A Daring Gentleman's Guide to Wooing.

Theo had exactly two thoughts as he stood inside the bookshop, staring at A Daring Gentleman’s Guide to Wooing.
One: He should have walked away the moment he saw Asher Mercier heading toward the same book.
Two: He was absolutely, definitely, going to regret whatever happened next.
The book sat on the counter between them like a loaded gun, and neither of them moved to pick it up first. The shopkeeper—who seemed far too entertained by their predicament—rested his elbows on the counter, his smirk never fading. “So? Who’s taking it?”
“I found it first,” Theo said immediately.
Asher shot him an unimpressed look. “That is not how this works.”
“Actually, that’s exactly how this works. First come, first served.”
“You didn’t even know what you were looking for.”
Theo grinned. “Sure I did. A good time. And this looks like a great time.”
Asher exhaled through his nose, clearly reconsidering all his life choices. “The book isn’t just—” He stopped himself, jaw tightening. “It’s important.”
“Exactly. To me.” Theo leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. “Because you want it. Which means it’s valuable.”
Asher’s fingers twitched at his side, like he was resisting the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose. “That is the most idiotic reasoning I’ve ever heard.”
The shopkeeper chuckled. “Or, hear me out—you could share it.”
Theo blinked. “I—what?”
Asher frowned. “What do you mean, share?”
The shopkeeper shrugged. “I mean you both want it. You both need it. And unless one of you has an extra five hundred bucks lying around, I’d say you’re out of options.”
Theo turned to Asher, about to make some ridiculous comment about his perfectly pressed shirt and surely expensive taste, but Asher beat him to it.
“I don’t pay bribes.”
Theo scoffed. “That’s funny, because I don’t pay for overpriced books.”
“Then you’re stuck with each other.”
Silence.
Theo could see Asher calculating, weighing the risks. For once, Theo wasn’t thinking about how to get under his skin—he was wondering if Asher was going to walk out and leave him with nothing.
Then, finally—
“We meet twice a week,” Asher said, adjusting his cuffs. “I get the book first.”
Theo held up a finger. “One condition.”
Asher sighed. “Of course.”
“If we’re reading it together, we’re reading all of it.”
For the first time since meeting him, Theo saw something close to actual hesitation in Asher Mercier’s expression.
“You mean—”
“Oh, absolutely.”
Asher’s jaw tightened. “…Fine.”
Theo grinned, extending his hand. “Pleasure doing business with you, mon cher.”
Asher stared at him, unimpressed, before shaking his hand with just enough pressure to be vaguely threatening. “I already regret this.”
Theo just laughed.
This was going to be fun.

The first meeting was supposed to be a simple exchange. They’d pick a quiet café, sit down, and take turns looking through the book. Straightforward. Easy.
It was not supposed to be Theo sitting across from Asher at a tiny table in the dimly lit corner of a nearly empty café, stirring his coffee absentmindedly while watching Asher meticulously flip through the pages like he was handling a priceless artifact.
“Do you ever relax?” Theo asked, resting his chin on his palm.
Asher didn’t look up. “Do you ever stop talking?”
“No.”
Asher sighed, turning another page. The book was full of neatly written notes in the margins, most of them in elegant cursive. Some in French. Others in what Theo was pretty sure was code.
“So, are we going to talk about the fact that someone used a romance novel to smuggle messages?”
Asher paused, just for a second, before continuing to read. “No.”
Theo smirked. “Come on, Mercier. That’s interesting.”
“It’s inconvenient.”
Theo took a sip of his coffee. “I don’t know, I think it’s kind of poetic. Love letters hidden in love stories?” He tapped the cover of the book. “That’s some dramatic espionage nonsense.”
Asher closed the book with a soft thud and finally met Theo’s gaze. “That’s exactly what makes it dangerous.”
Theo studied him for a moment, taking in the sharp set of his jaw, the way his fingers stayed firmly on the cover like he was bracing himself.
“…You’re not just looking for information, are you?”
Asher exhaled, rubbing his temple. “You’re going to keep talking until I tell you, aren’t you?”
“Absolutely.”
A long pause. Then, finally—
“There’s a name in here. A lead.” Asher’s voice was quieter now, careful. “Someone I’ve been looking for.”
Theo raised a brow. “Someone dangerous?”
“Someone missing.”
Theo didn’t expect that answer. He leaned back, tipping his chair slightly. “Huh. That is interesting.”
Asher sighed again.
Theo grinned. “Guess I’m helping now.”
“No, you’re not.”
“Too late, I’m invested.”
“You cannot be serious—”
“Mon cher, I am always serious.”
Asher groaned, setting the book down and rubbing his face. “I already regret this.”
Theo just sipped his coffee, fighting back a victorious smile.
Oh, this was going to be very fun.