Page 6 of Love is Trash in Hallow's Cove

“Hi, yeah, I’m Sydney. Nice to meet you, Hayley. Jake’s in the back.”

“Oh okay. Thanks!” I stand there with an awkward smile for a beat too long, and when she goes back to perusing the comics, I know I missed the window of opportunity for chatting more.

Flustered, I move to the other side of the store, where an elderly woman with fox ears and a long silver braid is examining a stack of side tables. I pretend to look at the selection of novelty t-shirts, but when a few minutes pass and there’s no sign of the man in question, I clear my throat to get the older fox woman’s attention. “Hi! Sorry to bother you, but do you know if Jake will come out at some point?”

She shrugs, not bothering to look up from the table she has her eye on. “Not sure. If you find something and don’t want to wait for him to pay, you can put the money over by the register.” She gestures absently with a hand over to the cluttered jewelry counter with an old-fashioned cash register sitting atop it and a sign that says “Pay here. Don’t steal.”

“Huh. Okay, thanks.”

Another five minutes or so pass as I wander around the labyrinthine shop, marveling at the selection and at how much he’s crammed into a shop not much larger than the bodega. It should feel claustrophobic, but once I get over the sheer volume of stuff, I can see there is a method to the madness. An unusual one, but it’s there. Formal dresses and suits are by the glassware and dining tables. Luggage is next to the shoes and jackets.

I’m looking through the collection of vintage bodice ripper novels next to the sleepwear when someone clears their throat behind me. I startle and drop the book with the pirate king and a busty wench on the cover with a curse.

I bend down to grab it, only for the stranger to do the same, and our foreheads collide in a painful smack.

“Shit, sorry!” I pull back, clutching at my smarting forehead.

“Whoops, my bad,” he says, shaking his head as he grabs the book, then turns to look up at me from his kneeling position.

Damn, he’scute.

The man on the floor takes up most of the aisle with the bulk of his thick body. He pushes a strand of his dark brown, shaggy hair off of his forehead, a hint of a flush peeking up from beneath his thick beard, burnishing his beige skin.

I only have a moment to drink in his bright, lopsided smile before it drops as he takes me in and his expression morphs into a look of horror.

I snap out of my reverie. “What? Am I bleeding?” I ask, voice panicked as I swipe at my forehead and look at my fingers.

The man shakes his head and a hint of his smile returns, this time seeming apologetic. “Sorry, you just, uh, startled me.”

He stands, and now that he’s upright, I realize how tall he is. Tall and broad beneath his boxy Hawaiian shirt that’s unbuttoned down far enough that a hint ofhis gray-brown chest hair peeks out. There’s something about him that gives me monster vibes, despite him looking completely human. Maybe he’s a shifter.

I snap my gaze up to his face before he catches me blatantly checking him out. There’s a slightly gold sheen to his eyes, confirming my guess.

“You’re the one who snuck up on me,” I say with a soft laugh, rubbing my forehead.

He lets out a slightly strangled laugh, like he’s forcing it. “Sorry about that.”

He stares down into my eyes for a long moment, neither one of us saying anything. My heartbeat speeds up as he reaches out towards me and for a second, I think he’s going to grab me and pull me into a kiss.

Is this it? Am I having my fated mates moment? I am pretty attracted to this guy…

I close my eyes and embrace the butterflies bursting in my stomach as I await the kiss that will change my life.

No kiss comes. My eyes flutter open and I realize he’s placing the book back on the shelf behind me. A furious blush spreads across my cheeks as he gives me a quizzical look.

“Don’t worry, I don’t bite,” he says, sounding like he’s seriously worried I’m scared of him and that’s why I shut my eyes.

“Oh, I’m not worried! You can bite me if you want,” I blurt.

His thick brows shoot up and I shake my head and smile like I didn’t say something super weird and inappropriate.

I clear my throat. “Are you uh, Jake?”

“Yep. And you’re… Betsy’s niece?” His eyes narrow like he’s trying to search my face for any resemblance to my aunt. “You have her nose,” he concludes after a moment.

“Uh, yeah. I’m Hayley.” I reach my hand out to him with a smile. “Nice to meet you, Jake. Sorry it took me so long to come introduce myself.”

He takes my hand and gives it a quick shake before releasing it and wiping his palm on his pants.

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