A young boy falls in love with a librarian at first sight. When he grows up, he decides it's time to finally pursue her.
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"Is there something else you need help with?" I ask snippently, impatient to get back to my work. Just stop staring at me, please.
He licks his lips, biting down on the lower one softly, his gaze far too assessing before he suddenly chuckles a low huff through his nose and replies quietly in a tone I do not like, "Yes. A great deal. And it can only come from you, Hope."
What the...?!
"Excuse me?" I retort back, unable to actually believe this guy is flirting with me. This is flirting, right? I honestly have no idea anymore in this day and age. I mean...I'm pretty sure he's flirting now. That voice...that tone... there's no way.
"I need to order a book?" He counters with a worried brow at my hostile face. "Unless...I can't?" He lowers his chin, looking at me through the sweep of his dark lashes in questioning.
I blink several times in mortification. "No." I answer. "No, you can. You can, of course. 'Scuse me." I can already feel my face burning in shame.
He suddenly props one elbow onto the counter, gazing at me with empathy on his stupid, perfect, youthful face. "Everything okay?" He asks to my chagrin. "You seem like you're having a pretty bad day."
"I'm fine. What book did you need?" I chirp back in a small voice.
"Hope." He says, throwing me entirely off-gaurd. I don't like this. Not one bit of it. My patience is wearing thin, my emotions are on a tethered line, and this damn kid is only pushing my buttons more.
"That's Miss Hansley to you, young man. Now, what book would you like me to order for you?"
"Wow." He chuckles as if in fascination, shaking his head at me in a manner that has me seeing red.
Marcus Thorne wears several masks in his life-playing retired pirate, Captain Hawk, is his favorite, but if his secret is discovered, he could die. Captivated by his enemy's daughter, Marcus kidnaps her, but in turn, she captures his heart... until he discovers Isabelle is one of Napoleon's spies with the power to endanger his life and the lives of his friends.
After her release, Isabelle can't stop thinking about her masked abductor and how he'd stolen her heart before ridding her of his presence. Betrothed to a man who strangely reminds her of the man whose kisses set her ablaze, she marries him, only to discover he's not who he seemed to be and is withholding secrets. But then, so is she.
Content warning: This story contains a mild amount of violence and kidnapping... along with plenty of falling in love.