21. Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-One

Susie

“Susie,” My editor, Norma, gushes. “I finished reading what you sent over and I’m completely and utterly obsessed! Your fans are going to be out of their minds!”

The gentle murmur of the Saturday morning crowd hums as I sit in the booth where my life changed just a week ago.

Have I really been married for almost one week?

“The chemistry between these two characters is off the charts. The scene with her under the table—I laughed so hard I cried. It’s hilarious!” I pick up my coffee and take a sip, feeling a smile forming on my face. “Where are you coming up with all of this?”

“You could say I’ve had a little inspiration from some real-life experiences,” I quip. “Do you truly think people are going to love it?”

“Susie, I think this may be Amelia’s best work yet. Can’t wait to see what you send over next! I’m waiting with bated breath.”

“My plan is to get something else to you by the end of the week. I know I have a deadline looming with a hard stop.”

Adam catches my eye as he walks through the Thanks-A-Latte’s door. He hasn’t seen me yet, and I take the opportunity to let my eyes lazily wander over him. He’s wearing a Mavs hoodie and a pair of sweats.

Is there nothing this man doesn’t look good in?

I watch him search the crowd before his gaze finally falls on me. A lopsided grin creeps along his face, making my heart race. My stomach swoops, and the corner of my lips lift. I raise a hand and wave at him.

“Oh, good. I thought I was going to die if I had to wait much longer,” Norma says. I close my laptop, begin to pack up, and watch Adam’s smile stretch wider. We still haven’t talked about what I do for work, and thankfully, he hasn’t asked too much about it. But I know he’s beyond curious.

“Thanks, Norma,” I say just as Adam reaches me. I put up a finger, letting him know I’ll be done in a minute. “I’ll send it over as soon as it’s ready. I appreciate you. Talk soon!”

“Who’s Norma?” Adam asks as I hang up. His brown eyes roam my face, causing my heart to dance around in my chest.

“Someone I work with.” I reach for the power cord under the table and shove it in my bag. “She’s helping me with a project.”

“A project, huh?” His brow quirks and a smirk appears. I choose to ignore the unasked question behind that look. “Susie?”

“Yes?” I turn a questioning gaze toward him, my stomach swirling.

“One day, I hope you’ll feel comfortable enough to tell me all of your secrets.” The sincerity in his eyes as they pin mine makes my heart tumble to my stomach, and my mouth feels like it was wiped with a cotton swab. He gently pushes a strand of hair behind my ear. “I’m gonna grab a peppermint tea and head to the library. Do you want to walk over with me?”

“I would like that.” His smile sends my heart pounding and butterflies flapping in my stomach.

I watch him stroll to the counter, a goofy grin on my face. I don’t have to see it to know it’s there. I feel it.

Is this what falling in love feels like?

I write about people falling in love all the time, but I’m not sure if I’ve ever actually been in love before. I’ve been in relationships, and I can honestly say I thought I loved some of them. But I’m beginning to question if what I felt was actual love.

Everything with Adam is different. He feels like someone I’ve known for an eternity rather than just thirty days.

From the first moment I looked into his eyes, something zinged through my body, and after our first conversation, I felt something in my soul wake up. It was as if I had found my other half. I can’t fully explain it.

I know how corny it sounds, but this writer is having trouble describing a feeling she’s realizing she’s never felt before. All I know is that after we met, something in me came to life in a way I’ve never experienced before.

It’s changed me.

More than that, there is an ease with him, a sense of coming home. And knowing that who I am is more than enough. I feel safe with him in a way I’ve never felt. When I’m with him, everything in the world feels right.

So, is this what it’s like to fall in love?

“Hey, everything okay?” Adam lays his hand on my shoulder and gently brushes my cheek. A tingle runs down my spine.

I turn my face to look at him and watch as his eyes fall to my lips. I smirk just as goosebumps pop up on my arms.

Yeah, I’m pretty sure this is what it feels like to fall in love.

“Yup.” I smile and nod my head. “Was just thinking.”

“Anything interesting I’d want to know?” He picks up my laptop bag and waits for me to get up.

“I’m pretty sure it’s extremely interesting and something you’d definitely want to know.” I sashay past him and look over my shoulder. A smirk on my face. “But I’m not ready to share it with you right now.”

“So that’s how it’s going to be?” he shakes his head and laughs at me.

“What book did you need to get at the library?” I ask as I push open the door and turn back to him with a teasing grin.

“You’ll have to wait until we get there,” he teases, a grin splitting his face.

“Is it another romance?” I whisper. Adam whips his head around, eyes so wide I swear they might pop out of his head.

“Could you please not yell that?” His brows furrow as he walks through the threshold onto the sidewalk.

“I didn’t yell, I whispered!” He gives me a mock glare. “Okay, okay. I’m sorry. I promise from now on, I won’t say that you read romance novels anywhere that someone might hear me.”

He narrows his eyes, all the while trying to keep a smile in check, and I giggle.

“No more, I promise.” Crossing my heart, I push my arm through his and walk beside him. “Your secret love is safe with me.”

He snorts and shakes his head at my choice of words. “Can’t a man just enjoy a good book?”

