Page 64 of Will Bark for Pizza (Bluebell Springs #1)

FIFTY-THREE

KIRA

When the beep of the delivery truck backing up to the front door of Brenda’s Book Nook echoed, everyone inside the bookstore froze mid-conversation and stared at one another.

After a few beats of excitedly charged silence, the group burst out in delighted squeals.

Well, Thelma gave more of an enthusiastic grunt.

“They’re here!” Dylann announced, clapping her hands together. Maybe it was the reflection of the light on the lens of her readers, but I swore her eyes were shiny.

Everyone rushed to the front door.

Thanks to Carlos’ connections with the town council, we were given express permission to allow the first delivery truck to unload from the front of the building—something not typically allowed in Bluebell Springs’ downtown area.

Since the back room of the store was filled with building materials for the new bookshelves, and the back half of the store behind the massive curtain was a construction zone, the easiest option was to offload these boxes through the front door.

Plus, Lotti suggested it might create a stir among locals and tourists alike if a delivery truck was in their way outside Brenda’s Book Nook, and impossible to miss.

“Are you ready for this?” Grandma Connie asked, meeting me behind the small mob that were all honorary Book Nook employees.

“I think so.”

She gave me a side hug. “Me too.”

Aside from our delivery driver and his dolly, only Carlos and I carried individual boxes inside—I did not need anyone injuring themselves before the soft relaunch tomorrow.

It warmed a spot inside me to know Beckett would help if I asked, but it was more important to me that he take Husker for the day.

It still seemed surreal.

A man hanging out with my dog without me.

It made me want to believe this could work. Maybe after the craziness of the store’s grand re-opening subsided, I could consider something . . . more with him.

Or maybe I was just fucking horny and needed another of his potent orgasms. I was more than a little sexually frustrated, considering Madeline just left this morning and I had yet to get Beckett alone since she showed up last week.

I could also blame my characters, who were most definitely getting more action than me.

“This is going to be perfect!” Lotti cooed. “We’ll have so many new releases for tomorrow!”

We decided to do our soft opening on a Tuesday. I forgot that publishers released on that day of the week. Being an indie author, I released on whatever day felt right. Which reminded me, I owed Lila a text.

“Look at the copyright page!” Carlos held a hardcover book out to Betty. “Isn’t that the most glorious thing you’ve seen all day?”

“We actually have current books!”

I was still amazed Mom’s bookstore survived as long as it did, with how poorly Margene Miller ran the place. It was a miracle it was still here to save.

And save it, we would.

There was no other option.

I pulled my phone from my pocket to shoot Lila a quick text about the release date for Mateo’s book—I had finally picked one. But before I could, another text caught my attention.

Beckett: Husker can have frosting, right?

Attached was a photo of my dog, wedged between the two front seats of his truck, a smear of blue frosting across his muzzle as he looked straight out the window.

He looked very much like he did on a paddleboard.

Alert, like he was the captain of a ship, even if he was currently in the back seat.

Only half of Beckett’s face was in the photo, but it was enough to reveal that panty-melting smile he wielded so effortlessly.

Kira: Some frosting is fine.

Kira: Too much, and you’ll get to see a whole new side of him.

Beckett: Got it.

Beckett: Did the books arrive?

Kira: Yes! I’m so relieved!

Beckett: Maybe we should celebrate

A tingle of warmth shot right to my core. With that innocent smiley face, Beckett might simply mean celebrating with sweet treats. But who said frosting couldn’t be applied . . . other places? A rush of heat hit me as I imagined Beckett licking blue frosting from my nipple.

Before I could test those waters and text him something naughtier about said frosting, another text came through.

Unknown: U moved kare bear?

A knot tangled in my stomach the instant it appeared. My hands started to shake, but I willed them to still. I would not let Travis ruin this day for me. I would never let him ruin another day for me, ever again.

I blocked the number and deleted the text.

“Kira?” Grandma Connie called. “We’re ready to start filling the shelves.”

I slipped the phone back into my pocket, refusing to give The Asswipe a single second of my energy. That part of my life was over. I had a new life now. A life I loved. People in it I loved.

Did I love Beckett?

Because that question was far too complicated to answer, I ignored it completely and met the ladies at the front to fill our shelves for a soft launch.