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Chapter 4
Adalynn
Like every other time I spend snuggled up next to Cash Tucker, I tossed and turned all night last night. He leaves me restless and exhausted, but I can’t seem to ever turn down an offer to hang out after dinner. We didn’t even make it through an entire episode last night before he decided he needed to leave.
“Adalynn?”
“I’m so sorry,” I say, snapping my attention back to Sage, running my hand over the bakery display case in an effort to distract her from how distracted I am this morning. “What were you saying?”
“I was wondering about creating a dine-in experience at That’s Another Story,” she says, her gentle smile telling me that my distraction is forgiven.
“That sounds amazing,” I tell her, leaning in closer to get more details. “Which book were you thinking of doing?”
“I haven’t made it that far yet, but I’m open for suggestions. Since it’s so early in the planning stages, I was hoping you could help me out.”
“I can curate an extensive list. What genre were you wanting?”
She shakes her head, her smile as sweet as can be.
The two of us should probably be best friends. I’m an avid reader, spending more time than I probably should, reading in one of the little nooks she has in her store, and she owns the place. We’re a match made in heaven honestly, but we’re also both young business owners and that requires a lot of time and dedication. I like spending my time in the place she needs free time from.
“I was hoping you could cook.”
“Oh, were you doingChocolat?” I ask, unable to hide the excitement from my voice. “Joanne Harris also has a cookbook that would pair nicely with it.”
Sage shakes her head. “Are you good at making chocolate? I was thinking something a little more substantial.”
“Cakes?”
“A full meal.”
“I don’t cook food.” I smile through my frustration. Do people not realize that the two don’t always go hand in hand? If I had a dollar for every time I’ve had to explain the differences… “I bake. I’d love to make baked goods for your event, but if you need something more than spaghetti sauce warmed on the stove and frozen meatballs, I think your best bet would be Riley Wilson. She has an amazing catering company, and her food is to die for.”
“Do you happen to have—”
I point to the card holder just to her left. “Right there.”
“You are a lifesaver. Oh, and your books are in. I’ve put them behind the counter. They’re ready for pick up whenever you get a chance.”
“Perfect,” I tell her, trying to run the rest of my day through my mind, to see if I’ll have time to swing by before they close.
Sage steps away from the counter just as Walker walks through the door. They nod at each other, both having lived here all their lives, but they don’t speak to one another.
“You two gossiping about monster co—”
“Walker Conroy!” I snap. “Don’t even say it.”
He chuckles as he bends a little to peruse what I have in the display case.
Walker is friends with my brothers, which means he was at our house a lot growing up before he left for the military. More than once he picked up a book I’d left lying around and made fun of me for reading nonsense. I still get embarrassed thinkingabout it. He does his best to remind me all the time about it, but, honestly, he only does it when there are no witnesses. I guess I should be grateful for that at least.
“I’m going to spit on your cupcake,” I warn him, but he just chuckles.
He knows I’d never do such a thing.
“How are the boys doing with that new girlfriend?”
I tilt my head, narrowing my eyes at him.
