Page 31 of The Cinnamon Bun Book Store

‘I doubt it, but I haven’t checked yet.’

‘What are you waiting for?’ He was already up and out the office door before she could respond. He was in front of the romance shelves when she caught up to him.

‘Look! A crooked one.’

‘Hmm.’ Hazel pulled it from the shelf and found the dog-eared page.

Noah’s little intake of breath caught her attention. She raised a brow in question.

‘This is exciting.’

She laughed and ran her finger down the page.

‘She dug her toes into the cool sand and dipped her head back, letting the warm sun caress her face.’ Noah read the highlighted line out loud in that low rumble of a voice and Hazel repressed a shiver.

‘Looks like we’re going to the beach,’ he said, still close enough that his breath stirred the curls around her face.

Hazel sighed.

‘Please don’t tell me you don’t like the beach.’ A pained expression crossed his face as if Hazel had personally insulted his mother.

‘I just always get sunburned, and sand gets everywhere, and last time a seagull pooped on my sandwich.’

Noah was fighting a laugh. She could tell. ‘I promise no wildlife will poop on your lunch this time.’

‘I just don’t think those are promises you can make.’

‘Fisherman’s honor.’

She tried to frown, she tried to be grumpy about sand and errant bird poop and the inevitable sunburn, but it was impossible. Not with Noah nearly glowing with excitement.

‘Okay, fine.’

‘HANSOF!’ He took the book from her hands.Seduction Covewas scrawled across the cover. ‘Also I’m taking this one.’

Hazel scoffed. ‘No, you’re not.’

‘I’ll pay for it.’

‘You don’t want to read that.’

‘Of course I do.’ He flashed her a smile as he wandered toward the register. ‘Looks educational.’

Hazel bit down on her laugh. ‘You’re ridiculous.’

‘It’s what you hired me for, isn’t it?’

His smile was still firmly in place but a shadow of doubt had crossed his features.

‘That’s not why at all. And I didn’t hire you.’

‘Right. Just kidding.’

Hazel came around to the other side of the counter and took the book from his hands. ‘I want to do this with you because I like you.’

‘Oh.’

‘And you’re good at it.’