Page 6 of Sweet Cinnamon and the Mountain Man (Festival of Hearts #2)

Cinnamon

Stars wink into existence overhead and I stare off into the distance, exhaustion tugging at me.

My booth was popular but I don’t think that I’m gonna be able to do more than find my way back home and fall into bed. I’m wrung out. Completely.

On the other hand, Reginald Hawks looks fresh as a dang daisy. His dark hair is pushed back on his forehead and he’s laughing at something the woman in front of him is saying.

He’s had a steady run of women popping up at his booth, every one of them angling to talk to the talented man.

I saw him chatting with one and she was leaning in like she’d like to eat him up.

Her eyes were half-closed like she wanted a kiss and I had a hard time keeping myself on my side of my booth.

I wanted to snatch her up by her messy bedhead and throw her out the metaphorical door.

Someone stops in front of me and I turn wearily to the next person who wants to chat about my business.

I shriek and dance around the booth, grabbing the laughing woman by the shoulders.

“Alanis! Oh my gosh! Are you back from your trip already? I thought you weren’t going to be back for at least another two weeks.”

The pretty blond groans and hangs her head.

“You know how Drake is. He started getting so surly with the people who showed up to meet him on the book tour. It got to be too much and they sent us home for a little breather.” She sucks in a breath and groans.

“He’s a mess and I can’t take it anymore.

He’s so overprotective about everything. ”

“He loves you! Everyone loves you. You need to just let him be. He’s so perfect for you.”

Her eyes roll and she grins cheekily. “He is perfect for me, isn’t he?”

“How are the sales going?”

“So amazing! Our new series is flying off the shelves! They’re already talking about another book tour for the next one! They’re pretty sure that it’s gonna eclipse the first one in the series!”

I hug her again and she chuckles. “I can’t believe that you are doing so well too! Do you remember when we both started out with our companies? Everything just seemed so huge and hard to handle.”

I tug back from her and grin right back at her. “And look at us now! You’ve hit the big time and I’m still working on it!” I grimace and she shoves me back.

“Hey! Don’t talk about my best friend like that! You’ve got this. I saw your designs. So impressive. I’ve been thinking about having you take a look at our place. Drake’s taste is definitely a little suspect.”

Giggling, I hand her a brochure. “I’ve been handing these out all day. What do you think?”

She opens the trifold booklet and smirks. “This looks amazing! You’re gonna get a ton of business. I know it. You’re gonna get the money soon to put down first and last month’s rent and get your new office all situated. I feel it.”

“From your mouth to god’s ears. I’d do almost anything to get that money together and get my new storefront going.”

Humming, she gives me a quick hug. “You’ve got this.” Then she backs away and grimaces. “What is this I heard about James being back in town? I thought he was gone for that fancy new job of his.”

I duck my head and fidget with the brochures. “Yeah, I saw him this morning. I don’t know why he’s back.”

“How was it seeing him again?”

“Awkward,” I chuckle and she laughs outright, throwing her blond curls back.

“Yeah. That’s what happens with exes. It sucks when they turn back up.”

Shrugging, I close my eyes. “It wasn’t horrible. Brought up a whole lot of feelings.”

Shaking her head, she tugs at my hand. “Hey, stay strong. You don’t need him.

You’re gonna be able to take care of yourself soon.

If you got back with him, you’d either have to deal with long distance dating or move to be with him.

Do you want to move to some big city just to be with a guy that left you? ”

“No, no. I know you’re right. It’s just weird. He was being nice.”

Alanis snorts. “If he’s being nice, watch your wallet. That man always has an ulterior motive.”

Rolling my eyes, I grin at her. “You are not wrong.”

I can see Reginald out of the corner of my eye and the woman he was talking to has left and he’s unabashedly listening in to our conversation.

Turning back to him, I smirk. “Is there a problem, Reginald?”

He shakes his dark head and then he holds out his hand to Alanis. “I think I’ve talked to you. Bookstore owner, right?”

She smiles at him and a wellspring of anger roils up in me, swamping my good sense.

“Why don’t you go ahead and clean up and go home, Reginald. I’m just gonna be a few more minutes. All the booths are closed except for the food so if you’re hungry you don’t have much time to get something to eat.”

He nods and stalks off. I turn back to Alanis and her speculative gaze narrows in on me.

“You know…I used to think you two actively hated each other but there’s a little something buzzing under the surface there. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you guys actually like each other.”

I shake my head and start gathering my things up to close up. “No. I don’t think so. And even if we did, we’ve had so many awkward interactions thanks to Agatha’s terrible tricks that neither of us actually knows what to do with each other. It’s maddening how fixed she is on this.”

My friend’s eyes snap happily and she chuckles. “Methinks the lady doth protest too much. But Agatha is definitely a force of nature.”

“She’s more than that. She’s a nut. At least on this.

I love her but she’s driving me crazy.” I pause and watch the way that he disappeared.

“I actually thought we were moving along. If not dating, we were at least friendly. But then he came back from getting coffee for us all surly and annoyed. If I didn’t know better I’d swear he was swapped with some pod person while he was gone! ”

Her smile curls up mischievously. “Was that when James showed up?”

“Actually he was here when Reginald got back. What does that have to do with anything?”

“He was jealous!”

“No!” I scoff. “There’s no way. He doesn’t even like me!”

“I think that he might say one thing and mean the other. Guys have such fragile little egos. They can’t take any kind of conflict when another guy shows up. Hurts their feelings. I bet that’s his problem”

Drake pops up behind her and growls, “Hey! My fragile ego and I need some sustenance. Let’s get some food, woman. And you can tell me about my fragile little ego while I’m trying to eat whatever fried monstrosity you find to eat.”

Giggling, I watch them walk away, bickering in a good-natured way. Honestly none of us expected Alanis to settle down. Ever.

But then her favorite author showed up and it was all over but the shouting. These two love each other.

I watch them walk away and wonder if anybody will ever love me like he loves her.

For some reason, Reginald Hawks pops into my head. His bright eyes and smirky smile.

My heart sinks a little and I push those thoughts way down.

He can barely bear to look at me without getting ticked two minutes later.

I don’t need that kind of hassle. Bitterness swirls in my gut as I lock up my brochures and grab my purse.

Time to get away from the guy. Go home and get something to eat and try to find some sleep.

And wish that things could be different than they are. Because right now, I’m just plugging away and all I’ve got to show for it are a lot of little problems and a big, snarky man that likes to snarl at me when I offer to help him.

Yeah, who needs it. Definitely not me.