Oh, I know that already. I heard her tell him she’d order him a coffee as she touched his shoulder. Don’t people know about personal space? Well, people who aren’t locals, and she’s not a local.
I’m still reeling from when Hudson said that us being a couple would never happen. I swear something wilted inside of me when he made that comment. I’ll never understand that man, or maybe I do and don’t want to face it. He doesn’t flirt with me or give me those heated looks I’ve heard about passing between two people.
“That doesn’t bother you? Doesn’t he often come here for lunch?” Shelly is now the enemy of my enemy.
“I think he got his fill of me yesterday.” Okay, Shelly is back to being an enemy too.
“Oh, I know about you plying him with dirty books.” I make a tsking sound and shake my head disappointedly at her.
“Open your reader app on your phone,” Shelly challenges.
“I’m not opening it.”
“You are the one who told me about Smashwords.”
“Oh my God.” I hush her. “There are children around. Your behavior is getting out of control.” Shelly laughs.
“He gets romance books.”
She shrugs. “Interesting.”
“I know that you know.” Of course she does. “I would never have guessed he was reading a romance book. I would have guessed war books or something.”
“I saw him lingering in one of the romance aisles one day, so I started giving him recommendations.”
“You’re really giving me nothing here.” I pull out one of Noel’s cookies from the bakery.
“You brat, you bought them all, didn’t you?” Every morning Shelly gets a cinnamon M&M cookie with her coffee. I slipped over there this morning and bought them all. Noel tried to keepone back, but I gave her the new lip stain that came out from Ice Beauty.
“There could be more where this one came from.” I take a bite.
“No eating in the library.”
“Oh, guess I’ll take my cookies and go.”
“Don’t move.” I hadn’t planned to. “Hudson is a sweetheart.” I narrow my eyes on her, but she ignores it. “This stays here. I want to stay out of it, but maybe a nudge is needed.”
“Okay.” Not a clue what she’s talking about, but I slip it to the back of my mind, wanting her to get on with the good stuff here.
“He said he didn’t have much experience in the romance department. Was curious.”
Why does he need romance experience?
“Probably wants to have a wife and kids like most people that settle into this town.” Crap, hadn’t meant to say that out loud.
“Well, he’s not very good at it if he’s trying. Girls are always coming on to him, and it doesn’t ever go anywhere.”
I noticed that too. “Here in the library?” I gasp.
“A few times.” She shrugs. Guess we’re back to shutting this place down. “I’d guess he just wasn’t interested in them. While Hudson might not be great in the romance department, I don’t take him as shy.” He sure as hell has no problem voicing his opinion when it comes to me.
I reach into my bag and pull the box of cookies out. “I didn’t only come for this.” I hop down off the counter. “Last-minute bachelorette party over at The Frosty Mug tonight.”
“Really?” Her question comes out skeptical, and I don’t blame her. There is a reason I’m doing this on foot and not sending out invites.
“Yep, but mum's the word.”
“So neither Hollis nor Hudson knows about this.” I’m not answering that.
