Bookstore Barbie (Magnolia Ridge #1) - Alexa Riley Page 0,15

Shaw, he knew what I wanted before I did. Sleeping in bed without him was hard. I tossed and turned all night wondering why he’d turn down sharing a bed with me. I knew it was a small bed and he was a big guy, but we could have made it work.

It had put a small amount of doubt in my mind that I’d misread some of our night. Then when I walked out this morning he washed all the doubt away. He’d been right when he said I was teasing him because I needed more. When I finally asked, he gave it to me without hesitation, and not only that, he made me feel sexy and powerful too.

“Hey, Barbie,” Larry calls to me as I walk in front of his barber shop. I could be wrong but it looked like he winked at me. Maybe he just had something in his eye. I stop at his open door, unsure of what to say.

“Ah. Hi?” It comes out like a question because Larry has never once said hi to me. I thought he was Team Missy because I thought I once saw him sneaking into the back of her shop.

“You know we cut women's hair too?”

I grab a lock of my hair and look at the ends. “I think I’m good.” I let my hair go and keep on walking, but when I look back I notice he’s watching me.

I think I must be paranoid about the broken lock because suddenly I’m feeling suspicious of everyone. I speed up anyway until I make it to the diner, which just so happens to be as busy as ever.

“Barbie!” Amelia calls my name as I enter.

I sneak off to the side and give her my order along with a book I have for her in my purse. The only tip she’ll take from me is in the form of a book and I’m more than happy to oblige. I love the friendships I’m forming with some of the women in town over our shared love of romance. It gives me hope that other people's judgments will fade over time.

She takes my order and gives it to one of the cooks. She goes around and checks on her tables before she comes right back over toward me. I guess you can get away with that when you and your husband own the place.

“I heard that you were kissing that guy Shaw.” I turn red because a few people turn and look our way. “Come on, spill it.” She pokes my hip.

“How do you know about that? Was it Missy?” She’s becoming a real pain.

“Like I’d listen to anything she has to say.” Amelia rolls her eyes. “A few of the local cops were here this morning.” Now it’s me that rolls my eyes. “Don’t get mad. Once you get to know more people around here, you’ll enjoy the small-town shenanigans.” She might be right. I think it’s because I still feel like an outsider.

“Yes, I’m seeing Shaw,” I admit. She can spread that around all she wants.

“You just killed a few dreams around town.” She lets out a long sigh as if she was harboring some of her own.

“I’m going to tell your husband on you.”

She shrugs, not looking worried at all. “Have at it.” Her voice drops. “He fucks me extra hard when he gets jealous.” She laughs before she winks at me.

“Amelia, get your fine ass over here.” We both look to her husband, who is pushing my to-go boxes out the window. I can tell from the look in his eyes he probably heard everything. My face warms more, wondering who else might have heard. Amelia grabs the to-go boxes and puts them into a bag before bringing them over to me along with Kayla’s shake.

“I better get back to it before they burn this place down.” She pulls out her pad to take more orders. With not many places to eat in town, they’re always busy. I wave goodbye before heading back toward my shop. My mind drifts to Shaw and what he might be up to. I wonder if he told his mom about me because they seem close.

I pull out my phone to check and see if he’s sent a text, but there’s nothing.

What’s the text protocol when you first start dating someone? In the books I’ve read the hero would have put a tracker on my phone already. In reality, that should be scary but I