Playing with Words (Boggy Creek Valley #2) - Kelly Elliott Page 0,16
it, and I can’t afford to buy it right now.”
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have even asked. Bad taste on my part.”
She shook her head. “Nah, it’s okay.”
“You like suspense?” I asked, flipping through the book I held in my hands. It was a Dean Koontz novel. In the Heart of the Fire.
“Like suspense? I love it. Give me a good mystery thriller, and I’m in my happy place.”
I nodded. “Same goes for me.”
“Who’s your favorite? I have a ton. Like, I couldn’t name just one.”
This time I laughed. “I’m going to have to give you the same answer. I admire a lot of authors, not only in this genre but others as well.”
She smiled. “Oh, me too. Greer got me into reading historical romance. I love it.”
I lifted my eyes to where I knew Greer was and wished I had the ability to see through the wooden bookshelves.
“John Grisham is really good.”
The young girl’s voice pulled my attention back to her. “He is—very talented.”
She nodded. “Anni Taylor is another one of my favorites. Lisa Jewell…oh, and Elizabeth George. Hudson Higgins, James Patterson, Lucy Foley. I could go on.”
I smiled, my heart skipping a beat at the mention of my name. I wasn’t sure if I would ever get used to hearing it said among such talented authors. It wasn’t uncommon for readers to not know who I was. I didn’t have my photo anywhere on my website or on the books. The only place you could find a picture of me was on social media. Even then, my profile picture had me with a lighter shade of hair, thanks to the fact that we held the photo shoot in the summer when my hair was naturally lighter.
Then, as if she could read my mind, the young girl tilted her head and studied me. “Has anyone ever told you that you look like Hudson Higgins?”
I laughed. “Yes.”
She shyly glanced away. “You’re way cuter though.”
That made me laugh even harder. I stood and handed her the book. “You should add this to your list if you haven’t read it yet.”
Reaching out, she took it. “Thanks, I’ll put it in my phone. I keep a list of books I want to read in there.”
Before I turned to walk to the front of the bookstore, I said, “Happy reading.”
“Thanks! Enjoy your day.”
Candace stood at the counter speaking to an older gentleman while Greer checked out who I assumed was the man’s wife.
With a genuine smile, Greer handed her a paper bag that had the bookstore’s name on it. It was cute, adding a personal touch to their shopping experience, which I liked.
With a wave, Greer said, “Have an amazing weekend, and enjoy your stay in Boggy Creek.”
“Oh, we will,” the older man said with a wink in her direction.
I cleared my throat, and Greer turned to face me. My eyes immediately drifted down to her mouth before I had to force them back up.
“All done?” she asked.
“Yep, at least for right now. I didn’t get much writing in, unfortunately.”
She frowned but then grinned. “Well, I have great news. My father said the cabin is yours for as long as you’d like. He’s not planning on using it this fall, and neither is my brother.”
“That’s wonderful news. Can I Venmo him the money for it?”
Greer laughed. “No. I don’t think my father even knows what Venmo is. Instead of paying him to stay there, he wants to know if you’re handy with a hammer and drill.”
That caused my brows to draw in. “Um, I am.”
“Perfect. He said there are a few repairs that he and my brother have been meaning to get to but haven’t had time yet. Nothing big. If you think you can fix them, you can stay there for free.”
“Free?” I asked, pulling my head back in surprise. “I can’t stay there for free.” It was my turn to frown. “What does this cabin look like?”
She chuckled. “It’s actually super cute. And I’m just passing along what he said. It’s just sitting there empty. He emailed me a list of things and told me to take you up to check it out. If you’re interested, I can bring you up now. I mean, if you’re not doing anything else.”
I had to force myself not to shout the word yes. Instead, I waited a few moments, pretending like I was seriously considering it all. Then, I nodded. “That sounds fair. Now, do you do gift cards for the bookstore?”