One Shots || Bucky x Reader || ABC

B || Books and Bonding *

Trigger warning: Mild spice, nothing too serious YET.

"I swear to god Dani- this is the last time I'm covering for y-" you started, but found yourself rudely interrupted as Dani pushed a heavy box of books in your arms, ignoring your statement completely.

"Oh come on- I have a date tonight. You don't have anywhere to be tonight anyways, right?" she asked with that signature wicked grin on her face that always made you wonder why the two of you were friends in the first place. But then you'd always remember how she would always pick you up when you were truly down or how she would show up to your doorstep in the middle of the night with ice cream and booze when the two of you felt the urge to bitch on the entire world population.

"Well, no. But-" you started but found yourself lacking an argument to back you up your rebuttal. It made Dani smirk.

"You should go out again babe. Spice up your life again. It's been months," Dani suggested slyly as she wiggled her eyebrows up and down. You looked over your shoulder to the café area to make sure no one had heard her. The two old ladies in the back seemed lost in their own conversation and the man sitting in the front, typing away, appeared so lost in his thought that he hadn't heard. You couldn't help but notice the way he slowly scratched his stubbled jawline with the tips of his fingers, or the way his teeth dug into his bottom lip as he squinted his eyes at his laptop screen. His hair was somewhat messy from the storm that had been raging all day long, making the small smile that was hidden in the corner of his lips look all the more charming.

"Speaking of spice- these-" Dani started, and you half expected she had caught you staring, but found her pointing to the books in your arms, "-go on the 'Spice and Everything Nice' shelf and the ones behind the counter should go on the 'Tome Raiders' shelf in the front."

You chuckled as you rolled your eyes at your best friend. How the hell did she come up with these names?

"Right babe. I'll see you tomorrow. And don't forget: Do everything that I would do!" she blurted out, smiling extravagantly before she exited the small bookshop and disappeared in the rain. You stared after her for a moment, pondering the words she had spoken. You couldn't help but agree that your life had been extremely uneventful ever since you had broken up with your ex-boyfriend over six months ago. Perhaps you did need a change? As you were rethinking your life choices, you found Mr Darcy, your lazy and slightly overweight bookshop cat staring back at you blankly. His green eyes were locked on yours in a lazy look of disgust. Christ, even the cat was judging you.

You sighed as you moved the box of books to the 'Spice and Everything nice' shelf that was hidden away in the back of the store at a height which prevented kids from ever seeing the heat-inducing covers. The shelves seemed somewhat out of place in this classic dark brown bookshop with its marble floors, working fireplace and jazz music. Mr Darcy continued to observe you with his judging gaze as you set to work.

As you worked, you found that looking at all of the steamy book covers had sent a flush up your cheeks as your mind unwillingly raced to what would be written in the books themselves. You felt grateful when the two old ladies both ordered two more cappuccinos, giving you a small break from sitting on your knees for too long. When you returned to your work, you found yourself looking at a book with a particularly spicy cover that peeked your interest, when you heard a warm and deep voice behind you.

"Well- that looks like an interesting read."

Startled, you nearly dropped the book out of your hands but managed to catch it before it was able to hit the floor. You quickly turned around, your cheeks on fire as a wave of embarrassment flooded your body.

"Oh no- uh- I was just-" you started, but found your words failed you when you looked at the bright blue eyes, framed by dark eyelashes, staring back into yours. You quickly pointed the cover of the book, which showed a woman pushed up against a window with a large muscular man between her legs, down towards the floor.