Page 30 of The Cinnamon Bun Book Store

Hazel shrugged and couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at the corner of her lips. She hadn’t expected to see Noah today, but now that he was here her stomach started its usual flipping and dipping.

‘I’m good. How about you?’ he said, answering Annie’s high-pitched question.

‘Good. Very good. Gotta run!’

He shook his head as Annie scampered out of the office.

‘How’d you get in?’ Hazel asked.

‘Back door. Sorry, was I not supposed to?’

‘Well, you brought me a drink, so I’ll allow it.’

The smile that lit up his face took her breath away. He put the iced tea on her desk and sat across from her, swirling the ice cubes in his drink. He was watching her in that way he did, with dark eyes and a playful smirk.

Even in this dim back office, he was bright. His copper hair and tangle of tattoos, the sunburn that had turned slowly to tan, the colorful braids on his wrist. It was like he’d brought the sea air directly into her office.

She breathed it in before she spoke. ‘So ... what are you doing here?’ she asked, thankful when her words broke his stare.

‘Just bringing you a drink. And I wanted to see you.’

‘You wanted to see me?’

‘Of course.’

‘Right.’ She swirled her drink too, and took a long sip, avoiding his eye. She’d kissed him last night. On purpose, fully sober, but now she didn’t know what to do about that. Or about any of this. Annie’s warnings echoed in her head.

‘Look, Noah. About last night...’

‘I had fun. Did you?’

‘I did, but...’

‘No buts.’

‘What?’

‘You recruited me to help with your summer, right?’

‘Yes, but...’

He shook his head. ‘No buts. We had fun. Mission accomplished.’

‘But the kiss...’

‘Was fun.’

‘Very. I just don’t want things to get weird between us or I don’t know ... confusing.’

He leaned forward, forearms on his knees. Hazel counted five stars and two large dahlias on his right arm. Her gaze flicked back to his and worry had crept into his playful stare.

‘I don’t want to do anything you don’t want to do, Hazel. But if you’re having a good time then let’s just see what happens. Okay?’

Hazel swallowed her protests. This was what she wanted. This was why she’d asked Noah to help her. She wanted to see where the summer took her. She wanted more kisses. It didn’t have to be confusing. It could be painfully simple.

‘Okay.’

His grin grew. ‘Okay, great. Any more clues?’