Nathan felt butterflies flapping wildly in his
stomach as he saw the most gorgeous man he’d ever laid eyes on just outside the
door. Muscles bulged, stretching the seams of the T-shirt the man was wearing,
making his mouth water for a chance to lick every inch of the man.
So engrossed in watching the man, Nathan had
forgotten what he’d been telling the mother who was standing before him with
her two little boys as his breath caught when it looked like the man was about
to come inside.
A scowl crossed the sexy man’s strong features
as he looked down at his phone. Even with his brows drawn together and a frown
on his face, it didn’t detract from the man’s god-like beauty. If anything, it
enhanced it, making the man look fierce, like a warrior riding off to battle a
fire-breathing dragon.
Okay, so he had an active imagination. So what?
He owned a bookstore after all, creativity was almost a requirement.
Nathan’s breath left in a whoosh of dismay as he
watched the man of his dreams continue past his bookstore. He wanted to run
after him, but the woman he’d been talking to looked annoyed that he seemed to
forget she was even there. “I’m sorry. I thought I saw someone I knew.” Or
wanted to know. “What were we talking about?”
The woman gave a very put-upon sigh. “You were
suggesting books for my two sons.”
Just then a small display was knocked over as the two boys,
who looked to be around six or seven, chased each other. Now he was the one who
sighed. “Right.” Leading her to his children’s section.
***
His stomach growled when he was taking out his
fourth armload of books, reminding him they hadn’t eaten. When he called in his
order, Mr. Travers told him, he did have someone who could bring them the food,
but they were so backed up on deliveries, it would be an hour at least.
Not wanting to wait, he locked the shop and sent
Harris, while he took care of the tent. That was when he heard a familiar
shrill voice outside the tent. “He should be ashamed to sell such filth at a
nice family event. I tried to stop him, but as usual Nathan never listens to
me.”
“Your brother never did have much sense.” That
was Betty Sue, the owner of The Coffee House, right next door to his own
bookstore. He’d actually picked this location thinking having a bookstore right
next to a coffee place would generate more business.
Boy was he wrong. He should have at least tried
the coffee first. On his opening day, he’d gone in Betty Sue’s store and bought
a cup and promptly spit it out. Thankfully he’d already left the Coffee House
when that happened.
Since then he’d learned the place had the
reputation of serving the worst cup of coffee. No one was sure how Betty Sue
stayed open since only a few of her friends dared to go in the place.
An influx of questions from customers asking
questions stopped him from listening to more of their conversation for a while.
When the crowd died down he could hear them once more. “Did you see that hunk
doing the henna tattoos?” Betty Sue’s voice turned husky as she talked.
He was pretty sure he heard Maribelle snort, but
he couldn’t be sure. “What difference does it make? Jax is living with Flynn. I
swear this town is going to go to hell with all the sin.”
“Not Jax, the one that looks kind of like The
Rock. He is absolutely dreamy.”
Nathan froze. He was pretty sure Betty Sue was
talking about the man who’d caught his interest earlier. Straining he tried to
hear more, but Harris walked in carrying two bags and two drinks chattering a
mile a minute about how busy the festival was.
Frustrated he did his best to not take it out on
Harris. Taking his food into the store, Nathan hoped Betty Sue was right. If
the man was working with Jax, then that might mean he worked at Painful
Pleasure. Nathan shivered just thinking about the name.
He’d always wanted to get some piercings but was
nervous about doing it. Now he might have a reason to check the place out.
Maybe he’d even find his fantasy man.
Can't wait for this.
ReplyDelete