The Cinnamon Bun Book Store (Dream Harbor, #2)(9)

Noah would have laughed if she didn’t look so sincere and worried. ‘Haze, if you weren’t kinda drunk I woulda kept on kissing you.’

Somehow her eyes widened even further. ‘Really?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Oh. I didn’t ... I mean you’re ... you.’

‘Right.’

‘And I’m...’

‘Hot.’

Hazel’s laugh burst through the quiet around them. ‘And I’m not your type.’

‘Hot is definitely my type.’

She just shook her head, like she couldn’t possibly believe he was serious. And now he had a new mission. To convince Hazel Kelly she was hot as hell and that he wanted her.

‘So you’ll do the clues with me?’

‘Of course. Who do you think is leaving them?’

She shrugged. ‘Maybe the book club? Although I don’t know why they would, but they’re always up to something. Plus, all the books have been in the romance section, and that’s their usual haunt so ... I don’t even really know if the clues are meant for me but I just feel like ... I don’t know ... like maybe they’ll help.’

Noah still didn’t really know what she meant but he nodded like he did and pulled his knees up to his chest. He rested his forearms across them and looked out over the plants. Besides the blueberry bushes there were strawberry plants too, but the fruit had already been picked earlier in the summer. This must be where Henry’s famous strawberry jam came from. For a minute, Noah worried the old man might come out and yell at them. Something about sitting outside in the dark with a cute girl and a possibly stolen bottle of wine made him feel sixteen again.

‘I’m about to turn thirty.’ Hazel’s voice was quiet in the darkness, nearly drowned out by the chorus of crickets chirping around them. ‘Well, in two months I am.’

‘I’ll be sure to get you a gift.’

She huffed a little laugh before going on. ‘I feel like I forgot to do my twenties. Like I didn’t fully live them, or something. I feel ... stuck.’

‘And the clues are going to unstick you?’

Hazel’s breathy laugh sent a little thrill down Noah’s spine.

‘It sounds stupid.’

‘Not stupid.’

‘I just want to have a fun summer. What’s left of it anyway.’

‘Well, you hired the right guy.’

‘I’m not paying you.’

Noah laughed. ‘Good. That would make me feel dirty.’

Hazel smacked his arm, tipping into him slightly before righting herself. ‘Wait, how old are you?’ she asked, like this was suddenly very important. He liked tipsy Hazel. She was more honest. And looked at him less like she didn’t understand what planet he was from and more like she wanted to kiss him again.

He liked that a lot.

‘Twenty-five.’

She groaned, covering her face with her hands. ‘Noooo...’

‘No?’

‘No, you cannot be twenty-five! God, now I’m a lecherous old lady!’

‘If lecherous means you want to get in my pants, I’m totally fine with it.’

Another playful smack, another delicious Hazel giggle.

‘And almost thirty is not old.’

‘It’s a lot older than twenty-five. And if you ask most of my friends they’d tell you I act more like I’m seventy.’

‘Your friends? Logan talks to animals, Jeanie can’t decide if she lives here or in her own apartment, and Annie is engaged in a one-sided feud with the owner of the only good bar in town. These friends should not be telling you how to behave, Haze.’

She was laughing again, doubling over with giggles now, her hair falling into her face. ‘What I want to know,’ she said, between gasping breaths, ‘is do the animals talk back?’

Noah took another swig of wine. ‘Oh God, I hope not.’

‘I love them, though,’ she said, her giggles petering out.

‘Of course you do. I just meant, don’t let them dictate how you think about yourself.’

‘Very wise for someone so young.’

Noah huffed and nearly protested but Hazel was leaning into him now, the side of her body pressed against the side of his and he couldn’t form sentences or complete thoughts so he just took another sip of wine and then passed her the bottle.

She took a sip too and sighed. Her head was nearly on his shoulder, her soft curls brushing against his chin.

‘What’s this one from?’ Her finger traced lightly over the tattoo of a scorpion on the inside of his forearm. Noah shivered.

‘Senior year of high school. Thought it would look cool and impress a girl.’

‘Did it?’ The question was soft and sleepy. Her finger was still tracing his arm and Noah had to force his brain to think.

‘Look cool? Not really. Impress the girl? Yes.’

Hazel’s small puff of laughter skated over his arm. ‘I bet you always impress the girl.’

Noah cleared his throat. ‘Some of them.’

‘Where do you get these? I’ve always wondered.’ Her fingers ran over the colorful braided bracelets he wore on his wrist. Friendship bracelets, the kind girls make at summer camp.

‘My nieces make them for me and send them in the mail.’