Page 43 of That Rush

Friday is hers. If I want a place in it, I’ll ask at her door and be ready to walk away if she says no.

Chapter 6

Paige

The delivery driver abandons six boxes of books at the wrong end of the farmers’ market and gives me a sympathetic shrug.

“This is as close as I can get.”

“My booth is two aisles over.”

“Sorry. Road’s blocked.”

He climbs back into his van before I can point out that the vendors are the reason the road is blocked—a detail a farmers’ market delivery service should probably anticipate.

I check the time. Twenty-eight minutes until the market opens.

Perfect.

I stack two smaller boxes and manage three steps before the top one shifts.

“Planning to carry all of those yourself?”

Aiden’s voice comes from behind me, followed by Josie’s, “Miss Paige!”

I tighten my grip and turn. Josie is wearing sparkly pink sunglasses and bouncing on the balls of her feet. Aiden stands beside her in worn jeans, boots, and a fitted navy T-shirt, and I have to remind myself I’m annoyed.

“I was planning to make several trips.”

“That wasn’t my question.”

“It was the answer you were getting.”

Amusement pulls at his mouth as he glances at the boxes, then back at me. “Would you like help?”

I lose my train of thought somewhere around his biceps.

“You’re asking?”

“I’m capable of learning.”

“Recent evidence suggests otherwise.”

“Recent evidence got me your address.”

Heat crawls beneath my collar. “It got you permission to ask again.”

“I remember exactly what it got me.” His gaze holds mine. “Do you want help, Paige?”

I surrender the boxes. “Yes.”

Aiden takes both as if they weigh nothing. The muscles along his forearms tighten, and my gaze follows them with embarrassing dedication.

Josie pushes her sunglasses onto her head. “I can help too.”

“I have a very important job for you.” I hand her the tote filled with bookmarks. “Can you put one on every chair?”

“All of them?”