The Boyfriend Goal Bonus

A Bonus Scene from The Boyfriend Goal by Lauren Blakely

 

Dear Wes,

 

Did you know there are secret libraries around the world? Okay, fine, they aren’t all exactly libraries. Some are more like forgotten libraries, unsung libraries, or unusual bookshops, and there’s even a book-friendly hostel in Japan with sleeping compartments next to the shelves. There’s one in Budapest that’s in a palace, and even one in San Francisco, though it’s more like a non-profit museum about the art of books.

Anyway, I learned that today at work and thought I would share.

 

Love,

 

Josie

 

***

 

Josie,

 

Is that the only reason you’re sharing?

 

Wes

 

***

 

Dear Wes,

 

What???? Are you trying to say I was planting the seed in your head that we should go to some of these places? Stop acting like you know me so well.

Fine, fine, if you insist, we can go to one of them this weekend.

 

Love,

 

Josie

 

***

 

Josie,

 

The one in Budapest? Sure. Say the word and I’ll book a flight.

 

Wes

 

***

 

Wesley,

 

You would? I’m going to reward you so hard when you get home tonight just for saying that. But no, I was thinking of the one in San Francisco.

 

Love,

 

Josie

 

***

 

Josie,

 

I’ll reward you first. Also, speaking of libraries, would you ever want to go on a tour of little free libraries around the city? There are a ton.

 

Wes

 

***

 

Dear Wesley,

 

IS THAT A TRICK QUESTION?

 

Love,

 

Josie

 

* * *

 

That night, I plan to give him his reward after he walks in the door. I’ve dressed for the part. Pencil skirt, white blouse, black heels, and pink pouty lips, just the way he likes them. My hair sits high on my head in a bun. In my hand is a library book.

When I hear him pull into the garage, I head to the top of the steps, waiting for him. His shoes click on the stairs.

When he reaches the top, he stops in his tracks. “Damn,” he says, eyeing me up and down.

I stare at him archly over the top of my glasses. “I’m so glad you’re here,” I say, sliding right into the role.

“Oh yeah? Why’s that?”

I brandish the book. “I can’t seem to reach this high shelf. Could you please help me put this book away, sir?”

He grins wolfishly. “Sure.”

I spin around and head to the library. He follows me, and even though I’m not looking over my shoulder, I’m sure his eyes are on me the whole time. The clicking of my shoes, I imagine, is turning him on. Also, the view.

When I reach the library, I head straight for an empty shelf, then stretch, stretch, stretch. “Oh,” I say, whimpering. “It’s so hard to reach the top shelf.” I look at him, exaggerating every word as I say, “So, so hard.”

He growls. “It really is. Let me help.”

He takes the book from me, brushing against me as he goes. “I’ll slide it in for you,” he says, with a cocky grin.

“Please. That would be so helpful.”

He complies, then turns around and pins me with a sexy gaze. “There you go.”

“How can I thank you?” I ask, fluttering my lashes. But before he can answer, I hold up a finger. “Wait. I have an idea.”

“I’m all ears.”

“How about I take off my glasses and let down my hair for you?” I ask as I remove my glasses and unclip my hair.

His breath comes out in a harsh gasp. “Perfect, baby. Now, just get on your knees.”

I obey, and give him his reward in the library.

Later, after I take my reward—sitting on my boyfriend’s face is seriously so much fun—we settle onto the couch with our favorite guy. Pancake snuggles up to Wes, setting his head in Wes’s lap as I click on my tablet and do one of my favorite things.

Make a list of a list within a list. On our Ten Things To Do With Your Love list, I add a new item.

Visit some little libraries.

“I’d love that,” Wes says. “Let’s start this weekend.”

“It’s a date,” I say.

A few days later, we’re wandering around Hayes Valley with Pancake, who’s trotting by our side on his leash, wagging his tail and sniffing all the trees. We’ve been visiting little libraries and replenishing their stock with books I’ve already read. Wes points to a quiet side street—Linden Street.

“That one. There’s a little library there,” he says.

I peer down the street and spot it outside a cute purple house. “Perfect. I have one book left.”

We head down the street, Pancake merrily strolling along. When we reach the little library—a red house-shaped one atop a pole—I’m about to tug open the plexiglass door when Wes curls his hand around my wrist.

“Wait a sec,” he says, then he reaches around me and opens it. “My sister said she left a book here earlier today. I want to grab it for her.”

That’s…odd. But I say, “Oh. Okay.”

He reaches inside quickly, then smiles at me. “Actually, she didn’t leave a book.”

In a flash, he drops down to one knee on the sidewalk, and my heart climbs up my throat.

“Josie Winters, I love you more than I ever knew was possible. You’re the kindest, most clever, biggest-hearted, most open-minded, and most thoughtful person I’ve ever known. And no one has ever seen me the way you do. I am more in love with you every day, and tomorrow, I’ll be even more in love with you too. I hope you’ll let me keep falling more and more each day,” he says, gazing up at me with those soulful brown eyes that have my whole entire heart. “Will you marry me?”

My entire body floods with sunshine and happiness as I drop down and say, “I would marry you today, Wes Bryant. I love you so much.”

He flips open the box, and I gasp. The diamond is a blindingly beautiful princess-cut stone, and it speaks to my girlie heart. He slides it on my finger, and I stare down at it, then him, then our dog.

“You’re going to be my husband,” I say to Wes, with a smile that won’t come off.

He wraps his arms around me and pulls me down to him, then presses a kiss to my lips—one Pancake tries to kiss off with his tongue, so we bring him into the hug.

Yes, number ten on Greta’s list happens every single day.

 

Stay tuned for THE ROMANCE LINE, the next standalone romance in the Love and Hockey series. While you wait for Max and Everly’s forbidden, enemies-to-lovers romance to come to you in KU in September, be sure to binge the My Hockey Romance series. Set in the same San Francisco hockey world, start with the spicy, hilarious, roommates-to-lovers Amazon Charts bestselling romance DOUBLE PUCKED, now available in KU!