Chapter 1: The Bookshop Owner

Amber glow embraces the streets in a warm welcome as daytime reaches it's climax.

The once azure sky's canvas, now stained with fiery carmins and fading yellows, as evening gloom begins it's reign.

A trail of towering iron lampposts on each side of the asphalt road, slowly wake up from their slumber, to illuminate the area.

7 p.m. reveals the full grain leather watch on the gentleman's wrist, 'almost closing time' he gleefully thinks.

Before taking a stride towards his desired destination, he looks through the display window, to catch a glimpse of the woman inside the store.

Gushes of cool autumn breeze blows in the air, as the brown haired fellow slowly walks towards the bookstore.

Faded golden bells chime in symphony, as he pushes the aged mahogany door open to enter the cozy little shop. A woody aromatic, yet pleasant scent fills his nose.

Serene tranquility in the atmosphere,

lively warmth in the air,

with his heartbeats rapid,

and his breathing irregular,

his eyes finally land on the one,

he has been looking for.

The one his heart, mind, soul and body has been demanding to see.

A young woman seemingly in her early twenties turns around to welcome the newly arrived guest. She greets the taller man in a vibrant tone as a soft smile makes its way on her face. The elegantly vested gentleman returns the gesture as he swiftly walks towards her.

"You're looking radiant today, aren't you Ms. [Y/N]?" Teases the young man playfully in a hoarse voice.

"No need to add the Miss. Just call me [Y/N], Mr. Cyril" retorts the woman back, in a similarly playful manner.

Finding himself amused at her reaction Cyril lets out a little chuckle and observes her frame for a second. Noticing, that she probably needs to get back to work, Cyril gives her tiny nod whilst [Y/N] gives him a curt smile before going back to finish her previous task.

—

Cyril, one of the most loyal customers here and he has been one since the opening of the bookshop 5 months ago.

He comes here on a daily basis and purchases a handful of books and manga etc. every single time.

Although for some reason he always seems to arrive just thirty minutes before the store's closing but [Y/N] doesn't mind. He is a regular afterall, who helps her business thrive. She can't complain.

Often asks [Y/N] for recommendations and even takes her up on them. [Y/N] has even worked overtime a few times, just because she didn't want to end the chit-chat, she was having with him about her favorite (books/manga etc.) He, of course joyfully obliges.

Oh how delighted he feels, everytime he remembers her talking to him, so openly and freely with a beaming smile planted on her face.

Seeing [Y/N] so excited to talk about her interests, he feels his heart swell with affection.

There's absolutely nothing he would rather do, than listen to her pleasing voice and watch her gorgeous smile, for finally having found someone with similar taste as her.

Basically, he knows how to hold a great conversation. A smooth talker with a sophisticated look and personality. A tall bespectacled gentleman, who knows how to dress well. Each one of his outfits showing elegance and charisma.

Also blessed with some immensely impressive genetics, it's almost unfair.

A charmer, everyone would call him but hasn't quite managed to charm [Y/N], yet.

Well, atleast she thinks of him as a good friend and he is content with that, for now.

—

While he is looking around the shop and grabbing a few things, his gaze once again lingers on the woman much shorter than him.

The brown hued eyes sharply follow each of her moves in silence as she gets on a little wooden ladder to try to reach the upper shelves.

Her nimble hands try to pull out a rather thick novel from a top shelf but she fails to do so.'Cute' he thinks, even with a ladder the shelves still seem to be too tall for her.

[Y/N] senses Cyril's stare and glances in his direction. She gives him a brief nod, not wanting to worry him with her antics before carefully balancing herself on her tiptoes to extend her arms reach.

Nevertheless, the task at hand seems to be even harder than before with the bespectacled man observing her.

However, all of her actions come to an abrupt halt when she feels the Cyril's physique encasing her torso from behind. His large frame easily maneuvering over her as he reaches his arm out to grab the book for her.

Steady breathing could be heard from him but hers; slightly rigid, from the sudden closeness.

Feeling a little tense from the whole exchange, she lets out a tiny sigh and finally decides to turn towards him.

With her head, now directly at his neck the smell of his cologne engulfs all her senses. Savouring his musky sandalwood aroma, she finds it almost hypnotizing, to say the least.

Her [eye color] eyes closely watch his arms motions.

Succeeding in the task, Cyril takes a step back and helps [Y/N] get down from the ladder.

He takes one of her hands in his unoccupied hand as her feet securely land on the beige hardwood floor.

–

His hands much larger than hers but hers much softer than his. Her palm; a little clammy from their little interaction as his slightly calloused ones still clasp onto them tightly.

He takes a mental note of everything, every single little detail.

The soft little sigh she let out earlier; absolutely adorable.

Her eyes when she looked up at him; captivating.

Her gaze; Enticing.

Her scent; a saccharine sweet fragrance of a floral detergent that drowns out almost all of the other odors.

Her hair; a refreshingly balsamic smell that he can't get enough of.

Her clothes; that closely define all her curves. Yet still modest enough to leave out the details, for the mind to imagine. For his mind.

Outfits that are exquisitely classy but also bring out her feminine charms to showcase her figure just the right amount for his liking.

–

He aches to keep holding her hands a little longer. Wants stay close to her, a while longer but he knows he can't do that, just yet.

The whole exchange probably made her a little nervous he presumes and almost lets out a little chuckle in the process. All of it somehow, very endearing to him.

–

Finally getting out of his little train of thought, he notices [Y/N] trying take the book from his grasp. Which leads him to clutch the book even tighter but this time he holds it above her head, so she won't be able to reach it. Everytime she tries to reach for it, he walks a little closer to her figure. Finally stopping, when her back is pressed against one of the giant wooden shelves. Both of them can nearly hear each other's heartbeats as she finds herself caged between him and the shelf.

It feels like she's caught between a rock and a hard place. A textured concrete wall to her right, his concealed muscular arm on her left, a wooden shelf against her back and most of all, him right infront of her.

Dumbfounded by his actions [Y/N] tries to get out of her current position but how and where to? The womans mind blanks for a moment.

A look of fluster and surprise coats her face, as she looks up at Cyril. He, once again extends out his arm infront of her but still doesn't let go of the desired item.

From this proximity she notices the contouring of his bicep muscles, now slightly visible under his burgundy dress shirt.

Silver rings adorn his long and slender fingers. A metallic bracelet on one wrist and a leather watch on the other that declares the current time. 7:25 p.m.

–

"The store closes in 5 minutes." [Y/N] blurts out loud.

"Yes, I'm aware." Cyril smiles sheepishly and answers.

Cyril, probably her last customer for today.

Well, not only today but also on most other days.

–

Why else would he put so much effort into visiting the bookstore half an hour before closing? Because he knows that's the only time, the shop is basically empty and he can have her all to himself.

The only time he's the only one occupying her time and getting all her attention. The only time he's the only having conversations with her without any distractions. Of course sometimes some nuisances get in the way but only for so long...

—

To be continued