His Juliet: An Age Gap Hurt Comfort Mafia Romance (Empire of Royals Book 2)

I put my head down on the large desk in the bookstore. Today had been sloooow. The weather was horrible—a blend of rain and snow coming down in a gross slush that drove every sane person to stay inside.

The bookstore was nice and cozy. Too bad no one was here to enjoy it besides me.

I picked up my phone and scrolled aimlessly through my social media accounts before heading to Google. I glanced around as I typed in my search, feeling weirdly guilty. Romeo businessman New York City.

Unsurprisingly, nothing relevant came up. Unsurprising since my mystery man hadn’t given me his real first name. Or a last name. Or a profession. It wouldn’t shock me if he worked in business or finance—he obviously had money—but my current guess was that he was an international spy on an undercover mission.

My thumb automatically navigated to our text conversation. Romeo had messaged me a few times, checking in. Work was keeping him busy, so he hadn’t been in the bookstore in a while and I missed him.

I needed to be careful not to fall for him too hard, or I would end up with a broken heart. But I didn’t have anyone else to text, and I was desperately bored, so I started typing.

Juliet

How’s your day going?

I scrunched my nose at my phone. It was such a boring text, but I didn’t have long to dwell on it because he started typing back right away.

Romeo

It’s all gray and horrible because you’re not in it

I blushed, my insides squirming at the text. Romeo was flirty with me. At least, I thought he was flirting, but maybe that’s just how he spoke to everyone.

Juliet

I think that’s the wintry mix we’re having

Romeo

No, it’s because I need my Juliet fix

How’s your day going?

Juliet

So boring. No one’s coming in because of the weather.noveldrama

Romeo

Do you have any plans later?

My heart started pounding faster. Was he asking because he wanted to see me?

Juliet

Not really. Just laundry that I don’t want to do

Romeo

It’s not hard to do laundry, is it?

I stared at my phone, my eyebrows scrunched.

Juliet

Have you never done laundry before?

Romeo

Of course I have. That would be weird if I hadn’t

Juliet

Uh huh. So how do you do laundry?

Romeo

I use the machine thing

Juliet

Oh my god! You seriously don’t know how to do laundry!

Romeo

I thought you were bored and yet your topic of choice is laundry??

Juliet

You can come over and I’ll teach you how to do it

I typed my message before I could second-guess myself, but the moment it sent, I threw my phone down on the desk with an undignified squeal. I covered my burning cheeks, sweat prickling at my armpits. Had I seriously just asked Romeo over to my shitty apartment so he could learn how to do laundry in the dingy basement laundry room? What the fuck was wrong with me?

Romeo

That’s the best offer I’ve gotten all day. Unfortunately I’m about to head upstate and won’t be back until late

Juliet

I know you’re sad to be missing out

Romeo

Absolutely crushed

I took a deep breath of relief. He hadn’t acted weird about my text. I shook my shirt, fanning myself. The shop was old and a bit drafty so I was usually cold, but this conversation had left me overheated.

Later in the evening, as I was putting my first load of laundry into the washer, I got a text from Romeo to go outside. There, I found a pizza delivery man with a large pie for Juliet.

Romeo

To make up for the slices I stole