(Not Really) Faking It With My Best Friend’s Brother (Off-Limits Love In Rivermint Cove #1)
1. Susan
Chapter one
Susan
A sudden, piercing howl shattered the quiet hum of the library. I paused, arm extended to reshelve Emily Bronte, and cocked my head. There it was again—the unmistakable sound of Baxter, the basset hound library mascot. Sighing, I slid the last book into place and headed toward the children’s section. Baxter was trained to calm children, and everyone loved him except for his howling bouts. Three other librarians and I took turns keeping him for a week out of the month. Or sometimes, depending on everyone’s schedule, I might have him longer.
Rounding the corner, I spotted Baxter parked in front of the picture books, head back, his jaws quivering as he serenaded the ceiling tiles. A police siren wailed faintly in the distance. That was no doubt the trigger for this impromptu concert.
“Shhh, now, it’s alright.” I gently rubbed his velvety ears. Baxter leaned into my hand, his soulful eyes peering up at me as if to say , this siren business is serious stuff . Can’t a hound express himself?
I stifled a laugh. “I know, but we mustn’t disturb the readers. Why don’t we... ”
The double doors crashed open, jolting Baxter mid-howl. A whirlwind blew through the foyer, Emily’s vibrant dress swirling in its wake, a splash of color against the library’s serene backdrop.
“Susan!” Emily stage-whispered, skidding to a stop. “You’ll never guess what I’ve done.” I took in her dancing eyes, the impish smile tugging at her lips. My stomach did a little flip.
“Do I want to know?” I asked wryly, raising an eyebrow.
“Oh, stop being such a grump.” Emily swatted my shoulder playfully. “Your life needs some shaking up.”
It was hard not to feel a bit more alive in Emily’s presence. Even the air seemed different, charged with potential. Her bubbly spirit balanced my more reserved nature. We had been best friends since eighth grade, and her loyalty was one of the few constants in my life.
“Let me guess, you signed me up for skydiving lessons?” I kept my tone light and teasing.
Emily just grinned and waggled her finger. “Not until lunch. But get ready for the surprise of your life! Meet me at Coffee Grind.” With that, she air-kissed both my cheeks and breezed out the door, leaving only a trace of perfume and a ripple of unease in her wake.
I busied myself with my usual morning tasks, trying not to dwell on Emily’s mysterious plan. But curiosity gnawed at me as I scanned books and tidied shelves. What exactly was she planning?
I pushed a cart of new arrivals over to the romance section. I had always been a sucker for a good love story, even though I didn’t have very many of my own. As I read the titles, I trailed my fingers along the glossy covers, indulging in some escapism .
“ Her Cowboy Bodyguard .” “ A Single Dad’s Secret Love .” My lips quirked. If only real life were like one of these passionate tales.
I imagined a handsome stranger bursting through the library doors, sweeping me into a breathless embrace. However, the only patrons were Mrs. Grace, our regular Tuesday morning Storytime volunteer, and a mom with her kid. With a slight chuckle at my fanciful thoughts, I grabbed the cart and headed over to reshelve more books.
As lunchtime neared, my nerves began to dance. I tidied up my desk and grabbed my purse, pausing to scratch Baxter behind his ears. “Wish me luck,” I told him. He blinked back solemnly. With a deep breath, I headed out to face the surprise. The bell above Coffee Grind greeted me with its familiar jingle. I spotted Emily waving wildly from our favorite corner booth.
I slid into the seat across from her, feeling both cautious and curious at the same time.
“Should I be worried?” I asked, only half joking.
Emily grinned. “Not at all! In fact, you’re going to thank me.”
I eyed Emily suspiciously as she practically vibrated with enthusiasm. “What exactly have you done?”
“I may have signed you up for an online dating site.” “Her eyes gleamed with mischief.
My stomach dropped. This was so much worse than skydiving lessons. “You didn’t.”
“I did! It’s called ‘Find a Mate on a Blind Date,’ and it matches you based on personality and interests. You chat online first, and you don't get to know the other person's name or what they look like until you meet in person. Isn’t that genius?”
I groaned, dropping my head into my hands. My palms felt clammy. “You know how I feel about that stuff.”
“Your life needs a little spice, Susan,” Emily declared, holding up her smartphone like it was a lifeline tossed into my sea of predictability. “It’s time for you to join the modern dating scene.”
“I don’t know, Emily. That world seems so...” I searched for the right word. “Impersonal.”
“Come on,” she coaxed, swiping through a colorful array of profiles on the screen. “It’s just like browsing a catalog of books, but instead of novels, you get to pick your dream guy.”
“Except books don’t judge you when you take them off the shelf,” I quipped, though the butterflies in my belly suggested that part of me was intrigued by the idea.
“Nobody’s judging you!” Emily rolled her eyes. “Besides, I’ve already set up a profile for you.” She tilted the screen toward me, revealing a cute avatar—a silhouette of a woman sitting under a tree with an open book on her lap, complete with glasses and a stack of books beside her. “Meet Boundless Bookworm.”
I hesitated, caught between the safety of my routines and the allure of the unknown. “But what if someone recognizes me because of the books?” My voice was barely audible, betraying my anxiety.
