I stared at Cole and my jaw dropped.
“What?” he asked.
“Nothing,” I said. “But you’re right on the money.”
“Huh?”
“Hudson. He’s got a sordid history. Before he came out, he was a bully. And believe it or not, he’s now married to his high school best friend who was also one of the guys he bullied.”
Cole gasped.
“I knew it.”
“But he’s really done a one-eighty. He’s got a wonderful queer family. And he writes fantastic books.”
Cole didn’t say anything. He seemed unconvinced. That was until we got in front of the man—a mountain of a man—and he turned into a mumbling mess.
“Oh, Cedarwood Beach? I’ve never been. Sounds nice though.” He giggled like I’d never seen him do so before, and the blond man smiled.
Cole glanced at me and then turned to look at the floor, his cheeks turning red. I bit back a laugh and handed Hudson a card.
“If you ever come by Mayberry Holm, I’d love to have you at my store. You have more than a few fans on the island.”
“Oh, yeah. I’ve heard of it. Let’s arrange something. I’ll be in touch,” Hudson said and signed our books.
“I thought he was too pretty to be trusted,” I said to Cole when we left the bookstore.
“What? He is.”
“You looked smitten,” I said.
Cole’s face turned serious and grabbed my hands.
“I wasn’t.”
“You giggled, Cole. You giggled!”
Cole bit his lip and grimaced.
“I did not.”
“You did so.”
“Did not. I swear. You have nothing to be jealous?—”
“Relax, Cole. I’m just kidding. Besides, I can’t blame you. The man is handsome. Unreal handsome.”
Cole shrugged.
“You’re much more handsome. And cute,” he said.
I stopped in my tracks and looked into his eyes.
“I’m not.”
“I think you are and that’s what matters here. Okay?” He jabbed a finger to my chest a couple of times for emphasis, and then he smiled, pressing his body against mine.
His eyes darted back and forth between my gaze and something above me, and I looked up.
