Chương 41: Book Signing

He should not be jealous. Julie had chosen him. Not the man from her past. But him, Duncan.

So why do I feel so territorial? Duncan asked himself on the day of the book signing.

Riley's Confectioneries were packed with people who wanted to meet Nicollette Claude. His people were shocked when they found out that Julie the innkeeper and Nicollette Claude were the same person.

He looked at Julie. She was sitting on the chair behind the long table that was used for the event.

Several of her books were on the table, as bookmarks, and some souvenirs. They were supposed to be given to the readers that were present at the virtual book signing.

None of them expected that the number of people would be this big.

Duncan moved away from the kitchen door and walked toward Julie's side. There was an empty chair on either side of her. Riley had asked him to stick beside Julie, looking at the crowd outside, Duncan had to sigh.

~~~~~

["I may not know Julie very well, but I am guessing that she will be uncomfortable with those large of people outside," said Riley.

She was decorating one of her cakes while he was looking at Julie who was busily arranging her books on the table. They have three hours before the event would start.

Julie and Riley's kids were playing in the playground. Fall and Jane were with them so he was not too worried about his two little rascals.

"She will be fine," was his confident reply. But Riley hit him with her wooden spoon on his arm. "Ouch! What was that for?"

"Do you really think that she will be fine?" Riley asked him.

"Of course not!" Duncan replied. "Why do you think I am here? I'm worried about her. She can handle the number of visitors at the inn, but this crowd is different."

Duncan heard Riley sigh before she stood beside him and also looked at the woman they were talking about, "She needs you, Duncan. She might not say it, but if you look at her..."

"Yes," he replied. He looked at the woman who had almost the same past as Julie. "I won't leave her if that is what you are worried about. But she needs this time to get her head in the game." Duncan smiled when Julie reached for her phone and started typing, not a few seconds passed, and his phone vibrated.

He and Riley looked at each other and laughed. The other asked, "Does she know that you are here?"

He shook his head and pulled out his phone from his pocket. And there was a message from Julie, asking if it was too late to back out.

He replied no and watched her reaction. "You better bake her a chocolate mint cake that she can take home after, Riley. This is going to be a long day."]

~~~~~

Duncan placed a platter of petit fours on Julie's right side and a tall glass of lemonade on the other. He saw how grateful she was for the food he gave because he took one bite of the food and a healthy gulp of the drink.

"Got tired of drinking water?" He asked.

"It's not cold anymore," was her reply before she reached and signed another book.

"You could have told Riley's cashier that you wanted some more ice," he said.

Julie faced him, a look of disbelief on her face before saying, "Have you looked at the line at Riley's counter?"

He glanced and grimaced, there was a long queue of people with baked goodies on their trays. The event was a big help to boost the sales of the bakeshop.

"Sorry," he apologized. "Want me to get some ice?" Duncan offered.

"Yes, please."

He dropped a kiss on her forehead before he reached out and picked up the pitcher of water at the upper right side of the table. He heard several gasps from the people who were in line for the signing. He smiled at some of them before he closed the kitchen door.

"Really, Duncan?" Riley asked with a smile on her face. "That PDA moment will never be forgotten."

"That was the plan. I want everyone to know she is mine. Some of her readers are male, I do not want some of them to think she is available," Duncan replied, as he refilled the pitcher with some ice and water.

"Make sure she eats those petit fours, okay?" Riley called out and watched Duncan walk back to the main area of the bakery.

"I will," he replied.

Julie was busy writing a dedication when he reached her side. He placed the pitcher where it belonged and looked at the platter. The food was still untouched. Rather than be irritated, he picked one, tapped Julie on her shoulder, and offered her the treat.

He saw her eyes widen in embarrassment, but not before there was a flash of happiness in them. She opened her mouth and accepted the treat without much fanfare, at the same time several cameras took a picture.

He did not care though. Everyone in town had seen them. He was not sure if they understood who she was in his life but this time, he would make sure that they do.

Duncan glared at the next person who wanted their book signed. It was the ex. Migs. He gave the man a once over and dragged his chair closer to Julie's side.

She rolled her eyes and shook her head, but there was a smile on her thin red lips. He pushed his luck further by dropping his left arm behind her chair. She looked at him and raised a brow. Duncan shrugged and kissed her cheek.

Julie smiled but looked back at Migs. Duncan watched as she greeted her ex-bf like the other people in line. A fan. There was no hint that they had been together in the past.

He scowled when Migs asked to have his picture taken with Julie. To pacify him, Julie in turn, included him in it.

Childish? Not really. Julie was his. Plain and simple. And no other male could come between them.

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