Page 93 of The Cinnamon Bun Book Store

ChapterTwenty-Five

‘Let’s review the facts one more time,’ Annie said, her legs stretched out on the couch in Hazel’s office. Jeanie sat at the other end with Casper in her lap. The little cat had taken to visiting the bookstore and Hazel often found him hidden among the stacks of books.

‘Do we have to?’ Hazel was behind her desk, a fresh cup of tea in her hands, courtesy of Jeanie, and a half-eaten muffin from Annie’s in front of her. She’d caved and told her friends everything that happened on Noah’s boat and the weeks leading up to that moment, the one she hadn’t stopped thinking about for the past two days.

The storm, the sex, Noah leaving, all of it had turned into a confusing and nauseating mix of emotions in her gut. It had been so wonderful and then it had been so ... not. He hadn’t said he was leaving forever but he also hadn’t said they should continue whatever this was between them.

So now she was stuck in limbo again.

And stuck listening to Annie’s theories about the whole thing.

‘Yes.’

Hazel groaned.

‘Exhibit A.’ Annie held up one finger. ‘Noah has had the hots for you for at least a year.’

‘That’s not an exhibit. It’s conjecture,’ Hazel grumbled, but Annie just stuck her tongue out and continued on.

‘The man has purchased more books in the past year than anyone else in town. There’s your evidence.’

Jeanie gave Hazel a sympathetic look. There was no stopping Annie when she was like this.

‘Exhibit B.’ Another finger in the air. ‘Someone starts ruining your books at the exact time Noah just happens to wander in here and offers to help you.’

‘It didn’t happen exactly like that.’

Annie plowed forward, a third finger up. ‘Exhibit C. He saves your life and then rocks your world on his boat, a boat that was specifically named in the last clue!’

‘Not specifically named.’

‘It’s totally him leaving the clues, Haze, and he totally has a thing for you. Clearly. Obviously! I told you this weeks ago. I mean sometimes you’re so smart and other times . . .’

‘Him having a thing for me is not the same as him being in—’ Hazel caught herself before finishing that very dangerous sentence but it was too late. Annie’s eyes had gone wide and even Jeanie’s dark eyebrows were up to her hairline.

‘Hazel Jasmine Kelly––’

‘Not my middle name.’

‘Are you in love with the sexy fisherman?’

‘No.’

‘Hazel Marjorie Kelly––’

‘Still not my middle name.’

‘You are! You fell in love with him!’

‘I tried not to!’

‘Oh, Hazel.’ Annie shook her head but Jeanie was already jumping to her rescue.

‘I think it’s great, Haze.’

‘You can’t listen to her, she’s blinded by all that big, grumpy farmer love she’s been getting.’

‘Ew.’ Hazel scrunched up her face.