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That beautiful man was in the bookshop again, and Wriothesley couldn’t help but watch him wistfully from afar. Half-moon glasses perched on the man’s thin nose, his suit pale blue with a dark cravat tucked beneath the collar of his shirt. Long white hair fell in a neat braid down his back, tied with a navy bow.
Wriothesley leaned over the edge of the counter, completely distracted from what he’d been doing on the computer, looking up a few books that had been requested for order. He knew little about this beautiful customer of theirs except that he was a regular, always in the shop on the weekends browsing the shelves. He’d spend an hour or more picking out books, skimming titles and summaries, reading a few pages before replacing them, usually ending up with a select two or three to take home.
Wriothesley was pretty sure this man had some kind of desk job. He had the energy of it, at least. He almost always looked a bit worn, but neat and tidy in appearance. Probably an accountant, a clerk, or maybe something to do with law. Regardless, the man never gravitated to the sorts of books Wriothesley would expect. Not contemporary or non-fiction or literary fiction. It was almost always romance.
Not just the usual romance novels, though. More often than not, it was specifically gay romance.
Wriothesley’s colleagues at the store were always teasing him whenever this man came into the shop. They knew very well that Wriothesley was gay, and that he had a type, and that this man was that type. Usually, he laughed it off, but today... Today, he was here alone.
It was still before noon on a beautiful, sunny Saturday, and their shop was a bit of a hole in the wall. Usually, their customers came around in the afternoon or evening, so the store was largely empty.
Since there was no one there to tease him relentlessly, Wriothesley thought maybe... maybe he really would try to shoot his shot. If he failed miserably, well, then that was that.
With a long sigh, he pushed himself away from the counter, meandering through the shelves. He replaced a few books here and there, deciding he might as well do actual work and not make it too weird as he slowly approached the well-dressed man.
“Can I help you with anything, Monsieur?” Wriothesley asked softly once he was just a few feet away.
Usually, people preferred to browse quietly, but the man did look a bit troubled, and when Wriothesley asked, he actually turned towards him, brow furrowed.
“Perhaps you can,” the man said, voice soft and low and just as beautiful as the rest of him. “I’m looking for the newest book by Theo Lord, but you don’t seem to have it in stock. Unless I’m mistaken?”
He motioned to the shelf, and Wriothesley nodded knowingly, a little smile tugging at his lips. The author and the series in question was a romance between a half-wolf man and a half-dragon man. A kind of obscure one, and a little-known fantasy series that was slowly taking off now that the third book in the series was out. It was a fun read and one of his own personal favorites. He’d devoured the third book in a single sitting alongside several cups of tea.
“Yeah, I know just the one.” Wriothesley winked. “Just read it myself. I wanted to promote it, so we put it near the front, over here.”
“Oh.” The man perked up immediately and Wriothesley led him towards the front of the store where it was displayed proudly amongst the newer arrivals.
“Here you go. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.” Plucking one from the top of the stack, Wriothesley handed it to him, and the man smiled with a little glint in his gorgeous lilac eyes.
“I’m certain I will,” the man said, sliding his fingers subtly over Wriothesley’s as he accepted the book.
It occurred to Wriothesley in that moment that he bore a slight resemblance to the book’s love interest... and the man before him, a slight resemblance to the draconic protagonist.
“Thank you for your help, Wriothesley,” the man purred, smile widening.
Wriothesley nearly startled out of his skin when the man said his name, but the man’s gaze flicked down to Wriothesley’s name tag.
Oh... of course. His name tag.
“Well, you can ask me any time.” Wriothesley grinned.
“My name is Neuvillette,” the man said pointedly.
“Nice to meet you.” Wriothesley laughed softly, pulling his hand away from the book, but Neuvillette leaned just a bit closer.
“I’ve seen you working here before” Neuvillette said, and looked down, a flush across his cheeks. “You must forgive me, perhaps this is absurd, but I had always watched you from afar and meant to ask for your assistance.”
“That so?” Wriothesley raised his brow, flush deepening.
“Yes,” Neuvillette said, seeming to find his confidence. Wriothesley was already getting the idea that he’d been completely right about this man. That Neuvillette was his type in every way. “Perhaps, as it seems we also have similar tastes in books, and I find you rather...” He cleared his throat, “fetching. There is a cafe across the street from here, and I would be delighted if you would join me.”
A silence fell between them. They stood there, completely still, as if neither could believe this was happening. Could it truly be possible they’d been eyeing each other across the store for months without the other realizing it?
“I’m sorry, I—” Neuvillette broke off as Wriothesley reached out to brush his hand again.
“I get off work at three,” Wriothesley said.
“At three,” Neuvillette confirmed with a nod, just as surprised as Wriothesley was. “Then... I will see you there. And I would like to purchase the book, if you please.”
“Right away.” Wriothesley grinned, heart fluttering in his chest in the most incredible way.