This town loves its festivals. And fortunately for my family, it loves its flowers, too. That’s the one thing that’s kept my family’s business running for as long as it has.
I slow my pace as I pass Pretty Things and Paper Rings, a boutique for cards and jewelry, and glance at the window display that boasts an entire section dedicated to St. Patrick’s Day.
Continuing on, I pass more windows, each one a glimpse into a different local shop. My mom’s favorite hair salon sits on one corner, its pink-and-white awning reflecting the sun although the lights inside are still off.
I stop at another intersection and turn to look at Mabel’s Bakery. A twinge of longing hits my chest as I glance at the wisteria-covered building, something wild and uncontrolled that calls to me. I shake my head—no time for dreaming today—and force myself to cross toward my sister’s bookstore.
A bell announces my arrival when I open the door. Despite the fact that it’s spring, the store smells of cinnamon and pumpkin spice. Even as a child, my sister’s favorite season was fall, and she was pumpkin obsessed far before the latte craze.
Her gold-and-burgundy bookstore is eclectic with hand-drawn designs dancing across the walls and oversized navy velvet chairs dotted strategically throughout. Noah Kahan’s smooth voice drifts over the speakers at a low enough volume that I can barely make out his words, but I find myself swaying anyway. It’s been a long time since I properly danced.
My brain immediately summons Walker, and I can’t help but wonder if he’s the type of man to spin a girl around the dance floor. He doesn’t seem like a romantic. Or like he has much of a personality at all.
Which is a pity because that chest and those strong arms would feel incredible to lean on.
“Welcome to Bonfire and Bliss Books,” my sister says as she peers around a bookshelf, not realizing her new customer is me.
“Why thank you,” I say with a dramatic curtsy. “I’m in the market for a book with sex. The good kind.”
Penny rolls her copper eyes as they land on me and swipes at her bangs.
“What kind of sex do you considergood?”
My eyes stray to the corner where books featuring hot men on the covers line the shelves. “I’m guessingthatkind.”
Penny nibbles on her lip and pulls a book with an adorable pink cover off the shelf. “You’d be surprised. This one is very kinky.”
I take the book she hands me and study the illustrated cover. “Go figure. A cartoon character is having better sex than me.”
Penny snorts. “Maybe you’ll have good sex with the hot cowboy.”
I place the book on the counter and glare at her. “Therewill be no sex with the cowboy. He’s probably bad in bed, anyway. Too selfish and grunts all the time.” I mimic two quick pumps of my hips and a grunt.
Penny shoots me a sly grin. “Bad sex is definitely worse than no sex.”
“Spoken like someone who knows.”
Penny flops down on one of the cozy couches. “I’m sure you didn’t come over here to hear about my horrible sex life with douchebag Dick.”
I plop down beside her and wrap my arm around her. “Oh, we’re going with my nickname for him now? I thought he preferred to be calledRichard.” I say the name the way his mother always did, as if he was famous.
“Yeah, well, douchebag Dick doesn’t get to dictate what we call him after ending our engagement, now does he?”
I lean my head against hers. “You okay?” Dick was offered a job in LA and told my sister to sell her little store because his job was real and hers was just a hobby. When my sister refused, he called off the engagement.
“Ha,” she says with a loud breath. “He did me a favor. I’m done with men.”
“Me, too,” I say softly.
“Book boyfriends are better.”
“They sure are.”
“I’m really glad you’re home.”
Her soft admission makes me smile. “Me, too.”
“But?” she says, staring at me. “Come on, tell me what you really think and how you’re dying to get out of here.”
