By The Book

Summary

Jamie has always been kind of meek and mild, but an elegant older woman who visits the coffee shop he works at takes a shine to him. She tells him she needs help sorting out the bookstore she owns, and asks if he would be willing to help – paid, of course. He accepts – the coffee shop never gives him enough hours, and honestly – a bookshop? He is studying English Lit, there’s worse places to work, right?

It turns out he and Elaine really hit it off, and she begins to confide in him. It turns out the bookstore is sort of a hobby – she doesn’t really need the money, she’s got quite enough of that, but she likes to have something to keep her busy, aside from the charity dinners she goes to. “You can’t imagine how boring they are” she says, rolling her eyes. “Although, I bet they’d be fun with some fresh company” she adds, smiling at him. Jamie is fairly certain she’s flirting, and equally certain that he’s incredibly attracted to her.

There’s a catch though – usually, Elaine turns up at these dinners with a pretty young woman on her arm. “I think you’re pretty enough that no one would ask any questions” she says, consideringly. “In the right outfit of course. Come by my apartment beforehand, and I’ll help you get dressed.” Jamie is intrigued, and honestly, this job pays better than anything else he’s had before. What harm could it do? He can play dress-up for a night… or maybe more.