Page 23 of The Huckleberry Bookshop

Athena got that excited, breathy feeling just thinking about the way he’d defended her and her nerdy bookworm side. He’d even called her smart—that had earned him extra brownie points. Brownie points he was currently scarfing down.

“He brought me earrings, and he—”

“The gold hockey sticks?” Her sister’s lips turned up in a devilish grin. “He’s got a crush on you.”

“Obviously not.” She frowned at her watch, not willing to admit that she’d toyed with the ludicrous idea a time or two before telling herself to get a life. “He’s just trying to win me over so he doesn’t get in more trouble with the team’s management.”

“Hmm.” Her sister sat back again, catalog open but her hazel eyes on Athena.

“I don’t get it. He knew the omelet recipe was from my first cookbook. But he doesn’t cook. He disregards everything I say or do or—”

“Yeesh. Take a chill pill already. No wonder he’s ghosting you.” Meddy tossed the catalog onto the small makeup counter in front of her. “Don’t forget there’s a reason you quit hockey players. Let him go. Move on.”

Athena grumbled to herself, pulled out her phone and texted her friend Jenny Oliver.

Know any single professors? I need a date.

“What are you doing?” Meddy asked.

“Looking for a bookworm to date.”

“Mullens is making you feel things, huh?” That evil grin was back.

“Primarily rage.”

Jenny texted back, I’ll ask Karen.

Smart. Ask the local librarian.

Athena checked her watch yet again. Chad was so late. They were supposed to be done by now. “He is such a self-centered man.”

“He’s also hot and going to sell a crap-ton of your cookbooks.”

“I know.” She sighed. “But he’s just like Lonnie. All promises and charm, but can’t keep a commitment.”

Her sister rolled her eyes. She’d made no bones about letting Athena know how she felt about Lonnie when she’d started dating the man. Their parents had been quieter about it, but she’d noticed he didn’t get many dinner invitations after the first one, and his first family game night at the Gavrases had been his last.

“He’s a player.”

“You’re smitten, but you hate it, don’t you?” Meddy’s eyes narrowed as she studied her older sister. “He’s making you feel all tingly inside, but insecure because you think he’d never choose you. And if he did, you fear he’d treat you like crap, just as Lonnie did.”

Athena glared at her. “Have you been reading the psychology section instead of putting those books on the shelves? We have to discount them if you crack the spines, you know.”

Her sister just grinned, as if she’d broken the code explaining Athena’s bad mood.

Darn her family, always seeing right through everything. Why couldn’t she suppress her crush-like feelings and move on without anybody noticing what a loser she was for lusting after the so-totally-wrong guy?

“I don’t think he’s as big of a player as he pretends to be. And anyway, it’s a bit early in the day for Mullens to be waylaid by women or drink.” Her sister stood, slinging her large, beaded purse over her shoulder.

“It’s never too early.”

“Have you ever been wined, dined and wooed on a Friday morning?”

Her mood darkened. “No.” But now she kind of wanted to be.

“Let’s ditch.”

“What if he shows?”

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