Chapter Three – Aurora #2
“And Opal also said since Mary left, she and Jake have been watching Winnie in the afternoons and at night when Liam is working, if they’re in town.
If not, it’s Liam’s father, Mitchell. I don’t think it will last much longer, though, for Jake and Opal.
They’re both retired and want to travel together.
It’s their time, but Jake feels guilty.”
“Yeah, it was always Mary or Jake and Opal who brought her to storytime. I’m not sure what he’s going to do now that Mary is gone, and, as you said, Jake and Opal want to travel.” I exhaled. “Anyway, it’s not my concern. How are things going with you and Kian?”
Her eyes lit up. “Wonderful. I sometimes have to pinch myself because I feel like I’m living in a dream. I have everything I’ve ever wished for.”
My heart kicked in my chest as a pang of jealousy ripped through my body.
All of my friends were finding love, getting married, and starting to have kids, and I felt like I was stuck.
I hadn’t ever really dated anyone I could see myself with in the future.
Most told me I was obsessed with my bookstore and that they were tired of competing with it.
I couldn’t blame them. I was dedicated to that place.
The other guys all seemed to want me for one thing.
My looks. Maybe I’m guilty of reading too many romance novels and was looking for a guy who simply didn’t exist except on paper.
“I’m so happy for you, Cadie. I really am.” And I was happy for her, even if there was that bit of jealousy going on.
“Aurora, are you sure there’s nothing else bothering you?”
I smiled. “I’m positive.”
“When was the last time you went on a date?”
The change in subject left me slightly dizzy. “I’m sorry?”
“I think you should go out, have some fun. Maybe what you need is more meaningless sex.”
“Hard pass. Having one one-night stand was enough for me, thank you very much.”
She leaned forward. “Okay, hear me out. There is this guy who comes into the bakery every single morning. His name is Gary. He’s new in town.”
“What brought him to Moose Village?” I asked. It wasn’t like our town was a hot spot for people to relocate to for a job. We didn’t have any major businesses besides the city and the school district.
“The city hired him.”
My brows shot up. “Why?”
“According to Harper, her father told her that they needed a new city finance director.”
“Is Charlie leaving?” I asked. Charlie Nettle had been the city’s finance director for as long as I could remember.
She smiled. “He’s retiring at the end of July.”
“Oh wow! That’s great news for him.”
Cadie looked up and smiled. “Speak of the devil. Gary! Hi!”
I turned to see a man standing there with a smile on his face. His dark blond hair was cut and trimmed as if he had just stepped out of a military uniform. He wore jeans and a black T-shirt that showcased his incredibly fit body. When he started toward us, I turned back to Cadie.
“What are you doing?”
“Introducing you to him. Trust me, you’ll like him.”
“Cadie!” I whisper-shouted, and before I could say anything else, Gary was standing at our table.
“Hey there, Cadie. Fancy meeting you here.”
She smiled and looked at me. “Gary, I’d like to introduce you to one of my dear friends, Aurora Banks. Aurora, this is Gary Harris. He’s our new city finance director.”
“Hi, Gary,” I replied with a smile. “Welcome to Moose Village.”
He held out his hand. His hazel eyes looked kind, and he was even more handsome up close, that was for sure.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Aurora. I’ve been in your bookstore. It’s charming. I can’t wait to bring my mother in when she comes to visit.”
That piqued my interest right up. “You like to read?”
He laughed. “I love reading, ever since I was a little kid. My mother was the one who got me hooked on it. She is an avid reader. I know she’s going to love your bookshop.”
I felt my chest swell with pride. “I hope she does. When will she be coming into town?”
He glanced at his watch. “Next week.”
“Does she like romantic suspense? Cadie’s husband will be reading from his new book, and we have another romantic suspense author scheduled for an exclusive signing the next day. I would love for you to bring her if she enjoys that genre.”
He smiled, and the way it lit up his eyes made me smile in return. “She loves romantic suspense. As she says, it’s her jam.”
Cadie and I both laughed.
“Then we’ll see you there,” I said.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
He turned from me to Cadie. “See you tomorrow morning.”
She waved. “See you then, Gary.”
When he turned and headed to the counter, Cadie and I both looked at one another. “He’s cute, isn’t he?”
I chuckled. “Yes, Cadie, he is cute.”
“If he asked you out, would you go out with him?”
My eyes landed back on Gary. He was handsome, polite, and had a love for books. Turning back to her, I replied, “I would. If he asked.”
A wide grin appeared on her face, and I pointed to her. “Don’t you dare. If he wants to ask me on his own, that’s one thing. Do not set us up.”
Holding up her hands, she said, “I promise not to be that friend.”
“Good. Oh, wait, that also means you can’t have Harper or Brystol do it either.”
She pouted. “Well, hell.”
Laughing, I shook my head. “I need to go check on Memory Lane Toys for Brystol, then head to the bookstore. Thanks for the chat.”
We both stood and hugged.
“Aurora, please don’t let what Liam said affect your friendship with him. He was hurting, and most likely lashed out at you because you were there. One of those at the wrong place at the wrong time kind of things.”
I sighed. “Probably.”
“Come on, I’ll walk you to check out the toy store, then to The Book Nook. I need to pick up Martha Stewart’s new gardening book, per Harper.”
As we walked out of the coffee shop, I chanced one more look in Gary’s direction. His eyes caught mine, and he smiled. I lifted my hand and quickly exited the coffee shop.