Page 118 of Maple Mountain
“Cheers, mate,” I said, clinking my plastic glass of sparkling apple juice against Poet’s.“Just Another Chapter is a success.”
Poet grinned from behind the cash register as she looked around the room.“I think you’re right.”
The bookstore’s opening was bustling with customers.The table of Poet’s favorite books was nearly empty, and almost all of the candles had been purchased.
“How’s your finger?”she asked, gesturing with her chin to the leopard print Band-Aid covering the papercut I’d gotten that afternoon.
“I’ll survive,” I quipped.
Archer and Brooks were standing together in a corner; Archer looked away from his brother and met my eyes from across the room.It was a caress that I felt down my spine.
I hastily turned away, my cheeks heating.
“Saw that,” Poet said with a chuckle.“Go talk to him.”
“Why?”I asked.“About what?”
“Books,” she said.“Go on.And send Brooks to me.I need him.”
“No, you don’t.”
“No, I don’t, butyouwant to talk to Archer alone.So go.”She waved her hand in the direction of her fiancé and future brother-in-law.
I went—and made sure not to drag my feet.
“Hey,” I said, greeting the two men as I stopped in front of them.“Brooks, Poet needs you.”
“I live to serve,” Brooks said, inclining his head and then going to his pregnant fiancé.
I smiled at his retreating form.
“You look gorgeous,” Archer said.His voice was low as his eyes dragged over me.
I swallowed and forced myself not to look at him.“Thank you.”
He paused.“Poet looks happy.”
“Ecstatic.”
Archer took a step closer to me so that I could feel the heat of him.He looked far too good in his dark button-down shirt, jeans, and cowboy hat.
As if pulled by a magnet, I slowly turned toward him.His hand grazed the lower part of my back.
There was so much promise in that one little touch.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a dark-haired blur coming toward us.
“Incoming,” I stated, taking a step away, forcing Archer to drop his hand.
Lenni stopped in front of us, holding a chunky paperback book.
“Can I spend the night at Summer’s house?”Lenni asked.
“Bit of a last-minute ask,” Archer said.“We haven’t met Summer or Summer’s parents.”
We.
He’d saidwe.Like I was meant to be included in the parenting discussion.
