Total pages in book: 17
Estimated words: 15210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 76(@200wpm)___ 61(@250wpm)___ 51(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 15210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 76(@200wpm)___ 61(@250wpm)___ 51(@300wpm)
We open the doors at nine sharp, and the store immediately begins filling with new customers. The residents of Silver Spoon Falls are known for their hospitality, and we get a good taste of it on our opening day.
The morning ends up flying by while we wait on tons of customers. I’m a little shocked when I glance at my watch and notice the time. Oh, man. It’s almost show time.
The universe must’ve been listening to my thoughts because Fischer’s family walks into the bookstore a few minutes later.
“Allie.” A beautiful, slightly older brunette woman rushes in and throws her arms around my friend. “I missed you so much.” A massive older man who looks a lot like Fischer walks up to the counter and watches the exchange.
“I missed you, too, Mom.” Allie smiles and turns and points at me. “I want you to meet my friend and business partner, Maddie Martin.” Wow, her mom is stunning. Like not even pretty; Mrs. Mackenzie is seriously gorgeous.
“Hello, Maddie.” She smiles at me. “It’s so nice to finally meet you.” Allie’s mom pulls me close for a hug. “I’m Libby Mackenzie.”
“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Mackenzie.” I smile back before she points at the man standing next to her.
“And this is my husband, Mitchell Mackenzie.” I hold out my hand to the older man and feel Fischer walk up behind me.
After I shake his father’s hand, Fischer places his arm across my shoulders and pulls me close for a kiss. I gasp into his mouth as his lips cover mine for a hot kiss. With tongue. In front of his parents. Welp. The cat is out of the bag now. “Not in front of your parents,” I hiss against his lips as I pull back.
“I’m just trying to keep my perfect guy title.” He shrugs.
“It’s yours for life,” slips from my freaking mouth before I’m able to stop it.
His parents share a look before Allie walks up and interrupts. “Let me show you guys around.”
CHAPTER
NINE
FISCHER
While Allie shows my mom around the bookstore, my dad pulls me aside. “I want to make sure you’re not messing around with your sister’s business partner.”
“I love her,” I admit and watch a smile spread across his face. “The first night I met her, she stole my dinner and then my heart.” After I tell him the story, my dad throws back his head to laugh.
“That’s how it works with us Mackenzie men.” He shrugs. “When the right little woman comes along, we’re goners.” Then his dark eyes turn serious. “You need to make an honest woman out of Maddie before your mother kicks your ass,” he warns me.
Gatsby Books is a hit. Allie ushers the last customer out at five o’clock and locks the door before turning to smile. “Well, that went well.”
“I’m starving.” I walk up and wrap my arm around Maddie’s shoulder while my sister makes a gagging noise. “For food.” I glance over at her and shake my head. “Why don’t we go out to dinner to celebrate the successful day?”
My parents meet us at the Broadway Steakhouse for dinner. “Sit next to me so we can get acquainted,” my mother tells Maddie when we walk up to the table.
“Thank you.” Maddie smiles back. An adorable blush covers my girl’s cheeks as she sits next to my mom.
I slide into the chair next to Maddie and place my hand across the back of her seat. While my mother and Allie chat with my girl, I discuss what’s happening at home in Colorado with my dad.
“Harden is on Megan’s shit list again,” my dad tells me. There’s nothing new there. My uncle loves to piss his wife off. My aunt has a unique way of getting revenge on him. “He really fucked up this time. She’s been making Harden penis cakes for two weeks. The whole town is taking bets on how long he’ll be in the doghouse.” There’s nothing private in Sweetbriar, our small Colorado hometown. My Aunt Megan owns the local bakery, Sweet Beginnings, with her best friend, Tricia.
One of their specialties is small dick cakes. They name the tiny desserts after whatever man has made the mistake of getting on the wrong side of his woman. Then the crazy duo hangs a sign in the front window to announce the offender’s name. My aunt swears they’re doing the town a service, offering women a way to “purge their aggressions.” Most of the men in town think they’re nuts, but no one is brave enough to call them on it.
“You guys been getting lots of Harden cakes?” I laugh.
“I had to add an hour a week at the gym to make up for all the calories.” My dad shrugs. “But those little buggers are good.” No one can argue with that. Sweet Beginnings is the best bakery in Colorado.