Fairy Tales and Cappuccinos (Everyday Love #1) - Taylor Rylan Page 0,55
pesky younger brothers and boundaries.”
I took the seat closer to the front, giving Hudson the one in the back so he was facing out into the store. I knew we’d be interrupted at least once—that was how things went, and since the holiday shopping had started, we’d had a steady stream of customers most days.
“Okay, what about Webster?” Hudson asked. I was in the process of pulling out bowls of something warm. A quick peek told me it looked like homemade chicken noodle soup.
“Homemade?” I asked, holding up a plastic bowl.
“Yeah. I threw it in the slow cooker this morning before I came downstairs.”
“Well, aren’t you all domestic.”
“Kind of need to be. I’m thirty-four and have lived on my own since I was nineteen. Ford lived with me for a few months after he graduated before he went off to school. When he finished, he already had his own place lined up.”
“Hmm. And no long-term, live-in boyfriends?”
“Nope. I did have one that I dated for almost a year if you call that long-term. He wanted a flashier boyfriend. I can’t help it—I’m just a bookstore owner. It’s all I’ve known and really all I’ve ever wanted to do.”
I reached for Hudson’s arm and ran my hand up and down it. “You are anything but just a bookstore owner. I say his loss is my gain. Where is he now?” I asked because apparently I was in the mood for more jealousy.
“I think he’s married now? I’m not sure. He lived in River Forge, so I don’t really see him much.”
That was a relief. “So how about that date? We need to make it out to dinner at some point,” I said, changing the subject. I opened the soup and was immediately hit with the scent. It smelled so good, and my stomach grumbled in agreement.
“Tonight sounds great. Or tomorrow. Or the day after. I’m pretty much open to spending any and every evening with you,” Hudson said. He leaned in and gave me another kiss. He was just pulling away when the door chimed when someone came inside. We turned and looked at the newcomers, and I sighed when they immediately headed to the coffee counter.
“Be right back,” I said and quickly went over to take care of them. They were easy enough. One hot chocolate, one plain black coffee. Then they left and walked over to the bookstore. I was just joining Hudson when another pair came in the store. I waited to sit, but they turned to their left, heading into the bookstore instead of to the coffee counter.
Hudson and I got to eat our soup a few spoonfuls here and there, and by the time our bowls were empty, the soup had gone cold. You knew it was good soup when it still tasted good cold.
I sighed in relief when we finally closed at eight. I’d given up waiting for supper when Chris had shown up with a bucket of fried chicken and all of the goodies to go with it. The three of us ate in between customers, and by the time we had the registers closed, the kitchenette cleaned, and the place locked up, I was worn down. I was used to working longer hours, but I’d spent the majority of my days sitting and staring at my computer screen.
“Okay, so no supper date. But how about I take you out and we can hit the winter festival?”
“There’s a winter festival?” I asked as I handed Hudson the register drawer for Cappuccinos.
“Originality isn’t exactly their strong suit, but yeah. There needed to be something that replaced the fall festival. Now we have a winter festival until December twenty-third. Since we never quite made it to the fall festival, how about I take you to the winter one? They have sleigh rides instead of hayrides.”
I couldn’t wait. “I’m in. Let me run home and get some warmer shoes, meaning boots, and my hat. I didn’t bring it this morning,” I said.
“Sounds good. Did you want me to pick you up?”
“You don’t have to.”
“But I want to. It’s a date, and it’s our first date, and I’m supposed to pick you up when it’s a date,” Hudson said, and I couldn’t stop from rolling my eyes. He was swaying from side to side and biting his bottom lip.
“Fine. Pick me up. I’ll see you in a bit?”
“You will. Dress warm. And be careful heading home. And maybe pack a bag? I like it when you stay here.”