Page 65 of Hot for the Jerk

I rolled my eyes.“How I went down on Raina Aaronson while we were stuck at the B&B and now I can’t stop fucking thinking about her.”

Clint’s mouth dropped open, and he stared at me.“Hold the fucking phone.”Then he got up again and booked it to the bar, coming back with five shot glasses and a bottle of Hardwood Distillery Iron Bar Whiskey.“This calls for something stronger.”He poured us each a shot, then settled into the booth.“Start from the beginning and don’t leave anything out.”

I glanced at Dom.All he did was smirk as he tossed back his shot.“Hey, I wasn’t going to tell a soul.You’re the one who decided to take out an ad in the fucking family newsletter.”

It might be a holiday in other countries, but here, Boxing Day was just another day.The pub was open again, and we were all back to work.Granted, we reduced our hours because the kids were still on winter break, but shit still needed to get done around the property and with the business.No rest for the self-employed.

Today, however, was also the day that the local book club always met.The last Wednesday of the month at the island library.And since Sakura Reilly was one of the local librarians, as well as part of the book club, she opened up the space for us, even though the library was technically closed between Christmas and New Year’s Day.

After scheduling all of our social media posts for the business, connecting with a few promotional companies to book our annual summer campaigns with them, and sending the approved proofs for the new beer bottle logos back to the graphic designer, I hopped in my truck and headed to the library.

I’d always been an avid reader, and could sometimes burn through a five-hundred-page book in a day or two.I was already on my eighth book this month, which was why I had to take notes about our book club book.That way I didn’t get stories mixed up and discuss a different book with the members.

My brain buzzed and my belly tingled as I drove through the quiet, puddle-riddled roads of the island toward the library.I changed my shirt three fucking times this morning, trimmed my beard, and even put on some cologne.Fuck, I had it bad.

I was the first to arrive at the library, an idiotic eager beaver, and climbed out of my truck, landing in the deepest of fucking puddles ever to be puddled.My entire Blundstone, as well as my sock, was soaked, and the splash that covered my dark jeans had chunks of dirt and something else in it.

“Fuck!”I barked just as another vehicle pulled in, driving into a different puddle and sending more filthy water splattering up on me.At least Sadie Greenberg had the decency to blanch and mouth an apology at me when she realized what she’d done.

More vehicles quickly funneled in as I sloshed my way to the front door.Sakura’s car was already in the parking lot, so I knew the door would be open.I ditched my sopping went boot and sock just inside the front door, and removed the dry ones as well, since being without one shoe and sock felt a little weirder than being without both.

“Merry Christmas, Sakura,” I said when I stepped into the warm meeting room.

Sakura’s husband, Willy, was the local crab fisherman.Their sons, Cash and Dash, were in college, but always came home for winter and summer break to help their dad on the boat.

She spun around from where she was setting up the cookies and beverages, beaming at me, her arms wide.I stepped in for a hug.“Jagger, Merry Christmas.”

She was just a tiny thing, with a black bob sporting streaks of silver, and light-brown eyes.I had to bend down to hug her.“I hope you, Willy, and the boys had a nice day celebrating yesterday.”

“We did.Thank you.I hope you and the family did as well.”

Voices in the hallway quickly gave way to more book club members, so I made sure to grab myself a seat around the table, removing my jacket and hanging it on the chair next to mine.

“Where are your shoes, young man?”asked Oda Vayne, her green gaze fixed on my bare feet.“It’s not summertime.”

“I got a bit of a soaker in the parking lot,” I said, going to the side table to fix myself a hot apple cider.“They’re drying next to the heater by the front door.”I shrugged.“I’ll be fine.”

Oda didn’t seem convinced and made a sour face to say as much as she took a seat across the table from me.

One by one, everyone filed in.

Except for one person.

One person who was always late.

One person who I saved a seat for, because I knew she would be late.

Like a tornado of red hair and rosy cheeks, Raina came barreling into the room with bright, wild eyes.“Sorry, sorry,” she said, scanning the table and all of our faces for an empty seat.Her gaze settled on the vacant one beside me and even more color filled her cheeks as she stalked toward it with a huff, removing her jacket and glaring at me when she slung it over the back.She grabbed herself an apple cider before pulling the chair out and brushing her elbow against mine as she sat down.

“How did you manage this?”she whispered out the side of her mouth.

“Manage what?”

“That we’re sitting together.”

“I saved you a seat, because you’re always late.”I glanced down at her.“Is something wrong?”

Reaching for a white chocolate and macadamia nut cookie from the center of the table, she took a big bite out of it.“No.Everything is justpeachy.”

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