The Cinnamon Bun Book Store (Dream Harbor, #2)(20)

‘Oh, you know, the usual. Visited a few of the local sorority houses, made some new friends. How about you? Read anything good lately?’

Kaori’s smile grew shark-like. Suddenly, Noah felt bad for everyone she’d cross-examined as a trial lawyer. She must be terrifying to face in court. And she wasn’t fooled by Noah’s lies, but he wasn’t scared of the book club.

‘Oh, plenty of good reads. Just finished one about a reformed rake.’

‘Well, everyone loves a reformed rake.’ He winked and turned toward the counter with Kaori cackling behind him.

‘Hey, Noah.’ Jeanie was at the register this morning and she was also smiling at him like she knew things, or thought she knew things.

‘Hey, Jeanie.’

‘How was your night?’

Before or after Hazel kissed him and rearranged his brain chemistry?

‘Fine, thanks.’

She was still staring at him, her dark brows lifted like she was waiting for him to go on.

‘Uh, I’ll have an iced coffee with milk.’

‘Okay, sure.’ She called his order to Joe who was making the drinks this morning while Jeanie manned the register.

‘Has Hazel been in yet?’

Jeanie’s smile grew. ‘No, not yet.’

‘Then I’ll get an apple-cider iced tea, too.’

‘You know her drink order.’

He was sure Kaori had just sighed dreamily behind him but he refused to turn around.

‘Stop looking at me like that, Jeanie.’

‘Like what?’

Noah narrowed his eyes. ‘Like that. Hazel is a friend.’

‘Uh-huh. Right. A friend. Got it.’ She handed him his drinks, a look on her face like she didn’t believe a word he said which was fair because he didn’t either, but he wasn’t about to discuss what he and Hazel were to each other with half of Dream Harbor, the nosy book-club president included, waiting in line behind him.

‘See you later.’

‘Bye, Noah.’

‘Bye, Noah!’ Kaori chirped, stepping up to the counter. Noah did not want to know what she and Jeanie were immediately giggling about.

He was nearly free of Jeanie’s insinuating looks and Kaori’s probing questions when Logan walked in. He really needed to find a different coffee shop.

‘Noah.’

‘Hey, man. I was just on my way out?—’

‘What happened last night?’

Good lord, this town.

‘I had a lovely time at the carnival. Where were you by the way? Didn’t feel like supporting the school?’

Red was creeping up Logan’s neck and into his cheeks. ‘Jeanie put on a sundress.’

‘Excuse me?’

‘We didn’t make it out of the house, okay?’ Logan ground out the words like they were choking him and Noah burst out laughing.

‘Damn. Must have been one hell of a dress.’

‘It was. But that’s beside the point.’

‘And what is the point exactly?’

‘We heard you were there with Hazel. Like a date.’

‘You really shouldn’t believe everything you hear in this town, man. You of all people should know that.’ He flashed Logan a grin before scooting around him and out the door. Hazel was not kidding about the town talking about their little outing. But let them think what they wanted.

He’d had an amazing time.

The best time.

Such a good time, in fact, that he hadn’t been able to sleep last night. Instead, he’d tossed and turned and thought about how sweet Hazel tasted and how soft her hair was as it brushed against the arm he had around her shoulders.

And most of all, he thought about the satisfied smile on her face when she’d pulled away. He wanted to see more of that.

He walked next door, drinks in hand, suddenly finding it necessary that he see a certain bookseller before he started his day.





‘Hazel, you’re here!’

Hazel looked up from her laptop at the sound of Annie’s voice. She’d let herself in the backdoor of the shop like she always did when they were closed.

‘Of course, I’m here. And shouldn’t you be at your own place of business?’

Annie waved away her concern. ‘I heard Noah carried you out of the carnival over his shoulder last night after winning like ten stuffed animals.’

Hazel blinked. ‘Uh, no. That’s not what happened.’

Annie dropped onto the couch. ‘Then what happened?’

She still didn’t feel like explaining the whole book-clues summer-of-fun, hots for Noah situation so she went with the simplest lie. ‘Noah asked me to go with him, so I did.’

Annie’s eyes widened. ‘And...’

‘And that’s it. It was fun.’

‘Fun?’

‘Yes, fun. I am in fact capable of having fun.’

Annie’s brow creased. ‘Of course you are, Haze. But you hate the carnival. Especially ever since the Ferris wheel debacle of junior year.’

Hazel shrugged. ‘Turns out Ferris wheels are kinda fun.’

Annie studied her, the crease in her forehead deepening. ‘You sure you’re okay?’

‘Yep.’