The Cinnamon Bun Book Store (Dream Harbor, #2)(66)

‘Are you in love with the sexy fisherman?’

‘No.’

‘Hazel Marjorie Kelly––’

‘Still not my middle name.’

‘You are! You fell in love with him!’

‘I tried not to!’

‘Oh, Hazel.’ Annie shook her head but Jeanie was already jumping to her rescue.

‘I think it’s great, Haze.’

‘You can’t listen to her, she’s blinded by all that big, grumpy farmer love she’s been getting.’

‘Ew.’ Hazel scrunched up her face.

‘I’m not blinded. I just know how amazing it can be,’ Jeanie said between laughs.

Annie harrumphed and slouched back into the couch. Casper took the opportunity to crawl onto her chest. He purred happily as Annie scratched between his ears.

‘You’re the one who said I should go for it,’ Hazel reminded her.

‘I meant, go have wild sex, I explicitly told you not to fall in love.’

‘I tried not to,’ Hazel said again, stuffing more muffin in her mouth. It was good. Pumpkin spice. ‘I just didn’t expect him to be so ... thoughtful.’

‘Thoughtful, how?’ Jeanie asked.

‘Thoughtful like he’s just always thinking of me. Of ways to make me happy or make me comfortable or make me...’ Heat rose to her cheeks.

‘Or make you come? Blinded. Blinded by orgasms, the both of you,’ Annie said. Casper hopped down and sauntered out the door as she sat up.

‘Thoughtful is good,’ Jeanie said, and it was nice to have an ally.

‘It is, right?’

‘Of course it is. I think he really likes you, Hazel.’ Jeanie smiled over her mug and maybe they were both blinded by orgasms but it didn’t seem like the worst way to go through life.

‘Everyone likes you.’ Annie frowned.

‘Uh, thanks.’

Annie shook her head, blonde wisps escaping her messy bun. ‘That came out meaner than I meant it. I meant that of course he likes you. Who wouldn’t like you? You’re smart and beautiful and sweet.’

‘Aw, thanks Annie.’

Annie was still scowling. ‘I just... He goes through women fast, Haze. And he’s so young! I mean, is his prefrontal cortex even done developing?’

‘I’m pretty sure that happens by age twenty-five.’

Annie huffed. ‘I just don’t want you to get hurt.’

‘But...’ Jeanie leaned forward, ready to make a counter argument. ‘If he is leaving all these clues, that’s a lot of effort, right? I mean if he’s so good at getting women, why would he go through all this trouble for Hazel?’ Jeanie’s smile grew. ‘Because he’s in love with her,’ she sang, happily.

‘You two are the worst,’ Hazel grumbled but she couldn’t stop her stomach from swooping at Jeanie’s words. Was she right? It was a pretty elaborate plan just to get into her pants. These clues had to indicate a pretty high level of commitment, didn’t they?

Then she remembered the part of their boat adventure she’d been trying to block from her mind. ‘It doesn’t matter anyway because he’s leaving after my birthday.’

‘He’s what?!’ Jeanie’s smile dropped.

‘He told me he’s going back home to help out with the family business.’

Jeanie frowned. ‘For how long?’

‘He didn’t say.’

‘So maybe it’s temporary?’

Hazel glanced at Annie, knowing her best friend would give it to her straight. ‘I mean, I guess it’s possible...’ Annie conceded. ‘He could just be helping out for a few months or something.’

Now she was more confused than ever. If Noah was the person behind the clues then why would he take off afterwards? Did she misunderstand? Was he coming back?

‘I still think it’s him. Who else could it be?’ Jeanie asked.

‘What do I do now, then?’ Hazel slumped back in her seat an odd mix of excitement and disappointment warring for control in her gut. How had her summer fling turned into such a complicated mess? It was almost as if she saw this coming and did absolutely nothing to stop it. In fact, she had dived in head first.

And now here she was, heartsick and confused.

Annie shrugged.

‘He must have planned some way for these clues to end,’ Jeanie said. ‘Some kind of grand finale. And then he’ll proclaim his love for you!’

‘Okay, okay.’ Annie waved a hand like she could shoo away Jeanie’s romantic ideas. Hazel bit down on a smile. ‘Don’t get carried away. This isn’t one of your romance novels. This is Noah we’re talking about.’

‘Says the woman who has watched When Harry Met Sally at least fifty times.’

‘It’s a classic,’ Annie said, but Hazel cut off their debate.

‘You don’t think Noah’s capable of a grand finale?’ She didn’t care about clues or grand finales, but Annie knew what she was really asking. Did she think Noah was capable of being serious about her, about wanting her for real. Would he stick around for her?

‘I don’t know, Haze. But I really hope so.’

‘Me too.’ Noah had already surprised her so much. When she’d recruited him for this two-month adventure, she’d only expected him to be fun and maybe a little reckless. She hadn’t expected him to be so sweet and kind and sexy, well, that’s not true, she knew he was sexy. She hadn’t expected him to light up her world like he did.