Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 93400 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93400 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
We both fell into a fit of giggles.
Once we recovered, Willa’s smile widened. “I’m so happy you’ve met him, Greer. You really do work way too hard, and it’s nice to see you enjoying yourself. I’m glad you’re taking a chance on this. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my relationship with Aiden, it’s to always take that leap of faith. And to be honest about your feelings. Don’t assume anything without talking to each other first.”
A warmth filled my chest. How had my friendship with Willa taken so long to form? She truly was such a dear friend. “Thank you for the advice, Willa. And you don’t think we’re moving too fast?”
“Do you think you are? Because what I think doesn’t really matter.”
“I still value your opinion though.”
She smiled and waited for me to answer first.
I took a moment to really think about it. For some, we might be moving at warp speed, but I didn’t want to look back in twenty years and wonder what if. What if I had just taken the leap, like Willa said? What if I’d simply listened to my heart for once?
“Candace doesn’t think we’re moving fast enough,” I chuckled. “If it were up to her, Hudson would have moved in with me already.”
“Candace seems to like him.”
“She does.”
Reaching across the desk for my hands, Willa squeezed them in hers. “I’m going to side with Candace. I think Hudson has been a good thing for you, sweetie. Anyone who looks at you can see a difference in these last couple of weeks. And if you’re comfortable with how things are going, does it really matter what anyone else says or thinks?”
My heart jumped in my chest as a rush of happiness swept over me. It wasn’t that I needed my friend’s approval, but it was nice to have it. “You’re right. I’m having so much fun with him, and he makes me feel so alive. I don’t know any other way to describe it. The way he looks at me sometimes… It almost feels like my body catches on fire.”
Her brow rose. “I know that feeling very well.”
I giggled. “There are moments when we’re together and Hudson will look at me like I’m the only person in the entire room. His gaze feels like it burns deep into me. I can’t imagine it will always be this way. This…fire that blazes to life when he’s near me.”
“Trust me, it will. Aiden can look at me from across the room and one smile says so many things.”
“Yes! Like they’re undressing you right there and making plans for what they’re going to do when you’re alone.”
Willa giggled and nodded.
“It’s all so intense—but a wonderful intensity. I’ve honestly never been so happy before. I don’t want this to end, Willa.”
She motioned toward me. “There you go. You just answered your own question.”
I glanced at the clock for the hundredth time and sighed. It was only one in the afternoon. I’d gotten a text from Hudson that his folks would be in Boggy Creek around noon. They were meeting at The Coffee Pot for lunch, and I’d hoped they would swing by the bookstore after, but Hudson said he had a conference call at two that he couldn’t miss. The plan was for me to be ready for dinner at six, and then it was off for some dancing at Brew’s Place.
Turning back to the work at hand, I groaned at the sight before me.
“Why did I think it was a good idea to move this section around?” I asked, picking up another stack of books. My arms were starting to ache from all the heavy lifting. For some reason, I’d gotten the idea to rearrange the entire mystery and suspense section. It wasn’t a surprise that I’d put two of Hudson’s books on the endcap to display them. One was his current bestseller, so it wasn’t like I was showing favoritism or anything.
I smiled to myself, knowing that was exactly what I was doing.
I hadn’t been able to see Hudson since Wednesday. After the signing event last night, I’d closed the bookstore and then met with a few of the other business owners on Main Street to talk about what was happening with the sale of the gristmill building. Hudson had been deep into his writing, so the last thing I wanted to do was distract him. He’d mentioned he was trying to finish the book soon, and a part of me hoped that meant he would be free to spend time at my place before he had to go back to New York.
According to Hudson, he didn’t need to rush back. Everything could be done via email.
With a grunt, I moved a stack of books from the lowest shelf to the top of the next bookcase.