Chapter 2
Easton
Chapter & Crumb was nothing like I remembered.
For one, an idiot in an inflatable dinosaur costume was running wild in the back of the shop, stomping around like its tail was on fire.
For another, I’d slept like absolute dog crap, but Maggie wanted me to come down for some rolls. I could never say no to her (or to a roll).
I almost turned right around and walked right out, but the smell of cinnamon and sugar was too tempting to pass up. Howls of laughter erupted from a table of people on the bookstore side. All of them looked like they were pushing seventy-five and loving every second of this nonsense.
“It’s a hoot and a half, right?” the girl behind the counter said with a grin. She had hot pink streaks in her hair and an expression that suggested I was supposed to find this funny. “I’m going to get one of those suits to scare my boyfriend.”
The T-Rex mock-roared, tiny arms flailing, bouncing around the table like it was playing some prehistoric version of duck-duck-goose. I frowned. “Is that a good idea? Scaring people like that?”
Her brows knit in confusion, as if I were the one being an idiot. “What do you mean? Scaring them? They’re having a great time.” Her eyes narrowed at me.
Sure enough, the dinosaur lunged at another woman, who shrieked and clapped like it was the highlight of her week.
“Looks like someone could have a heart attack with that person jumping around like that,” I muttered, trying not to sound like I didn’t have a stick up my ass and failing miserably.
“Not even close. It’s reveal day for book club.
” The counter girl leaned forward, eyes sparkling with excitement.
“Lila always cooks up something fun to match the book. This month, it’s going to be Jurassic Park.
” Her eyes glittered in amusement as she looked back at the dinosaur prancing our way, tripping down the steps before righting itself.
Whoever was inside the costume was obviously having technical difficulties due to the suit’s unwieldy nature.
Of course, it was coming over here.
The T-Rex pranced closer, wobbling on the steps.
“Anyway,” I said quickly, wanting out before the Jurassic clown show reached me. “Can I get two cinnamon rolls to go?” I shoved a twenty on the counter, as if it might speed things up.
“Sure thing.” She was already half-laughing at me, not even pretending otherwise. Snorting a little as she tried to cover up how hilarious she thought I was being, which just made me crankier, as if other customers might not find the whole thing irritating.
“Mia! Can you get the zipper? I need a new suit—this one’s on its last arm.” The dinosaur waggled one pitiful arm in my direction, the entire inflated body jiggling. “Sorry! This’ll take a sec. I’m dying in here.” The muffled feminine voice that came from inside the suit surprised me.
“Sure,” Pink Streaks said. “Sorry.” She gave me what might pass as an apologetic look, but she was very obviously not sorry. “Lila, can you grab the fan?” she asked the person in the suit (Lila, I assumed).
The dinosaur twisted and wobbled dangerously. “Oh! Oh no!” came a muffled squeak as they tipped and stumbled.
I groaned. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Against my better judgment, I lunged forward just as the oversized lizard tipped backward toward a coffee table and plant stand. I managed to catch an armful of squeaking, flailing plastic dinosaur, but there was no saving the inevitable.
We went down in a heap, the air wheezing out of the suit as we hit the floor with a thud. The table missed us by inches. The plant stand didn’t.
“Wrangle that T-Rex, young man!” one of the women hollered from the peanut gallery.
The shop erupted in chaos as the deflating dino rolled, wriggling like a fish. I had no choice but to hang on until someone finally unzipped it.
And then… like some ridiculous magic trick, a woman suddenly appeared from the collapsing suit, and my dick immediately hardened as a curvy brunette emerged.
Brown curls tumbled free, and hazel-green eyes lit with laughter.
“Sorry, sorry!” she gasped, brushing hair from her face.
Then, grinning at the crowd, “Jurassic Park, this month, everyone. Ta Da!”
One of the women crowed. “Janice, get the books!”
So this was Lila Merrick, Nora’s granddaughter. She shed the last of the suit and looked straight at me. “Thanks for catching me, handsome.” Her smile was bright, genuine, and infectious.
And then her gaze swept over me, still sitting on the floor, one hand steadying the toppled plant. Her mouth curved. “Oops. Sorry, I landed on you. You okay?”
“I didn’t fall. You pushed me,” I deadpanned, because apparently sarcasm was my survival instinct.
Her smile vanished like I’d slapped it off. “Right,” she snapped. “Because I begged you to throw yourself across the room and rescue me.”
Hands went to hips. She somehow looked prettier when she was pissed off, which was annoying. It made me want to dive between those thighs even more.
I hauled myself to my feet, righted the plant, and brushed off my hands. “I just want my cinnamon rolls. Then I’ll get off this ride, and you can get back to your circus.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Mia. Get this jackwipe his rolls. If there are any left. Maybe we’re out.” She stuck her tongue out at me like she was twelve years old.
Red flushed across her cheeks as she scooped up the deflated dinosaur suit and stomped toward the back. The people at the table glared at me like I’d personally kicked their favorite puppy.
Perfect. I was the asshole.
They better not be out of cinnamon rolls.