Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“Slow today. You?”
“Same, hence the scones. Mostly locals, but it’s just the calm before the storm. Summer’s coming fast.”
“You’re not wrong. When that happens, and the tourists flood in, I won’t have time to come down for a mid-morning coffee. So, I guess I’ll enjoy it while I can.”
“Exactly.” Daisy winks at me, then turns to greet the person behind me.
I love living in a small town, where I know everyone and they know me. It wasn’t always fun when I was a kid, and I thought I could get away with something without my parents being called, which was absolutely not true. But now, it’s great.
The businesses look out for each other. There’s no competition here, as there are usually plenty of tourists to go around for everyone.
I grab my coffee and scone and turn to leave, when I see my friend, Indigo, wave me over to his table.
“What are you up to?” I ask as I sit with him and take a bite of my scone.
“Waiting for a client.”
“Anyone I know?”
He shakes his head and sips his latte. “No. A woman from out of town is looking for a vacation home here on the beach.”
“Ah, a part-timer.” I nod knowingly. Huckleberry Bay has its fair share of people who own second homes here, and only come for a short time each year.
“I believe that’s the plan, yes. Anyway, how are you? Still liking your house, or do you need me to find you something else?”
I grin at him. Indigo helped me buy my house several years ago. He’s a great real estate agent.
But he’s also always the salesman.
“I’m good where I am. It couldn’t be a better fit for me.”
“Did I hear that Sarah’s been renting the guesthouse?” He sips his latte innocently.
“You looking for gossip?”
He just raises an eyebrow.
“Yeah, she’s renting from me.”
“Is that all that’s going on there?”
I narrow my eyes on him. “Why do you ask?”
Indigo just shrugs. “Listen, Sarah’s a beautiful, smart woman, and your relationship ended a long time ago, but you’re my friend. So, I’m asking if there’s anything there between you two before I ask her out on a date.”
“I respect you asking.” I purse my lips, staring at my half-eaten scone. “Yeah, there’s something there. She’s spent more time in my house than hers lately.”
I glance up to find Indigo grinning at me. “Good for you, man. Good for you.” His eyes dart to the door, and he nods. “Looks like my appointment just arrived.”
“I’ll leave you to it. Have a good day.”
I rap my knuckles on the table and then walk away with my coffee and nibble the scone as I pass by a tall brunette that’s all smiles for Indigo.
It shouldn’t surprise me that someone would find Sarah attractive and want to ask her out. She is amazing.
Hell, she’s everything.
I glance across the street, and it’s as though I’ve conjured her out of my thoughts.
Sarah is backing out of the doorway of Books on the Bay, a stack of books in all shapes and sizes in her arms. She has a tote bag slung over her shoulder, and a bouquet of flowers peeks out of the top of it.
She looks like she’s in a hurry. Her sunglasses slide down her nose, and she blows at them, as if the force will slide them back up again.
“Are you the heroine in a rom-com?”
She jumps, startled, and yells, “Shit!”
All the books fall to the ground in a jumbled heap, and Sarah stares down at them pitifully.
“Oops.” I cringe and bend to pick them up, just as she does, and we knock heads. “I think we really are in a movie.”
“Ouch.” She rubs her head as I squat and pick up the books.
“This is quite the eclectic collection,” I say as I pick up each book, one by one. “Art, romance, horror. There’s even a book on how to knit.”
“I like all kinds of books,” she informs me, and when I stand, she’s smiling at me. “I’m going to have a bump on my head.”
“Nah, we didn’t hit that hard.” But I lean in and kiss where she’s rubbing with her fingertips. “What are you up to, pretty girl?”
“Errands,” she replies and falls into step beside me. “I have an hour before I have to be at work. I won’t be able to come over this evening, by the way. I’m working late. Angela had to switch with me again so she could take her son to the doctor this afternoon. Poor thing is really sick.”
“It’s fine,” I assure her. “Although, I’ll miss you tonight. What can I do to help?”
She smiles up at me and bats her eyelashes. “Will you take these books home for me? That way, I don’t have to haul them all over town today.”
“You bet.”
“Will you also check on Petunia? I feel like I’ve been ignoring her a lot, since I’m not there much between work and being at your place.”