Nash Brothers Box Set - Carrie Aarons Page 0,33

trying to check customers out as accurately and quickly as possible.

By the time I get a minute to catch my breath, there is one more person in line, and I turn to help them.

“Hi, there, how can I help you?”

It’s not until I push my hair behind my ear that I see who it is.

Keaton stands there in his usual work polo and khaki shorts, and he’s even added a stethoscope to the mix that shouldn’t be sexy but it so is. His hair looks like he’s been running his fingers through it all morning, and I didn’t realize the weight of anxiety sitting on my chest until right now, when he made it disappear.

How strange was it that I’d never really thought twice about a guy before, and now I couldn’t stop thinking about this one? Maybe there was some truth to that stupid little … something … at first sight.

“I was wondering if I could take you to Kip’s for lunch?” His hands splay wide on the counter, and damn if I haven’t been dreaming about what those might do to me once we’re alone again.

And with the way those chocolate eyes are scanning me like a barcode, I’d say he’s been dreaming about things, too.

Grandma walks out of the back, shooing me away. “Get out of here. A handsome man asks you to lunch, you go to lunch.”

“Are you sure? If you need help restocking after the madness, I can stay to help.”

Over the last couple of weeks, I’d seen just how bad my grandmother’s eyesight had gotten. She could barely read now and had mistaken two people for someone else last week when they walked into the store. Grandma has lived in this town for over sixty years … there was no way she forgot a face. Unless she couldn’t see it. It worried me more than I could say, and I knew that a decision was going to have to be made about the future of the store. And since I was the one here, it terrified me that I was going to have to make it.

“I’m not blind yet, Presley. Get out of here.” Grandma’s tone is clipped.

I know she doesn’t want sympathy, but I can’t help it. “All right. I’ll see you in an hour or so.”

As soon as we’re out on the street, Keaton takes my hand in his. It’s warm and strong, and the touch sends goose bumps running up my arms.

“It’s good to see you.”

Even though Kip’s is only two blocks from my family’s bookshop, and even though we’re in the middle of the sidewalk where anyone could see, Keaton stops mid-stride to pull me into a hug. My breasts collide with his solid chest, and I’m enveloped by strong arms wrapping around my waist.

It isn’t until right now that I realize I’ve been waiting to be back in his arms. That, all too quickly, Keaton is becoming the person I want to talk to when anything happens during my day.

My arms lace around his neck, and I inhale the clean, male scent of him. Pressing up on my toes, I place a quiet, gentle kiss on his cheek as I nuzzle my nose into his jaw and hear him sigh.

We’re embracing in the middle of the street, and I’m sure someone is staring, when my stomach rumbles. He pulls back, smirking.

“Hungry?”

“Very.” I laugh.

He takes ahold of my hand again as we walk to the diner, and once inside, he grabs menus from the booth and waves to the waitresses and cooks. I wave too because most of them know me now. We walk back through the narrow restaurant and he chooses a booth in the back.

“This was my dad’s booth.” Keaton says it simply, sliding into one side like we’ve talked about his father before.

I swallow and try to retain my composure because I know this subject is heavier than the weight he’s giving it.

“It’s the perfect spot, corner booth with the best angle on Main Street. I can see why he chose it.”

A small smile plays on his lips. “Yeah, I guess Dad always did command the best.”

“What was he like?” I ask as we sit across from each other.

Keaton reaches for my hand and I give it to him, our arms crossing the table. Before he can answer, Jaime, one of the waitresses, comes over to ask what we’d like for lunch. I order a BLT and an iced tea while Keaton opts for a buffalo chicken