Bookstore Barbie (Magnolia Ridge #1) - Alexa Riley Page 0,31

over this than I am. I know I should be more worried, but somehow I know Shaw isn't going to let anything happen to me. It’s hard for me to wrap my head around that strange guy possibly doing this. I don’t have much of a past, so I have no clue who else could be doing this.

“I’m fine,” I say to try and reassure him.

He flicks his gaze over to me. “And I’m going to keep it that way.”

“I know.” I lean back in my seat as he makes the drive to his mother's place.

I suddenly realize I’m about to meet his mom and this is all happening fast. What if she doesn't like me? Insecurity takes hold as we pull up to his house and there’s a woman leaning against the open front door.

“Like I said, I’m sorry.” The smile he gives me doesn't look sorry.

When the truck stops, I open the door and hop out. Shaw is around my side in a second, taking my hand, and I feel shy as his mom watches us move towards the house.

“I’ve got hot food on the table,” she announces as we walk up the porch stairs. “I’m Cora.” She holds her hand out for me to take.

“Barbie,” I tell her. She’s on the taller side and has Shaw’s eyes. They have the same hair color except Cora has a little gray in hers.

“You are so beautiful.” She beams at me. “Come in, come in. You’ve been a busy girl what with getting yourself arrested and then having your place broken into. I hope all the dirty books are okay.” She wiggles her eyebrows at me. Before I can respond, she’s pulling me into the house.

“Slow down, Mom.”

“She has to be hungry,” Cora throws back at Shaw. “Breaking the law can work up an appetite.”

“How would you know?” Shaw chuckles from behind us as Cora motions for me to take a seat at the table.

“I’m innocent until proven guilty,” I defend myself, making her laugh as she takes a seat with me. Shaw must have told her everything in a text or something. She could also be in on the town’s hotline of gossip. Facebook groups don’t let anything stay secret long.

“You okay?” Shaw puts his hand on his mom’s shoulder.

“I’m good. Get us something to drink,” she orders him while winking at me, and Shaw doesn't have to be asked twice. “Just so you know, I sleep with headphones in and listen to my audiobooks so you don’t have to worry about me hearing anything.”

My mouth falls open. Is she implying what I think she is?

“Mom!” Shaw shouts with a loud groan that makes both Cora and me burst into laughter. I think I love her already. As for Shaw, well, I already know I love him.

Chapter Fourteen

Shaw

“I can’t believe you were just going to leave him!” Mom says as Romeo snuggles in her lap.

As soon as Barbara told her about leaving him overnight, she had a conniption fit and demanded I go back and get him. The cat definitely didn’t come easy, but now that he’s here he looks like he’s just fine.

“He just showed up after I bought the bookstore and made himself at home. I don’t know if he was there before or just liked what I did with the place. But once I put out some food, he never left.” Barbara laughs as she looks over at them. “He likes to hunt at night and there’s a little door for him to go out of, so I thought he’d be okay.”

“Well now he has lots of new hunting ground to explore.” Romeo looks up at Mom and they share a look before he jumps down and goes to the back door. “I’m coming, I’m coming.”

She gets up with her cane that’s been bedazzled by her knitting ladies. She’s slow but she’s strong as she follows him out of the room and onto the back porch. When the door closes behind her, I look over at Barbara.

“So what did you talk about while I was gone?” I rub my thumb across the back of her hand and I see her blush.

“She asked me what my intentions were with you.” She bites her lip and it’s so damn cute.

“What did you say?”

“That I planned on taking advantage of you.” I let out a bark of laughter but she shrugs. “I think when you share a love of romance books with someone, they understand you on a level