Chapter 4
Summer
“H e’s cute, right?” the voice asks about the romance book I’m holding in my hands. Yup. I’m back in Espresso Yourself. It’s just too damn good not to visit every day.
I smile back and adjust my swimsuit under my tank top. I’m hitting the beach after I pick up a book I want for the day.
When I glance back at the cover in my hands, I reply, “Very cute.” Not as cute as Eli, especially while I was rubbing the nub of his nipple yesterday. Not sure what came over me. The man literally had to restrain me and request—twice—that I stop fondling him.
“He’s my boyfriend.”
“This guy?” I point to the man on the cover, who, now that I look closely, does resemble someone I think I’ve seen in town.
“Ya. That’s Jack.”
“Oh my God, Emmerson. I didn’t know Jack posed to be your cover model.”
She scrunches up her face. “Well…he didn’t exactly pose for it.”
“Sounds like there’s more to that?”
“Let’s just say that he agreed to it once I showed it to him,” she chuckles. And I can’t help giggling along.
“You two are super cute together.”
“Thanks. It took us a while to finally make our move, but who knew a tent would make the best wingman?” She shrugs cutely and then asks, “Anyone in your life?”
“Umm…not at the moment. The last few relationships didn’t go so well.”
“Taking a break?”
“You could say that. I’m happy where I am.”
“That’s a good place to be.”
“Ya. It’s important to be content with where you’re aaaaah—”
“Excuse me, Emmerson.” A deep, very familiar, voice cuts in. “There’s been an emergency and Summer needs to get out of here. Now.”
“What about my book?” That’s what I ask, but it’s not what I should be asking. I should be asking Eli, why did you haul me up on your shoulders ? And why am I bouncing around up here like a sack of potatoes?
“I’ll–um-I’ll get it for you.” She’s stifling a laugh as she reaches up and snags the book while Eli marches out of the store.
And that’s when I notice he’s shirtless. I mean, I noticed when my body slid over his shoulder and my hand ran down his back, but I didn’t really appreciate it in the moment.
Now—mmm—let me tell you, I’m appreciating it. From this perspective, his ass looks good. And his back has more muscles than I can count. Doesn’t stop me from trying.
The whole time, Eli doesn't say a word to me. He’s all, Excuse me, miss , and, Pardon me, Ma’am , like it’s normal for a fireman in only his hitches to haul women around town. I know Lit Creek is new to me, but I haven’t seen this yet. Certainly not from the supposedly modest Eli. At the photoshoot he was the most awkward I’ve ever seen him, and now he’s prancing around like this? What is he upto?
Not once does he explain what he’s doing. But in all of it, he’s drawing an exceptional amount of attention.
Finally, he lurches to a stop in the middle of town. Right under the town’s gazebo. He signals to someone off to the side, who strikingly resembles Finn, and a banner rolls down from the woodwork of the gazebo.
A freaking banner. I thought they only had banners in Full House.
But here I am, a recipient of a beautiful—well, man-painted—banner that reads, “Will you go on one date with me?” The number one is in extra large print.
There’s a crowd. Eli is grinning, but I can tell he’s nervous. For a man who loves pulling pranks and having a good time, I’m coming to realize that amidst all of those good times he’s typically not center stage. He’s the Jenson twin behind the scenes. I think I like him all the more for that.
“So what do you say, Summer?” He leans in close so that only I can hear him. “Give me a chance. I’ll be the exception. I promise. Things won’t get toxic. And if you want to cut it off, I’ll still be your friend.”
I’m speechless. I know I’ve halfway fallen for this man already, but my past has taught me a lesson for a reason. I should listen to it. I really can’t afford to lose this friendship or this cute little town I’d like to stay in.
“You can trust me. I’m not them.”
And that’s the thing. He’s not them. I shouldn’t hold my past against him. I want to. I want to protect myself. I want to keep that little valve tightly closed so no air can seep out.
But this is Eli.
“Let me show you what it’s like between us outside of the friendzone. And if you don’t like it, I promise we can go back.”
My heart and mind are at war, but I know I’d hate myself if I didn’t give him a chance, so I find myself nodding.
“Is that a yes? I need to hear a yes.” He steps even closer. Right into my space. Nipple to nipple.
“Yes,” I whisper.
And then he turns to the small crowd, cups his hands around his mouth and shouts, “She said yes.”
A loud cheer followed by clapping fills the air.
“Can’t see how she would have given any other response,” a crackly voice pipes up.
“Thanks, Alva,” Eli grins at the older lady who must be about seventy. She’s front and center, and I wonder how much she heard.
“If she wouldn’t have said yes, I would have taken you out, Eli.”
“Thanks, Reba.” Eli flashes another smile that makes the two elderly women giggle. They look so cute together, and I make a mental note adding the image of those two to my best friend goals.
“‘Course you would say that, Reba. But the man’s a third of your age, for Pete’s sake,” an old man interjects on the bestie’s good time.
“You’re just jealous that I’m not asking you out, Allistair.”
The old man harrumphs and grumbles loudly as he walks away.
The rest of the crowd is still eagerly watching us, when it parts slightly and Em emerges. Obviously having followed us out of the bookstore, she walks up to me and hands me the book. “Don’t forget this. I signed it for you, too.”
“Oh my gosh, thank you, Em.”
“You’re welcome.”
Eli pulls out a twenty dollar bill and stuffs it in Em’s hands while she tries to refuse it. Then his hands are around my waist and he swings me around.
Nope. No kiss.
Darn it. But that’s okay. His arms feel amazing just holding me. I can’t believe he just did that in front of half of his town. They all know him. It’s not like he can play that off. He took a huge risk in asking me out that way. And the two cuties that witnessed it? They probably know everything about him. Maybe changed a diaper or two of his, I’m not sure.
This town is so ridiculous. But I love it. I actually can’t imagine not staying here now. It’s terrifying how quickly it grew on me. And that’s part of why I wasn’t going to date Eli. I didn’t want an ex in this small town before I even settled in.
Now I just have to figure out my feelings for Eli so that I don’t lose the friendship or this cute little town when things take a turn for the worse. Because they will.