Kayla scrunches her nose like she’s thinking. How could she not know who it was? Furthermore, how have I not seen him around? The man is unmissable and everywhere I’ve gone these past few days I’ve been looking.
“I can’t think of anyone like that.” She pulls out her phone. “Let me check my high school Facebook group.”
“Call me crazy but he does not look like the type of man that’s cruising Facebook.”
“What does he do when he’s bored?” Kayla’s eyebrows furrow together.
“I don’t know. Chops wood with his bare hands?” I say, making her burst into laughter. Yeah, I’ve been reading too much. Not that I’m going to stop anytime soon.
We both jump when the front door to the bookstore flies open and the bell almost pops off.
“I’m calling the health department!” Missy points across the store. She’s dressed to the nines as usual and I have no idea how she runs around a coffee shop all day in heels. My feet hurt for her.
“You’re calling the health department on yourself?” Kayla asks, her face completely serious. “OMG, don’t tell me you’ve got cockroaches over there!?” she yells loud enough so anyone outside can hear her.
My hand flies to my mouth as I try to muffle my laughter.
“You’re disgusting,” Missy hisses at her. “I’m going to have a little talk with your father.”
“I’m so scared.” Kayla rolls her eyes. Her father is the chief of police and it’s why she gets away with most of her shenanigans.
“Hey, if I can’t come in your store you can’t come in mine.” I fold my arms over my chest, not caring if I sound like a five-year-old.
“What are you even wearing?” Missy actually curls her lip in disgust. I look down at my outfit, wondering what’s wrong with it. My skirt falls right above my knees and I’ve got on a cute strappy top with a cardigan over it because it can get chilly at night. “I shouldn’t be shocked your tits are falling out with the crap you sell in here.”
I drop my folded arms that have pushed my boobs up. She goes from giving me a grossed-out look to looking over the shelves of my bookstore.
“I think you should leave,” I tell her. I don’t want to say something I can’t take back and I also don’t want to stoop to her level.
“You’re just mad she’s got tits,” Kayla throws out there, but Missy ignores her.
“Oh, I’m leaving. I wouldn’t be caught dead in here, but I’ll be calling the health department on that coffee machine.”
It dawns on me what she was pointing at. “We aren’t selling it,” I rush to say. Do I need a permit to have coffee here if it’s free? I don’t know and panic starts to rise. She could have me shut down, I think. I look to Kayla like she might know.
“I’ll have this place closed in a week!” Missy turns from the open door and stomps out.
My eyes widen as she almost runs right into my man. Wait, he’s not mine, but I can’t help what I feel when I see him.
He jumps back so she doesn’t make contact with him. She almost falls on her face, but at the last second he snags her by the arm and helps her to her feet. He quickly lets her go and takes another step back.
“Don’t want her suing you.” He smiles over at me and then he winks, sending flutters through my whole body.
“Hi.” Missy’s voice turns breathless and I have no doubt if I could see her face she’d be drooling.
“Is that him?” Kayla asks, and I look over at her. Her eyes are wide and she’s got a giant smile on her face. I’m guessing she has no idea who he is. I nod my head and wonder how he can possibly be more handsome than I remember.
“Are you new in town?” Missy takes the thought right out of my head. If Kayla doesn’t know who he is, that means he’s new or not from around here. Maybe his mom is. That’s who he said he’d been here buying books for.
“Kinda.” He looks past Missy and his eyes lock with mine.
“You should let me show you around.” Missy reaches out to put her hand on his chest but he sidesteps her and comes into my store. “You don’t want to go in there.” She whips back around to face us.
“My woman’s in here.” He gives me another one of those smiles that has me melting on the inside.
“Forget what I said. Who cares if he kills people?” Kayla whispers not so softly, and I bite my lip. I’m unable to stop my laughter but now I don’t feel so bad that I was down for going out with a man whose name I don’t know.