle, with women in flowing dresses and frilly umbrellas gracing the covers. It would be enough. The fact that she was shopping for romance novels with Jake, the sexual tension thrumming through her just being close to him, was at odds with her every day.

He was right beside her, his hand brushing her hip, and he casually circled her waist as she showed him the books. The entire time they'd been in the bookstore, he'd initiated simple contact like that, and it was driving her nuts.

"It can be, you know."

"What can?"

"Love. It can be happily-ever-after," he said, eyes roving the books in front of them, his eyes crinkling as he smiled.

"I wouldn't think you would believe that," Liz countered. "I mean, you are divorced and all that, are you not?"

"Yeah, but I still think it can happen. Love doesn't necessarily have to be this crazy passionate adventure. It can be slow and gentle, strong and resilient," he said, surprising her.

"Why Mr. West, I do believe you are a romantic!" Liz mock gasped, eliciting chuckles from him as he caught her eye.

"Nah. Maybe. I dunno," he said, smiling sadly. "I met my ex at a restaurant we both worked at, and we just clicked, being so similar. It wasn't passionate really, but it was mutual respect and we thought it was enough, until it wasn't. Doesn't make it any less true, though. Love is different for each person."

Liz thought about her mom, and how she'd had a very different take on her marriage to Brett, compared to what everyone else thought was true. Perspectives she hadn't ever thought of. Black and white were more her speed. She was either in love or not in love. There were no semantics, or variations on that. But it wasn't a switch you could turn on and off, and she had never really been good at being 'in love' with Darren.

"What do you believe in? I already know the happily ever after part isn't it," he asked suddenly, as they walked down another aisle, this one with a sign that screamed 'Erotica" in bold, red letters. They browsed the books, most of them with suggestive names, oddly placed objects that were euphemisms to sex or something more. Apples, a whip laying casually on a tile floor, ripples of silk across a bed with a hand clutching folds. Suggestive and sensual.

Liz pursed her lips, thinking. What did she believe? Darren had broken her heart. When they split, he said it was her, not him, that he wasn't even sure she loved him. She thought she had, she just didn't know how to show it the way he needed. Intimacy wasn't her strong suit, he knew that when they got together.

She didn't trust that love was enough, perhaps, but that wasn't what he was asking.

"I don't know anymore," she offered, and shrugged. "I haven't really thought about it since—"

"What happened between you and Doctor McFancypants anyways?"

She blinked at his humour, then snorted at laugh out, making him chuckle too. It was nice to have this easy comfort with Jake. A definite improvement from even a couple of days before, where they were awkwardly trying to make amends for not knowing each other well enough not to be defensive. McFancypants? Had he heard Brady use that term for him?

"Darren? He—" she stopped and inhaled through her nose, winced at the pain of it, and touched the bridge with her finger.

Jake's hands were suddenly on her waist, and he drew her in close to him. He smelled like fresh deodorant, the planes of his chest smooth and hard, and it was intoxicating. He pulled her into a hug, nestling her head on his shoulder. They were somewhat shielded by the book shelf, and he let out a deep, frustrated sigh.

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," he murmured in her ear.

"He cheated on me with one of the nurses he works with. It didn't last long, but it was enough. he blamed me. Said I was 'closed off' and that I didn't let him in. My idea of love wasn't his, obviously, working on your theory."

Jake's grip on her tightened, and his arms flexed. "Jerk," he muttered.

"It was probably for the best," she replied lamely, and pushed away from him, the memories of that horrible few days making her restless. She looked up at him, and his eyes were serious, his face set the same way Tanner got when he was about to be a big, tough man about something.

"No one should ever be disrespected that way," he stated, then leaned in, and kissed her softly. "He had no idea what he was letting go."

Her heart skipped a beat, and the thrum of arousal flushed across her nerves. He said the most interesting things. Things guys had never said to her before. She studied his face and he flushed slightly, maybe because she'd caught him being sweet.

He cleared his throat and let her go. "Right. You have what you need? You sure you don't want to buy your mom some of these... ummm... Erotica novels? They look interesting. Might buy myself one... for pointers, you know."

Liz rolled her eyes, and he quirked an eyebrow at her suggestively. Oh hell... that was pure invitation. How was she supposed to answer that? He ran his finger across a few spines and then chuckled. She bit the inside of her cheek lightly to wake herself up. Time to keep moving or she'd jump him behind the bookshelf and that would get them kicked out of the store.

"Come on," Liz replied, and quickly turned towards the cash before he could see her blush.