Page 91 of Bookworm

"I'm floating on a cloud, Lottie," she said, holding up the last book she'd checked out. "This beauty kept me up well past midnight. I was stumbling into the ladies' bridge game, but I don't regret a thing."

"So you enjoyed Count Montague and his wicked ways?"

"Oh yes," she said then winked. "He's the main reasonI had to stay up."

"Who needs sleep when you have amazing books to read?" I said with a grin.

"Here, here." Mrs. Jenkins patted her hair. "I always say there'll be plenty of time to sleep when I'm dead."

I tilted my head in thought. "True…butI thinkthere'll also be time to read. If there is a Heaven, it must be filled with books. Don't you think?"

Her eyes sparkled at the thought. "See, this is why you andI get along—despite the huge age difference."

"Age is just a number," I said then held up a finger, "and besides you just turned what, 40?"

"Pssh." Mrs. Jenkins waved me off, but she was grinning like a lark. "For that girl, I think you just earned the right to a complimentary one of mypecan pies."

Ooh, yum.

"But only"—she lifted a brow—"after you give me another good rec?"

I gave her an affronted look. "Just one? Mrs. Jenkins, what do you take me for? I've got three for you right here. They're all series starters too."

Mrs. Jenkins smiled then passed the book she was returning across the counter along with her library card. I scanned it and the three novels I just knew she was going to love. When I handed them to her—along with our event flyer—she nodded.

"You're the best, Lottie," she said.

"No, you are," I said."And you should definitely come to our charity event."

"A Night Out with Austen?" she said. "Sounds right up my alley."

"Me, too. Hopefully, we'll have at least one soul brave enough to come as Mr. Darcy."

"Or Count Montague!"

"Seriously, Mrs. Jenkins, you should come," I said. "It's going to be so much fun for an amazing cause."

"I'll mark the date on my calendar, so I remember," she said.

"Oh yay! That's wonderful."

"I also wanted to say, Igreatly enjoyed your video.Library kisses are so incredibly swoony."

She walked away with a spring in her step—but I was left gaping.Had she just said what I thought she said?

Shaking my head, I refused to believe it. There was no way Mrs. Jenkinshad seen the kiss, no reason to think she'd referencedthe video of me and Bo. Nope. She must'vebeen talking about something else.

"Well, that was odd," Casey said.

"Right?" I replied, forcing a laugh. "Mrs. Jenkins and I are usually on the same page. ButI don't know what she meant by that last part."

"Um, I think you do."

"What?"

Casey put a hand on herhip. "Come on,Lottie. We allknow what she meant."

Our eyes shifted to Natalia as she gasped.

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