Bindings and Books Read Online Free PDF Page A

breath caught in his throat as a hand touched his lower back. Damn that was good, but there were people behind them. Watching.
    He eased away and fled to the row of high swivel stools and a narrow counter against the window. Seated with his side to the window, he placed his elbow on the tabletop. With his long legs crowding the next stool, Ash should avoid it. It would be a little easier to breathe with some distance between them.
    Ash chose the closest stool.
    So that didn’t work. Holding his breath, he waited for their legs to touch. Mirror image, Ash settled onto the stool. Like the teeth of a cog, Ash’s left leg slotted between his, effectively trapping him.
    Ash was talking, his mouth moving, but James couldn’t hear a single word. Ash’s denim-covered knee lay a mere two-degree turn from touching the inside of James’s leg. The blood pulsed and throbbed in his head, as if testing the strength of the veins that enclosed it.
    Ash shifted on the stool.
    The distance remained unchanged.
    He exhaled and shook his head. Snap out of it! Focus on Ash and listen.
    “…but it’s a shame about their coffee. So I guess I’ll have to get one somewhere else.”
    Don’t do it, don’t do it! James cleared his throat. “Well, I guess you could come back to the bookstore. Nicholas can make you one.”
    Ash smiled. “Thanks, James, that would be great.”
    Damn it!
     
     
    M IDSENTENCE , HE stopped talking. Rachael was fussing with her damn phone again. He sighed and let his gaze drift over the café décor. Their outdoor table had a red tablecloth and a small flowering potted plant. The chairs were an eclectic mix of age and style. Usually he disliked the haphazard mix-and-match approach, but these worked quite well.
    With a raised eyebrow, he turned to his sister. “I hope I’m not boring you?”
    “What?”
    “I thought I was going to have lunch with my sister, not watch her rudely use her phone to text other people.”
    Rachael pressed send, then put her phone away. “Sorry, all done.”
    “So, what made you choose this place?”
    “I thought it was time for a change. We always seem to go to the same places, and I decided you could use a little bit of a shakeup. Challenge that OCD streak of yours and get you out of your old-man routine.”
    “Gee, thanks you’re all heart, sis. Just so you know, my OCD can be quite useful at times, and you should have some respect when addressing your elders.”
    She smiled and took a sip of water. “So tell me about your week so far.”
    “Well, I’m a bit worried about Steph. She’s been acting even more strangely than usual.”
    “Oh? What’s she done?”
    “She’s all skittish and jumpy, and I’m sure she hung up on a customer the other day. And she’s vague and won’t give me a straight answer. I don’t know—it’s like her brain is somewhere else.”
    She smirked. “You just described how you’ve been behaving lately. Is there something on your mind, James? Or maybe someone?”
    He scowled. Sometimes sisters were a pain in the—
    “Hi! Nice to see you,” said Rachael.
    “Pardon?” He turned to see who Rachael was looking at. The breath caught in his throat. Ash! “What? Ah… hi, Ash.”
    Rachael jumped up and dragged another chair to the table. “Here, sit down and join us.”
    Ash put his hand on the back of the chair. “Thanks.”
    Ash and his tight jeans stood next to him, almost brushing against his shoulder. Of all the places in town to—
    A warm hand pressed on his shoulder. “Is that okay with you, James?”
    James cleared his throat. “Yeah, sure.”
    With Ash sitting next to him, the table suddenly seemed too small. The brush of Ash’s leg against his sent his heart racing. Oh God! He swallowed. “So what brings you here, Ash?”
    “Head office of Out There Adventure Sports is next door.”
    Damn! What were the odds?
    The young waitress hurried to their table to take Ash’s order. Focusing all her attention on Ash, she giggled and