Total pages in book: 198
Estimated words: 186242 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 931(@200wpm)___ 745(@250wpm)___ 621(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 186242 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 931(@200wpm)___ 745(@250wpm)___ 621(@300wpm)
“We have leaded weights over there in the back where you see that display, but if we don’t carry what you’re looking for, I’m sure we could order it.”
Johnny nodded, that goofy-pleased smile still on his mouth. “All right, I’ll wander over there in a minute.” He paused. “You really work here?”
“No, I just steal Clara’s shirt and come hang out with her when I have free time.”
He grinned. “That was a stupid question, wasn’t it?”
I shrugged. “I feel like stupid is a very strong word.”
He laughed, and it made me smile. “You just don’t . . . I can’t see you working here. That’s rude. I’m sorry.”
“It’s all right. I’m learning as I go.” I shrugged again. “If you need more help, let me know. I’ll be standing around.”
He nodded, and I took that as my sign to walk away. I headed back toward Clara, who was looking at her phone, but I was pretty sure it was just a façade and she was really eyeballing the shit out of us.
I wasn’t mistaken.
“What did he say? Does he want to bear your children?”
The loudest fucking laugh burst out of me, and I had to lean forward and press my forehead against the counter between us so that I wouldn’t fall to the ground.
“Hold on. Men don’t bear children.”
“Not that I know,” I cracked up, still facing the floor.
We both started laughing our asses off. The next time I managed to peek up, she had disappeared behind the counter. She might have been lying on the ground because I could hear her laughing but couldn’t see her.
I wiggled my eyebrows at her. “I need to bring some of my romance books over to teach you some things.”
“I know things.”
“At your age, you should know more.”
“We’re the same age!”
“Exactly.”
Clara laughed, and I could see the top of her head starting to peek back up before it suddenly disappeared again about a split second before I heard, “Would you mind ringing me up?”
It was Johnny.
I turned toward him, wiping the tears from under my eyes from laughing, and said, “Of course.” I went around the counter where the register was and unlocked it. Johnny handed over the two small packages, which I scanned quickly.
“So . . . Aurora . . .”
I raised my eyebrow at him. “Yes?”
“You got big plans tonight?”
I’d forgotten it was Friday. “Big plans with my iPad and some sangria I was planning on making.”
His laugh was bright, and it made me grin as I gave him his total just as the door to the shop opened and Jackie slipped inside.
We made eye contact, and I smiled at her. She gave me a little one back. Things had been . . . I wouldn’t want to say awkward, but a little strained since she’d admitted she knew I had been with Kaden. I hadn’t been mad at her, not even a tiny bit. Neither one of us had made an effort to talk about it again since Yuki had interrupted our conversation to say that she was getting picked up because they had to start their trip to Utah.
I wasn’t upset or mad or worried. I just figured that . . . well, if she had wanted to tell Amos and Mr. Rhodes, she would have already. My secret was safe with her.
But eventually, I would need to talk to her.
And at least tell Amos.
Johnny greeted the girl as she passed him and dug into his back pocket, pulling out his wallet and handing over a card.
“Would you like a receipt?”
“No.” He cleared his throat, picking up the two packages of weights and hesitating. “Would you like to ditch your iPad and go to dinner with me? There’s a Mexican place I like that I bet has sangria.”
That wasn’t what I was expecting. And his offer surprised me so much I didn’t know what to say.
Go out on a date?
“Unless you’re seeing somebody,” he added quickly.
“I’m not,” I admitted just as fast, thinking about his offer.
His smile turned flirty. “I’d ask about Rhodes, but he’s weird around beautiful women.”
I groaned and made a face, but . . .
What the hell did I have to lose? Clara had said she wasn’t interested in him like that, hadn’t she? I could always double-check with her.
And it sure wasn’t like I’d sleep with him.
Sure, I thought Mr. Rhodes was hotter than hell, but it wasn’t like that meant anything. He barely talked to me, still. From the way he looked at me more often than not, I was pretty sure sometimes he regretted inviting me to stay longer. He could be so nice one minute and not so much the next. I didn’t get it, and I didn’t want to overthink it.
I had moved here to . . . move on with my life, and part of that included . . . dating. I didn’t want to be alone. I liked stability. I wanted someone around to care about me and vice versa.