A Step Closer to Love

“Oh my gosh,” Arabella exclaimed with a joyful voice.

“Really?” she asked covering her mouth with her hand and tapping his hand excitedly.

“I knew you would like this place,” he said when he saw how happy she was. She was unable to pull off the smirk from her face as she bounced happily in her seat.

“Oh my gosh, this was one of the things that made me switch cities,” she said.

“I am glad that you like it”

“How can I not like it? It’s books in hardcover, I can see them in different prints and covers” she said dreamily like she was having a great dream.

“Shall we go in?”

“Are we going to tour the entire place?” Arabella asked.

When she heard that there was going to be an international bookstore where all books that hands could be laid on would be sold there. The place also doubled as a library where one could rent books.

When she heard about it she had always wanted to visit and the deciding factor for her when she got the job was the bookstore. She saw it as a chance to finally visit. She had not been able to get around to visit the place yet because she had been busy but seeing her brought her there on their first full date together.

“I am so touched,” she said touching the left side of her chest.

“Let’s go in,” he said going down. He was by the side of the car in a flash before she could get the door open.

“A lady should not get her own door” he said flashing her teeth.

“What’s that?” she let out in a flustered laugh.

“Shall we?” he said anchoring his arm so she could drop hers over it.

They walked in, and even though Kieran was not interested or really moved by books he could not deny how magnificent and beautiful the place was.

“Hello, welcome to the International Bookstore what can I do for you?” the peppy lady at the front desk asked.

“We would like to visit the library and the romance bookstore,” Arabella said before Kieran could let out a word.

He shrugged because it was wise for her to talk instead. He knew pretty much nothing about what her preferences for books were.

“Alright then, all you have to do is make your way through that elevator over there, for the library you are going to the fourth floor and for the romance book store you are going to the floor above that,” the girl said with a sweet smile.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

“Okay thank you”

“I do hope you have a wonderful stay,” the lady said as they walked away.

“Romance novels?” Kieran asked.

“Yeah, I am a lover girl,” she said walking to the elevator.

Kieran had read online that the place was a hot dating spot but the place was as deserted as the amusement park.

“That’s strange” he muttered.

“What was that?” Arabella asked.

“Oh it’s nothing”

“What’s nothing?” she asked.

“It’s just that during my research I noticed that this place is a hot spot for dating but no one seems to be here”

“It’s a weekday” Arabella reminded him. His mouth formed an oh shape as if he had remembered something out of the blue.

“That is true” Kieran admitted. They got into the elevator and went up to the fourth floor they were directed to.

“Let’s check the library first and then the bookstore maybe I would be able to find new steals to go home with”

Kieran saw some kind of excitement. It was like one he had never seen before and he was glad that he brought her here. At least she would always remember him as the man who took her on such a date that made her so happy.

“You can do whatever you wish to,” he said.

As he pushed the glass doors and she stood inside, she stood with her eyes closed and her nostrils open to take in the smell of the books. “Doesn’t it just smell so heavenly?” she asked opening her eyes and running her eyes over and over again through the library.

“I have no idea where to start,” she said again.

“Let’s start there” Kieran said pointing to what looked like a front desk.

“Hello welcome to the international bookstore Library” Another peppy girl said.

Arabella thought about how smart the owners or the place were. The girls at each station somehow made the ambience better than it should have felt.

“Hello” Arabella said.

“How can I help you?”

“What services do you offer?”

“You can rent books to read and return them after your time elapses like a normal Library. We also offer in-read services” the girl explained.

Kieran looked around to see the small cubicle like compartment and he finally understood the reason why it was a hot spot for dating. The cubicle rooms had a glass covering so one could not see the insides.

“We would pick out books and read them here” Kieran said before Arabella could make up her mind.

She cast him a look with her eyebrows raised in confusion. Had he not said that her wish was his command? Why was he suddenly picking out what he wanted? He was not even a fan of books so she wondered why he was suddenly interested in reading in.

She did not mind his suggestion as she wanted to soak in the beauty and smell of the place for as long as possible. She was going to read in anyway.

“We have a variety of books that you can choose from. From comic books to X-rated books. ” the girl said pointing in the direction of the books. “We also provide a self care service where you can order any kind of meal and have it delivered on the condition that it is only eaten within the compartment provided for you” the girl explained.

“We understand” Arabella was eager to explore.

“Why don’t you pick a book and I would pick out our meal?” Kieran suggested.

Arabella nodded her head in response and was out of his sight before he could utter a word.