Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 44474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
“If Dot chooses another biography for the book club next month, I’m slipping a gummy in her iced tea.”
The other woman snickered. “What good would that do? A gummy would float to the top of her drink, and then she’d wonder who dunnit. No one causes a scene like Dot, and I’m hosting next month, so please…don’t.”
“I wouldn’t,” her friend grumbled without heat. “But I’m fairly certain a gummy bear would sink and dissolve.”
“No, it would float.”
“Sink.”
“Float. I’m sure of it. I bet Moody will know. He knows everything. Or…maybe you know?”
I glanced over at the two little old white-haired ladies and lifted my brows. “Uh…you want to know if a gummy will sink or float?”
“Yes, but the kind with marijuana in it. That makes it heavier, doesn’t it?”
“Uh…well, I—”
“Halt!” A slight man with wild sandy blond hair whipped around the corner, shoving thick glasses to the bridge of his nose as he warily eyed the troublemaking octogenarians. “Gummy bears will not dissolve in water. Expand, yes. Dissolve, no. However, that’s neither here nor there. Mrs. Johnson, you must refrain from your tomfoolery, especially the potentially calamitous kind. Failure to do so will result in an enthusiastic suggestion to Dot that she might consider reviving her love of classic literature for book club. War and Peace is a sumptuous epic novel. Just saying…”
“Oh, now that’s just mean, Moody,” Mrs. Johnson huffed. “It’s too early for your usual holiday orneriness.”
“Hmph.” The younger man snorted. “You should know that your trickery is unnecessary anyway. Dot loves gummies, so…behave.”
“Fine. I’ll behave and I’ll bake you some snickerdoodles if you encourage Dot to choose a short, fun, well-written book with a little sexy sauce for next month.”
Moody’s lips twitched. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“Extra sexy sauce equals extra cookies,” the other woman singsonged as they toddled away, chattering like teenagers.
“Well played. That was a master class in dealing with—what did you call it?—tomfoolery.” I tucked the gardening book under my arm, chuckling as I tilted the brim of my hat and turned to get my first real look at Moody.
Objectively speaking, he was handsome in a boy-next-door way. Moody was maybe five inches shorter than my six two and skinny with big brown eyes, a pointed chin, porcelain skin, and pink cheeks.
And just like that, the earlier feeling of intense familiarity hit me with a strong dose of awareness that took me by surprise.
Moody straightened his spine. “Yes, no one wrangles eighty-year-old miscreants quite like me. I’m sorry you were privy to the uglier side of small-town book club politics. It’s a feisty crew. Now, how might I help you, good sir?”
Good sir? I bit the inside of my cheek to keep my monster grin in check.
“Honestly, I’m just passing through town. The soup next door looks good, but I thought I’d check out your shop first. I could use a good book. Can you recommend anything?”
He cocked his head and pursed his lips. “Of course. What are your interests? Are you in the mood for fiction, nonfiction, historical, contemporary, mystery-suspense, romance, biographies—”
“Okay, okay.” I set the book I’d tucked under my arm onto the shelf and held my hands up in surrender. “I get it. Lots of choices.”
“An abundance,” he agreed in a prim and proper tone that seemed more suited to someone closer in age to the old ladies he’d scolded.
Not gonna lie, I was intrigued.
I pointed at the large M affixed to the wall behind the register. “You’re Moody?”
“I am. Louis R. Moody, PhD, MA, amateur ornithologist, and bookseller at your service,” he pronounced, extending his hand.
“Hudson. Nice to meet you.”
We established that I was a big guy, right? Well, my palm practically swallowed his. He glanced down at our joined hands and cleared his throat, blushing as he raked his teeth over his plump bottom lip.
Fuck, he had a pretty mouth. Perfect for sucking dick or—
Whoa! Wait up. Where the hell did that come from?
Yes, it was true. Moody was pretty in a nerdy, kind of adorable way, but it was weird that his brand of hot registered with me at all. Christ, but I couldn’t recall the last time I’d noticed anyone new. Male or female.
I’d been afraid my shocking lack of libido would take a year or two to rebound after recent events.
Well, I guessed this was me rebounding.
Huh.
“It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mr. Hudson,” Moody replied, oblivious to my pervy internal sidebar.
“Actually, Hudson is my first name,” I corrected for no apparent reason. This guy didn’t need details. I was a potential customer, nothing more, so I should shut up already. Too late. I was yappin’ again. “Hudson Babineaux, rancher and occasional mystery novel fan…at your service.”
I winked.
Holy crap, I was flirting now too.
Me.
I couldn’t believe I still knew how to do that. Remarkable. Amazing. It needed to stop immediately, but hey…this was progress.