Just like my bees.
“You know,” I said, leaning over the keyboard, already thinking three steps ahead. “If we tag these under both fantasy romance and historical crossover, they’ll show up in more searches.”
Xan snorted. “God, you’re hot when you talk metadata. Okay, your turn.”
I reached behind the counter and pulled out a mass-market paperback with an illustrated couple on the front. One woman wore a flowing white dress, bouquet clutched in her palms. The other stood beside her in muddy boots and rolled-up sleeves, holding a pitchfork like she had stepped straight out ofAmerican Gothic.
Xan’s grin turned feral. “Well, this one’s gay as hell.”
“Keep going.”
They studied it for half a second, then snapped their fingers. “Runaway bride flees her hetero nightmare wedding and trips—literally—into a small-town farm. She meets a grumpy, soft-hearted farmer who pretends she hates people, but underneath it all, she’s a gooey cinnamon roll.”
I flipped the book over and scanned the back cover.
“Well, damn.” They had absolutely nailed it. “Let’s put this one on the shortlist for next month’s book club pick.”
Xan’s eyes lit up immediately. “I can see it now. March into Sapphic Spring with—” They glanced down at the book’s title. “Til Dirt Do Us Part.”
We both burst into laughter.
When the bell chimed again, it was a group of college girls beelining for the new releases, desperate to find the rugby romance book that had recently gone viral on Booktok. Xanhopped up to help them, while I went back to my spreadsheet, still grinning like an idiot.
Working the evening shift at Smutty Buddies was one of my favorite things. The store smelled like new books, vanilla candles, and a faint whiff of coffee from the little nook in the back where we always had a pot going.
The fairy lights strung across the ceiling gave everything a soft, golden glow, and the shelves were organized by popular romance tropes. Enemies to lovers had its own section, as did my personal favorite, grumpy/sunshine, and there almost an entire wall dedicated to “Morally Gray Men.”
Nessa had built something special here, and on quiet nights like this, when the music was low and the customers were happy, it felt like the best secret in Rose City.
Well, maybe thesecondbest.
Because the secret hot tub hidden behind the old bait shop on the east side of First Street took the cake. Nobody knew who it actually belonged to or who kept it maintained, but it was a Rose City staple. The stories about that hot tub could fill a book so thick it would double as a weapon.
Xan came back a few minutes later and grabbed another book from behind the counter. A special edition hardcover this time. “Okay, one more before the end of the day rush hits.”
This cover featured a woman in a red velvet cloak, standing on the edge of a snowy garden. Frost clung to the hedges, the moonlight catching on something sharp just beyond the gate. Claws, maybe. Or teeth.
“Hmm, I feel like I’m getting a paranormal, erotic retelling ofLittle Red Riding Hood.”
Xan grinned. “Do go on.”
I snatched the book out of their hands and flipped through the pages. This one was heavy enough to give the hot tub lore a run for its money. “In this version, Red isn’t on her way to see her grandmother. Instead, she’s trying to escape her repressive village and pursue her dreams.”
“Naturally.”
“And then, she meets a wolf,” I continued. “But not a scary one. A broody, morally gray alpha hero whose sole purpose is to find his mate. Oh, and of course, there will be knotting.”
Xan clapped slowly. “You’re getting too good at this.”
I looked up when the bell rang out yet again, and this time, much to my surprise, it was Parker. She had a canvas bag slung over one shoulder, printed with retro cherries, and a massive grin that lit up the whole store.
“Damn,” she called, weaving through the shelves. “You weren’t kidding; this place is adorable.”
Xan turned at the sound and froze mid-motion, eyes going wide. Parker froze too, like they’d both spotted a rare bird.
Parker was all bright vintage explosion. Today it was a mustard-yellow cardigan with embroidered daisies over a cherry-print blouse, high-waisted trousers, and those same pink-and-purple rain boots from the market.
Xan, on the other hand, was pure goth cottagecore. A black velvet overall dress over a lace-trimmed blouse, chunky boots, and silver moon earrings that matched the different phases of the moon painted on their nails.
