Fairy Tales and Cappuccinos (Everyday Love #1) - Taylor Rylan Page 0,32

to stay warm, okay?” I said, handing him a ten. It was frigid cold, and he was stuck going in and out of the warm car, delivering food to others. That was a terrible job this time of year.

“Thanks, Mr. James. Have a good evening,” he said, and then he was gone. I relocked the door behind him and turned back toward Sawyer, who was still standing there, holding the food.

“Upstairs? I’ll behave since I know my cousin and Wells are going to be back soon.”

“Sure. I’d love to see where you live. And maybe behaving is best right about now. I mean, considering we’ve been interrupted twice today.”

I shook my head but had to agree. He was right. Both times I’d been kissing the man, we’d been interrupted. I wanted to do more than just kiss Sawyer, so I was going to be an adult and make sure there was no way we were going to be interrupted when I did.

I led Sawyer to the back of the shop and to the stairs that took us up to my place. It wasn’t like I’d not had people over before, so why was I nervous all of a sudden?

9

Sawyer

He was attracted to me! And that kiss. I swear, I’d been reduced to teenage me and it was as if I was experiencing my first crush again. Only, that wasn’t the case, and I knew it.

We went upstairs, and I got my first glimpse into what Hudson’s personal space was like. And it wasn’t surprising that he loved books. He had an entire wall that was full of bookshelves.

“Wow. You not only sell books, but I take it you read them as well?” I asked.

“Yeah. They’ve been a big part of my entire life, actually. Grandma always dreamed of owning a small bookstore. Grandpa wanted her to have everything she ever wanted and bought this building for her. They used to live up here at first, when they were young.”

I handed Hudson the boxes of pizza that smelled heavenly, but I knew better. I’d be up all night in pain if I ate even one slice, and then I’d have to deal with Chris hovering.

“You haven’t really mentioned your grandparents much. I think it’s sweet that he wanted her to have everything he could give her. May I?” I asked as I gestured to the barstool that was next to the counter that separated the kitchen area.

“Of course. Hmm, I’m not sure where to even start. Let’s see, they met at the library. Does that surprise you?” Hudson said.

“No. Should it?”

“No. I get my love of books from her. My mom, I honestly don’t know a whole lot about her, and my dad, well, who knows about him. It doesn’t matter though. I had Grandma, and she was amazing.”

“It sounds like it.” I put my chin in my hands and stared at Hudson as he leaned against the counter across from me.

“Grandpa always said he was smitten from the first time he saw her.”

“That’s so sweet,” I said. My grandparents were at the “tolerate each other” stage. My parents as well.

“Yeah, they were crazy in love with each other. Grandpa passed right before I came to live with Grandma. I think that might have been why Grandma was so eager to take not only me, but then Ford a couple of years later.”

“I’m sorry you lost them both. The sound like they were amazing people.”

“Thanks. They were. So how about you? I know you’re from the Clifton family now. I still can’t believe I didn’t put that together earlier.”

I shrugged. It wasn’t always good to be known by your family name. “Not too much to tell. My parents are Michael and Amy Clifton. They had two sons, Richard and me. My mom is…I love her to pieces, but I’m almost thirty, and she’s not really too involved anymore. She does everything she can to stay busy and basically away from my dad as much as possible.”

“That doesn’t sound good.”

I shrugged. “It is what it is. I think that at one point they used to love each other, but over the past decade, Dad has become incredibly driven, and he thinks about almost nothing but the lodge. It’s put a strain on the entire family.”

“I’m sorry. That doesn’t sound…enjoyable.”

“Thanks. Some families just suck.” Sadly, it was true. I had Chris though, and his parents and siblings were amazing. Thankfully.

A knock on the door had Hudson walking around the counter and toward the