Page 22 of The Pumpkin Pie Book Nook

Not just since he’d been with someone—since he’d wanted someone like this. It made him forget that a customer could come in at any moment.

Robyn reached for the last book. She slid it onto the shelf with a soft thud, then paused, as if sensing Tyler before he made a move.

Tyler stepped in so his chest brushed her back, breath skimming her ear. His hands found her waist, his touch light. When she didn’t pull away, when she leaned back the tiniest bit, he lowered his mouth to the side of her neck and kissed her once, slow and deliberate.

Robyn softened, turning her head, melting into his touch.

He kissed her again, a little higher, right under her jaw. The soft skin there made something in him snap.

“I can’t help it,” he murmured against her, voice rougher than he meant it to be. “I can’t stop this.”

Robyn’s fingers came up to cover his hands, holding them at her waist. Her head tipped to the side, offering him more. He kissed the other side of her neck, and she made the smallest sound, but it went straight through him. God, he was aching for her. He couldn’t remember wanting anyone like this—couldn’t remember his own body being this insistent, this relentless, every nerve drawn tight toward her. He tightened his grip, just enough to feel her inhale against his knuckles.

“I’m not complaining,” she whispered, voice unsteady.

Tyler smiled against her skin, warmth and hunger tangling in his chest. “Yeah?” he breathed.

“Yeah,” she said, and this time she turned in his arms.

Her eyes were darker up close, lips parted. She slid her hands up his chest, curling them around the back of his neck. Tyler kissed her fully, and the world narrowed down to breath and mouth and the soft press of her body against his.

He could’ve stayed like that, worshipping her, if only the store hadn’t still been open. They stepped apart just in time as the front doorbell chimed.

Robyn cleared her throat and smoothed her sweater. Tyler grabbed the nearest title off the shelf and opened it, suddenly very interested in reading.

A customer’s footsteps tapped closer.

“Hi there!” Robyn called out, her voice bright enough to fool anyone who wasn’t standing close enough to notice her flushed cheeks.

Tyler kept his gaze on the page, willing his body to calm the hell down. He turned the book over in his hands. It was upside down. Of course it was.

He exhaled slowly, forcing himself to right the book and read the first sentence. It was a collection of essays on romantic literature, which was somehow worse, because every other sentence made him think of her.

And tonight she was coming over. There’d be history books. A cocktail or two. Her neck still warm on his lips. And if they weren’t very careful, maybe more…

ELEVEN

ROBYN

Robyn was nervous about going to Tyler’s house that night, which didn’t make any sense. They’d agreed they were taking it slow. They were just going to look through books, which was about as innocent as plans got.

And yet she’d spent an embarrassing amount of time staring into Meg’s closet, which she’d emptied for Robyn to fill with her clothes. It wasn’t some big, romantic date with dinner and flowers, but it was the first time Tyler had invited her over. Which meant that it was something small, and perfect, and just for the two of them.

Normally, by this hour, she’d be in sweatpants and an oversized hoodie with her hair in a messy bun and a face that screamed, Do not perceive me. But that didn’t exactly say, Come over and sit close on a couch with a man you can’t stop thinking about.

On the other hand, showing up in a cute fall dress and boots felt… too much. She didn’t want to look like she was trying too hard.

So, she landed somewhere in the middle with black leggings and an oversized sweater in a rusty orange that made her feel like she truly belonged in a Maple Falls autumn. She added gold hoop earrings and two short layered necklaces, the kind that caught the light when she moved.

Krista texted her as Robyn crossed the parking lot toward her car, promising she’d call soon. A second later, another message came through. It was a picture of Krista’s miniature dachshund, Frankie, wearing a beret, standing beside a baguette that was bigger than him.

Robyn instantly smiled at the photo, feeling incandescently happy for her big sister, and texted back, Love it. Tell Joe I said hi. Miss you guys! Talk soon.

In no time, she was pulling into Tyler’s neighborhood.

Tyler lived in the residential district in a neat little tri-level, tucked between close neighbors with warm porch lights glowing on either side. When Robyn pulled up, she spotted him outside in the dark, watering a side garden.

She smiled, taking in his fitted jeans, sweatshirt, and muddy work boots. She was pretty sure she’d never seen a speck of mud on him before, but seeing him out there, working in his garden, it just worked.