Free The Wager: A Billionaire Romance by Calista Kyle Page B

looked at me with surprise, but didn't say anything. "Of course," she finally said.
    I didn't know if I was just seeing things, but I thought I saw a small smile tugging on her lips. I put that thought out of my head as I grabbed the books and slipped my cell phone into my pants pocket.
    "Don't call me unless it's an absolute emergency," I said, before stepping out the door.
     
     
    ***
    There was only one place I was headed and that was to the book store. I knew Lily would be there. She was there practically every day. It took me less than fifteen minutes to make it down to her shop and as I walked into the cozy little store, I was greeted by an enticing sight. Lily was behind the counter wearing another black sweater covering everything up to her neck. Her hair hung loose around her shoulders and she was looking down, reading something on the counter.
    As soon as she heard the door open, she looked up and flashed me such a warm and friendly smile, it nearly knocked my breath away. I didn't know what it was about her, but everything she did surprised me. No woman had ever looked at me the way she did. Sure they would smile and smirk and grin, but behind it all was always some calculation. They were always looking for something, whether it was jewelry, money, status, or a business arrangement.
    Lily's smile was completely open and unaffected. It took me a moment to get my wits back about me. I'd never expected to be bowled over by someone like her, but here I was, almost shaking with some undefined emotion. God, what the hell was wrong with me?
    "I thought you'd come here sooner or later," she said.
    "Excuse me?" I said a little startled.
    "You're here about me returning the books, right?" she said, a little glint of amusement lighting her eyes.
    It wasn't lost on me that she was in an unexpectedly good mood. I wasn't sure what kind of reception I'd get coming in. After all, she did return my book without so much as a note or a thank you. I'd almost been tempted to think she was angry with me, but here she was smiling at me playfully. I decided to push my luck and see if I could make her blush.
    "How did you know? Did you return the books to me because you knew I'd come? Did you want to see me that badly?" I asked.
    She rolled her eyes but I could see her mouth twitch despite her best efforts to look severe. "You're really full of yourself, aren't you?" she said.
    "What can I say? It wouldn't be the first time a woman has used trickery to try to see me again," I said.
    "I wonder sometimes what kind of life you do lead," she said laughingly. "How do you stand it?"
    "I get by," I grinned.
    "You're horrible," she chuckled, playfully smacking my arm over the counter. "So, are you here to admonish me for sending the books back?"
    "Hmm...What is the correct answer to that?" I asked.
    "What do you mean?"
    "I have a feeling I'm on shaky ground. If I say yes, you'll be upset that I didn't respect your wishes. If I say no, then you'll be upset that I gave in so easily. Am I right?"
    "You're a real piece of work," she said severely, but the twinkle in her eye belied her words.
    "Ok, I'll tell you the truth. I did originally set out to ask you why you sent the books back, but now that I'm here, I find that I don't really care about it all that much."
    "Oh?"
    "Yes, I'm rather enjoying our delightful conversation. And if the topic of the books is a sore one for you, then I'll happily forget about the whole thing."
    "You're so kind," she said sarcastically.
    "But really, why did you send the book back?" I asked.
    "Because it's too much. You can't honestly have thought that I would keep it," she said.
    "My dear, if you think that was extravagant, then I might just have to marry you," I said jokingly. "And for the record, I don't send gifts expecting to have them sent back."
    She opened her mouth to speak, but then quickly snapped it shut. I watched her bite her bottom lip, wondering what she had been about to say.
    "It might not seem like