“Are you kidding? No one in Rivermint Cove would expect Susan Phillips to be on a dating app.” Her laughter rang out, clear and confident. “Boundless Bookworm will be our little secret.”
She reached across the table and squeezed my hand. “I know it is out of your comfort zone, but you spend all your time in that library. When was the last time you went on a date?”
My cheeks heated. She had a point, but the thought of putting myself out there filled me with anxiety. At 30 years old, I had only been on a handful of dates. Maybe I had indulged in too many romance novels, and no one ever really sparked my interest enough. Well, enough for me to put my heart on the line.
Emily’s voice softened. “Look, I get it. But what if your soulmate is out there waiting to meet you?”
I chewed my lip uncertainly. As much as I loved my predictable life, a small part of me wondered if more existed beyond my comfort zone. Emily was right. I couldn’t hide between pages forever. Surrendering to the promise of new horizons—or perhaps to end Emily’s relentless encouragement—I took a deep breath and nodded. “Okay, fine. But we keep this low-key.”
"Low-key is my middle name," Emily said, though we both knew that couldn't be further from the truth.
I let out a deep sigh. "Right."
Emily ignored my response and whooped and stuck her hand out for a high-five. "Let the adventure begin!"
As we finished our lunch, my nerves began to give way to cautious excitement. Maybe this app really could lead me to someone special.
Back at the library, I tried to focus on reshelving books, but my mind kept drifting. I found myself drawn to the romance section again. My fingers trailed across the spines, taking in the range of titles - from sweet small-town love stories to passionate historical romances. For a moment, I let my imagination run wild .
Mr. Darcy appeared, gazing at me intently as he leaned against the bookshelf. “My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”
I flushed, nearly dropping the stack of books in my arms. Before I could respond, a smooth voice spoke from across the aisle.
“Darcy’s got nothing on me, doll. Why don’t you and I have a little chat over drinks tonight?” Gatsby winked roguishly, looking dapper in a crisp pink suit.
Flustered, I turned away, only to find Mr. Rochester blocking my path, his brooding eyes pleading. “Susan, I cannot live without you in my life. You are my life.”
“Susan?” Frances, another librarian, stood there gawking at me with a perplexed expression. “Are you okay? You seem a little distracted.”
I felt my cheeks grow warm. “Oh! Um, yeah, I’m fine.” I busied myself shelving books, avoiding her gaze. She made a sound that was somewhere between a sigh and a laugh and walked away.
"Well, that was embarrassing," I muttered to myself, but I couldn't deny that I was thrilled at the possibilities. The idea was indulgent, even ludicrous, but if fictional characters could find love, maybe I could too.
My thoughts were interrupted by the ping of my phone. I pulled it out, my stomach fluttering. There was the dating app Emily had installed. With shaky fingers, I opened it. A kaleidoscope of avatars filled the screen. I scrolled through, unsure what I was looking for.
Then, an intriguing profile appeared as if conjured from my own musings. It featured the silhouette of a doctor against a backdrop of calming blue. He was standing with an air of confidence, a stethoscope draped casually around his neck, and a faint heart symbol hovering near his chest. Something about the avatar’s smile seemed warm and genuine. I clicked his profile.
“MysteryDoc,” it read. His interests included hiking, reading, and a love for jazz music. I smiled, intrigued by this glimpse into his life.
Before I could overthink it, I quickly swiped right. We matched immediately. I gasped, feeling a sense of sheer panic sweep over me. What had I done?
My hands trembled as I set the phone down. This was uncharted territory. What if I messed up? What if I said the wrong thing? I was always awkward around new people. All the familiar doubts began to creep in.
No, I scolded myself. I wouldn’t let fear hold me back. Emily was right. I needed some spice in my life, even if it scared me half to death. I picked up my phone again, determined to at least give this a shot.
I typed out a simple “ Hi there !” My heart pounded as I pressed the send button, but a small smile crept across my face.
The app showed him typing a response. I opened the message: “ Hello :) I see you also love jazz music. I’d like to chat more about our favorites! I’m also a dog lover. Do you have any furry companions? ”
I smiled, pleasantly surprised by the thoughtful message. I hesitated, trying to think of how to respond. “ I’m glad to meet a fellow jazz lover. I like Miles Davis and Billie Holiday. Do you have a favorite? And yes—I have the sweetest basset hound named Baxter!”
Within moments, MysteryDoc replied, and we fell into an easy conversation. The exchange was light and playful. I enjoyed the banter, and my interest was piqued.
Before I knew it, the clock chimed, and it was ten minutes past closing time. I needed to finish straightening up and get out of there. Reluctantly, I said goodbye to MysteryDoc, promising to message later.
As I walked over to turn the door sign around to closed, my heart quickened at the thought of my witty, mystery-loving match. Baxter, trotting contentedly beside me, seemed to pick up on my mood. He looked up at me with encouragement in his soft brown eyes.
A renewed sense of purpose filled my steps. Lightness replaced the once-familiar weight of routine, and hope bloomed within me like a fragile flower. I was really doing this—I was stepping into the unknown, embracing the potential for love and adventure. Today was the day that I sprouted wings and climbed out of my cocoon. What would come next? I didn’t know. But for the first time in a long while, I was excited to find out.