Page 69 of The Cinnamon Bun Book Store

‘You liked it?’

‘Hazel.’ He wrapped his arms around her. ‘I really, really liked it.’

She kissed the tip of his nose. ‘Good. Me too.’

Noah shook his head a little. ‘This has been the most surprising summer of my life.’

Hazel laughed. ‘Mine, too.’

‘You’re a very fun girl, Hazel Kelly.’

‘Yeah, maybe I am.’

ChapterTwenty

The brewery was more charming than she thought it would be. It was small and rustic with a cozy interior for ordering and plenty of outdoor seating at several rows of wooden picnic tables. Lights were strung up in the trees above them and music that sounded like a mash up of country, folk, and rock came through the speakers. The air smelled like hops and over-ripe apples and the sun had just dipped below the horizon, bathing the space in a violet glow.

‘So, how did you find this place?’ The spot was new, Marlow & Maeve’s, but it was already drawing a crowd.

‘Mac got some of their new beer to serve at the bar and I’m always happy to taste test.’ Noah smiled at her over his beer. ‘When I found out they were opening up a spot like this, I thought it would be the perfect date spot. Good thing your clues led us here.’ He winked.

Good thing.

But had it been her clues? Or Noah’s? Hazel had lost the thread of what was going on here. Could he actually be the one leaving the clues like Annie said? And what did it mean if he was? It was September third which meant she had exactly twenty-five days until her birthday, and what exactly had she accomplished?

Some fun outings.

A new appreciation of summer.

Plenty of orgasms.

Discovered her own sexuality.

Caught feelings for the sexy fisherman.

Damn it.It was that last one that was the problem.

‘What’s the matter, Haze? Cider’s no good?’

Noah’s hair had grown out a bit over the past few weeks and it stood up a little on one side today; Hazel wanted to pat it down, but despite all the things they’d done together that gesture seemed way too intimate and she was lost again. What the hell was she doing?

‘What?’ Hazel glanced at her glass. ‘No, it’s perfectly good. Quite good, actually.’

‘Then why are you making that face?’

‘What face?’

‘Like the cider has personally insulted you.’

She huffed a laugh and grabbed one of the bags of chips they’d laid out between them. The brewery had beer, cider, and snacks. She opted for salt and vinegar, letting the salty sourness coat her tongue.

‘Nothing’s the matter.’

‘Liar.’ He smirked.

‘I just...’Like you far too much for my own good and I am already dreading the end of this little arrangement.‘I just think I liked the first one better.’

They still had a few weeks to go and she was not going to ruin it by making Noah feel uncomfortable with her new, inconvenient feelings. Feelings would fade. Right? It was just all the amazing orgasms clouding her judgment.