The Cinnamon Bun Book Store (Dream Harbor, #2)(24)

‘I remember. But they look ready to attack.’

Noah laughed. ‘I’m a man of my word, you’ll get to eat your lunch.’

Hazel let herself relax into his side on the way back to the blanket. He was warm and solid and her body seemed to melt against him regardless of how her brain felt about the situation. Her brain had no place here. Not during her fun, reckless adventures with Noah.

The water had begun its trek back to low tide and even more rocks and shells were exposed. Water ran in rivulets through the sand and out to the ocean. Hazel’s toes were used to the chill of the water now and she didn’t mind stepping in the little streams. She spotted more crabs but they didn’t stop to chat. All this salt air had made her hungry.

The cooler was waiting for them right where they’d left it and Hazel plopped down next to it on the blanket. She tossed her giant hat to the side.

‘Woah, playing a little fast and loose with the sun protection, Haze.’

She stuck out her tongue and Noah laughed. ‘I have sunscreen on. And I’m being a little reckless, remember?’

‘Oh, I remember.’ He said it like he remembered just how reckless that Ferris wheel kiss was and like he wanted to do it again. He held her gaze and for a second Hazel thought he might close the distance between them, but instead he turned and started rummaging through the cooler. ‘Turkey BLT or ham and cheese?’

She might have been disappointed that he didn’t initiate a repeat of their kiss if her stomach wasn’t grumbling. ‘BLT.’

‘Good call.’ He tossed her the sandwich, a very risky move on his part, but miraculously she caught it.

‘Did you make these?’

‘Nope. Got them from the deli next to Mac’s.’

‘Yum.’ Hazel loved that deli, especially the pasta fagioli soup in the winter time. She unwrapped her sandwich and they ate in peace for a while, forgetting about the imminent threat of sea-bird excrement.

Or at least Hazel had put it completely out of her mind until Noah leapt up and darted away from the blanket.

‘Noah, what?—’

He was gone before she could finish her sentence, running down the beach, sending a group of seagulls squawking angrily into the air. Hazel clapped a hand over her mouth. He was chasing birds for her. He ran, kicking up sand and waving his arms until the birds were a satisfactory distance from their spot. She held in the unhinged giggles that threatened to spill out.

Noah returned out of breath and with a triumphant gleam in his eye. ‘Got ’em.’ He sat down again, sprawling out with his sandwich on his lap. ‘They won’t be bothering you anytime soon.’

Hazel couldn’t bring herself to tell him that the birds had already begun inching closer again. She was too busy grinning like an idiot, as though Noah had slayed dragons for her instead of chasing away some pesky birds.

It was the thought that counted, right?

‘Thanks. I feel much better.’

He squinted up at her, using a hand to block the sun. ‘Do you like the beach yet?’

With you, I do. ‘I’m warming up to it.’ She plopped the giant hat on his head. ‘I think it’s your turn for the hat.’

‘Thanks,’ he said, taking another big bite of sandwich. ‘So, I’ve been thinking about the clues.’

‘Oh?’

‘About suspects.’

‘Really? Who do you think’s doing it?’ Hazel had forgotten that she even cared who was doing it, but it was cute that Noah had been thinking about it.

Noah stretched his legs out in front of him. ‘What about Annie?’

‘Annie? No, I don’t think so.’

‘She’s in the bookstore all the time. And she knows you the best. She would know what clues to leave.’

‘Hm. Yeah, I guess so.’ Would Annie leave her a scavenger hunt of clues? Maybe. But Annie was also terrible at keeping secrets. ‘I just don’t think she could pull it off without me knowing.’

‘Okay, what about your dads?’

Hazel paused, considering that idea, too. ‘Neither of them have been in the shop in a while.’

‘So who do you think is doing it, then?’ Noah asked, folding up his empty sandwich wrapper and tucking it back in the cooler.

‘I don’t know. I thought maybe it could be Alex. They have the access but not the motive.’

Noah laughed. ‘The motive, huh? This is getting serious.’

Hazel threw her balled-up sandwich wrapper at his head, but he caught it before it hit him. ‘Of course it’s serious.’

‘Right, very serious,’ he said with a teasing smile. He pulled out a bag of chips and Hazel was really starting to like this whole beach picnic situation.

‘Well, whoever it is, this clue wasn’t the worst idea.’

Noah’s shoulder bumped lightly against hers. ‘Phew. I’d hate for your beach day to be the worst.’

She let herself lean into his body. Definitely not the worst. When she did figure out who left the clues, she’d have to remember to thank them.

They finished eating with no further attack from the local shorebirds. Hazel dug her toes into the sand beyond the blanket and let the sun warm her face. A cool breeze came in off the water and made the day comfortable instead of hot and Hazel could almost feel fall heading her way.