So You Want a #BOOKBOYFRIEND? (Love Canyon: Blind Date with a #BOOKBOYFRIEND)

Chapter 3

Meredith

“ M ore tea?”

It was a week after the Love Canyon Book Club’s Spiciest meeting, well, ever, and my Aunt Marie and Nan were acting the way they always did when they were up to something. Mikayla called it the ‘meddle tingles’ when we were younger. And she was usually right. From getting the high school to do a production that needed more than just the simple set at Mikayla’s school, to helping the local tree farm not be sold to a developer to the simple act of keeping a favorite muffin at the local coffee shop. Nan might’ve lived in Love Canyon for the last thirty years, but her influence was far-reaching. From Cali, where Mikayla grew up, to the sleepy beach town down by the Carolinas where I spent my younger years. That sleepy little town now had an amazing taco place because she loved making dreams come true.

“Sure. And then will you tell me what the two of you are up to, because don’t think I haven’t noticed the back and forth glances and giggling. Like Mikayla and I would do when we were doing things we shouldn’t have.” I crossed my arms across my chest, and dared them to deny it.

The sun was out, and the afternoon was a comfortable seventy-one degrees. In the warmth of the sun, I suddenly felt like the two of them were going to pull one over on me and I’d either be happy as a clam in sand or as pissed off as I had been the one time I read a book by a romance author but it was her one non-romance, no HEA offering.

Still bitter about that one.

And of course, this morning, things had been off to a great start. I was just about to convince Mr. Carter to update the website and add a feature that would allow buyers from around the globe contact him about either acquiring a piece, or selling theirs to him when Declan Fucking Carter decided to add his two cents. ‘It might be too much for someone like me to handle.’ And his father ran all the other things that ‘required the business’ to run like a well-oiled machine.

The way he said it was much nicer, until I noticed the way he glared at me while saying it. But his father missed the exchange because he was preoccupied with a painting someone brought in from an estate, along with various other pieces and antiques..

Asshole might be fifteen years older than me, and loaded because of his stupid tech company, which he sold off, but I’d be damned if he’d mansplained or talked down to me one more day.

I was already dreaming about ways to humiliate him and keep my dignity.

The list was long and thoroughly entertaining. And maybe I was enjoying the thought of besting him, even in a petty way, far more than I should. Not to mention the glaring was getting way too annoying at this point. Every time I walked into the showroom, and Declan was there, the hairs on the back of my neck raised up.

Which was why I agreed so quickly to lunch today with the two of them outside the newest Love Canyon hot spot.

I never turned down a taco and margarita lunch.

Neither said a word, but the look they exchanged was enough to make me need that margarita. Now.

“Can’t we…miss you?”

If they started blinking innocently, I might just scream and run away. After tacos, of course.

As the server set down our orders, the table filled with salsas, chips, and more food than the three of us could possibly consume in the ninety minutes I had for lunch, I raised my glass and took a swig before I countered, “You just saw me two nights ago at book club. Which was eye-opening, on so many levels. Who knew Clara knew so many kinks and all that terminology. Not to mention that Tessa is wilder than I knew. It’s always the quiet ones.” I snatched a chip and loaded it with salsa verde. I tossed it back, chewed, then demanded, “Tell me why you really asked me to lunch, Nan. And Aunt Marie, don’t think I won’t get Mikayla on the phone or pop into that damn chat Ollie has with all of them, either. I am not above using them to get the truth out of you.” Using another chip, I pointed it at them before loading it up and shoved it into my mouth with gusto.

They exchanged a glance, and Nan’s mouth twitched. She finally sighed, reached for her taco, and said, “We want you to help us with a little project.” And before she said another word, the taco was stuffed in her mouth as she nodded for Aunt Marie to continue.

“What project?”

Aunt Marie munched on a chip before she answered. “We need to know all about book boyfriends and tropes, Meredith. In detail.”

I stopped chewing, then started again. My hand over my mouth as I swallowed, because your girl loved her some tacos, I took a drink of water to wash it down. “For the Blind Date thing at Tanith’s?”

The two of them exchanged a look. Then Nana shrugged, as if to say what the hell. “That and maybe a little more. But we can start with that. After all, book club isn’t for another two weeks. And Quinn can be out first-”

“Reader,” Aunt Marie cut in with a twitch of her lips.

I wrinkled my nose, then nearly moaned in delight over the damn taco I wolfed down like a starved person. “Reader?” I asked over a mouthful. And of course at that very moment, Declan Fucking Carter came out the door of the restaurant, bag in hand, sunglasses on his smug face. He stopped, looked me up and down, lip curled, and spun on his heel and headed in the direction of our workplace. “Asshole,” I muttered under my breath.

“What was that, Mere?”

I shook my head. “Nothing, Nan. Now, what do you mean by ‘ reader ’?”

“Well, dear, we think Quinn would be a perfect candidate for the Blind Date Book Club.”

Keep reading for a peek at the first Love Canyon: Blind Date Book Club (the next Montreal Triumph Hockey series), Noah’ and Quinn’s story, Blind Date with a #HOCKEYBOY .