Page 23 of Booked on a Feeling

“Thanks. Isn’t it absolutely charming?” She grabbed her purse from an owl-shaped hook by the door. “Ready? I’m starving.”

“Yeah. Let’s go.” He stepped out onto the landing and waited for her to lock the door, then followed her down the stairs.

Like most things in Weldon, La Cabana was only a few minutes away. The local favorite was busy as usual, but they were able to snag a table in the corner without a wait. Suzie, the owner’s daughter, dropped off the menus with a quick “Hey, Jack,” and bustled off to take the orders at another table.

“Ooh, they have horchata.” Lizzy had her nose buried in the floppy, laminated menu.

“I always get their tamarindo.” So good. Tart and just the right amount of sweet. “They make all their drinks from scratch every morning.”

“Yay,” she cheered happily. “I can’t decide. I want everything.”

“If you feel like soup, I love their cocido. And I like anything drenched with their rojo sauce.”

“Hmm.” She tapped her plush bottom lip with her index finger, and he followed the movement as though hypnotized. “I’m going to have the beef rojo tacos, then.”

“Good choice,” he croaked, dragging his gaze back up to her eyes. “I’m getting the beef rojo wet burrito.”

“That sounds so good. Now I want that, too.” She pouted, looking torn.

“Then get it.” He refused to stare at her pouty lips.

“I can’t get the same thing you do.” She drew back in outrage as though he’d suggested that she denounce her religion. “Then how are we going to share?”

He grinned, remembering how she loved to taste everything on his plate and insisted on him tasting all her food. “Who says I’m going to share my glorious wet burrito?”

“You wouldn’t dare,” she challenged, narrowing her eyes threateningly.

Knowing she was onlyhalfjoking, he raised his hands in surrender. “Of course I wouldn’t dare. I value my life too much. Why don’t you get the beef rojo burrito, and I’ll get the chicken verde tacos. That’s really good, too.”

“See. That wasn’t so hard, was it? Compromises make the world a better place,” she said serenely.

Suzie dropped off some salsa and tortilla chips—so fresh that the oil was still sizzling on the surface—and then took their order.

“So what was this errand that took you away from Weldon?” Lizzy crunched into a salsa-dipped chip.

“Just something for work. Had to meet some people…” He stuffed a chip into his mouth, hoping she wouldn’t delve deeper.

“Guess what I did today?” She practically bounced on her seat.

“Ate a lot of sugar?” he said, eyeing her sideways.

“Shut up.” It looked as though she was about to throw a tortilla chip at him, but she seemed to think better of it and bit into it instead. “I got a job.”

“Which involves eating a lot of sugar?” A partially eaten chip bounced off his chest and landed on the table.

“No, dingus.” She wrinkled her nose at him. “I got a job at the bookstore.”

“The truckload of money you make as a lawyer not enough for you?” he joked, but he was really curious what the hell she was talking about. “Fine. Tell me all about it.”

“You know Shannon, right?” She stirred her horchata with a straw and took a long sip.

“I knowofher. She has a little son, right?” His brows drew together. “I think they moved here a couple of years ago.”

“Yeah, but she needs help revitalizing her bookstore.” Lizzy leaned forward, brimming with excitement. “She doesn’t have the time to do it all on her own, and she can’t afford to hire anyone, so I volunteered to help her while I’m here.”

Her eyes were wide and sparkling, and Jack couldn’t look away from her. She got this way every time she talked about books and bookstores. “I thought you were here to rest and recharge.”

“My poor, weary soul needs the rest and all that”—she waved her hands around as thoughrestwere some sort of hocus-pocus—“not my mind and body. I would’ve been bored silly if I didn’t have this project. It’s going to be so much fun.”

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