Page 13 of Booked on a Feeling

“Good. I’m glad.” She cleared her throat. “Not that you’re sweaty but that you’re happy to see me.”

He chuckled, shaking his head. She hadn’t been checking him out. That was ridiculous. “So how long are you here for?”

“I signed a deal with the devil to get three weeks off from work.” She sounded equal parts excited and worried. “I’ve never taken such a long break before.”

Was the heavenly choir singing? Lizzy was here for three weeks. Before he could sprout wings and fly, a thought grabbed him by the ankle and pulled him back to earth.

“Does this vacation have anything to do with your panic attack during your opening statement?” He pulled on his damp shirt with a grimace. This didn’t feel like a conversation he should be having shirtless.

“Partly.” She started walking down the street, and he joined her at her side. After a pause, she said, “But it mostly has to do with winning the trial.”

“Winning the trial?” He stopped again to stare at her. At this rate, he would never make it home.

“It didn’t make me happy. Not like it should have.” She tugged on his arm to keep walking. “I realized it was because I was completely burned out.”

“I get that.” He nodded. She put in inhumane hours at that law firm. He was relieved she was taking a break. “Don’t take this the wrong way—I’m psyched that you’re here—but why did you decide on Weldon?”

“Well,you’rehere,” she said sweetly, and his heart lurched with hope in spite of himself.Stop it.She didn’t mean anythinglike that. “And I remembered how much I used to enjoy coming to Weldon to visit your family during the summer when we were kids. When I found that apartment above the bookstore, it felt like fate was calling.”

His lips spread into another grin. It was finally sinking in. Missing Lizzy had become a part of his life, but he wouldn’t need to for three whole weeks. “I know I’m sweaty, but I have to hug you.”

With a squeal, she threw herself into his arms. He gathered her up, laughing, and swung her around in the air before he set her back down. When he found himself breathing in the scent of her hair, he let his arms fall to his sides and stepped back.

He felt a twinge of apprehension. Hiding his feelings for her when she lived a hundred fifty miles away was easy—they only got together a few times a year, so he managed not to spill his heart out to her. But could he handle having her around for three weeks? He didn’t know the answer to that question, but it didn’t matter. He wasn’t about to let a little trepidation stop him from spending every minute he could with her.

They managed to walk the last few steps to his house without stopping, but he wasn’t ready to let her go. “Do you want to come in for some breakfast?”

“I can’t come to your house unannounced at eight in the morning.” She crinkled her nose, giving him a sideways glance. “Let your parents know I’m here, and I’ll visit you guys once they invite me over.”

“Our families have been friends for years,” he said. “There’s no need for formalities.”

“I insist. Tell Ajumma and Ajussi I said hello. Okay?”

“I will, but that doesn’t solve the issue of breakfast.” He wasn’t giving up that easily. If he wasn’t careful, the three weeks could fly by in a blink.

“I didn’t know we had a breakfast issue,” she said with a teasing light in her eyes.

“Oh, we most definitely do.” He nodded mock solemnly and crossed his arms over his chest—he mostly did that so he wouldn’t make a grab for her. When she looked at him like that, it was all he could do not to kiss her. “I’ll tell you what. Give me half an hour to wash up and change, then we can meet for breakfast at the Pancake Hut.”

“I’m going to need an hour, and where is this Pancake Hut?”

“Main Street. I’ll just pick you up from Sparrow Bookstore in an hour.”

“Sounds like a plan,” she said brightly.

“Great.” He gave her a thumbs-up like a huge dork because he was delirious with happiness. He stuffed the offending hand into his pocket and looked up and down the block to stop himself from staring at her. “Did you drive here?”

“Uh-huh. My car’s right over there. Okay. I’ll see you in an hour.” She turned to go, then spun back to face him. “Oh, and please don’t feel like you need to babysit me the whole time I’m here. I know you’re busy with the brewery. The last thing I want to be is a bother.”

He arched an eyebrow. “I’m not going to justify that with a response.”

“I’m serious, Jack.” She planted her fists on her hips.

“Look, I’m not going to play hooky to hang out with you,” he leveled with her, “but you’re delusional if you think I’m not going to take advantage of the situation and try to spend as much time with you as I can.”

“I’d like that,” she said with a soft smile that made him feel warm and toasty inside. “Just promise to tell me if you’re getting sick of me.”

He nearly laughed in her face. “Not possible.”

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