“Of course you can.” I smile, then hop in front of him and walk backward. A mischievous grin on my face. “Amelia Adams, huh?”

He rolls his eyes so hard I don’t know how he doesn’t injure himself. My smile widens, and a tiny blush creeps up his cheek.

“It’s actually kind of adorable.” I scrunch my face and come back to his side.

“I’ll take that.” A sheepish grin takes over his face. I slip my arm back through his and enjoy walking with him.

Did I mention how incredibly sexy it is to have a man love your work?

The musty smell of books hits my senses as Adam and I enter the library. I inhale deeply, peace filling me. There is something about a place where everyone agrees to be quiet and calm. It leaves a tangible feeling in the air.

“I love the library,” Adam whispers behind me, and my heart skips.

A smile creeps across my face. I didn’t even know loving the library was on my list of wants, but apparently it is.

“Hello, Susie. Adam. What brings the two of you here today?” Mrs. Baker smiles knowingly, and her eyes sparkle. As a little girl, I felt like she had the answers to any and every question I could possibly think of. It turns out she doesn’t have every answer, but she knows a lot.

“Here for a book.” I point over my shoulder at Adam and smile. He pulls a face, and I laugh at him. “Is it okay if I wait for you here?”

“Sure.” He hands me my laptop bag, winks at me, and then grins like a Cheshire cat.

Heat creeps up my face. I feel Mrs. Baker’s eyes on me, and my face gets hotter.

“What is this I’m witnessing?” She leans over the counter and whispers as we both watch Adam disappear into one of the book aisles.

I shrug and try to play it cool. “Just two friends enjoying each other’s company.” I flip through the flyers on the counter, hoping to stop any further conversation.

I should’ve known that it would take more than that to stop Elizabeth Baker.

“Pfft!” She scoffs, not believing me for a moment. “Suzanne Amelia Owens, you have always been a bad liar.”

“That still doesn’t mean anything is going on between the two of us.” I feel like we’re in the middle of some staring contest I can’t lose, and I don’t dare blink.

She narrows her eyes at me and grins before turning to the task she was working on when Adam and I walked in.

Adam appears from the Romance aisle with a book in his hand, and I let out my breath. He’s wearing the most adorable self-conscious grin on his face.

Mrs. Baker’s eyes widen as Adam places Playing For Keeps, by yours truly, on the counter. She looks at the book, at me, and then her gaze slides to Adam.

“Is the cat officially out of the bag?” She asks him, with a smile and a teasing glint in her eye.

“Only with a select few people, Elizabeth.” Adam winks, causing Mrs. Baker’s eyebrows to shoot past her hairline. A laugh escapes before she can stop herself, and she covers her mouth. “But I’d still appreciate it if we kept it low-key.”

He leans in and puts his hand next to his mouth. “I’d hate for my competition to think that my reading choices had anything to do with my ability to play.”

“Your secret is safe with me.” She winks, and my mouth drops to the floor. I’ve never seen this playful side of the town librarian before. However, I’m not sure how I feel about her flirting with my husband. I take a step closer to Adam. “Just like yours, right Suzanne Amelia?”

My heart hammers against my chest, and my eyes nearly pop out my face. I swallow hard. “Secret?” I squeak out.

Thoughts race through my mind while she stands there with an impish grin. I swallow again, my mouth so dry I’m not sure what I’m actually swallowing.

Which secret is she talking about? Does she know Adam and I are married? Does she know I’m Amelia Adams?

Her eyes glance down at Playing For Keeps, and I notice her finger tapping the author's name.

My hand raises to my chest, and I let out a breath. Relief washing through me. I never thought I’d be relieved to have someone know my pen name rather than my married one.

A frantic laugh escapes me. “How long have you known?”

Adam is looking at me and Mrs. Baker, his eyebrows pulled together. “Known what?” We continue talking as if he hasn’t said anything.

“From the very beginning.” My mouth drops open. “You and Brie were just a little too excited about a new book in the library.”

“You’ve known all this time?” She nods, a proud smile spread across her face. “How many people actually know?”

“Know what?” Adam throws his arms up.

“The entire town, dear.” She chuckles, then points at Adam. “Minus one, that is. Though I think he would be excited to know too.”

Mrs. Baker looks pointedly at Adam, then at me, and then at the book.

“Nooo…” Adam’s eyes are as wide as saucers and his mouth is hanging open. “You? Wait! That’s why you acted so funny when Nicole brought Amelia Adams up?”

My cheeks heat, but he’s staring at me with such intense excitement that I start to sweat. “Please, you’re drawing attention to us.” I nervously look around.

“There’s no one here; we are supposed to be closed.” Mrs. Baker laughs, enjoying my embarrassment way too much.

“Sorry.” He chuckles. “I just can’t believe that I’m married—”

I slap my hand over his mouth, grab the book, and then proceed to drag him toward the exit. Unfortunately, moving a six-foot-two, two hundred and twenty pounds of solid muscle is not easy if they aren’t going willingly.

His eyes dance with humor as I use the entire force of my body to get him to move. He takes the book from me. And looks over at Mrs. Baker.

“Thank you for that information. We will chat a bit more when I come to bring this book back.”

Her expression is full of unasked questions. “I’m looking forward to that. Have a lovely day!”