Page 36 of The Huckleberry Bookshop

Athena pushed open the bathroom door and whipped out her phone to text her sister. Chad is here.

She chewed her lip and waited for Meddy to reply. She was across the street shelving new books and listening to music on her phone. Or she had been when Athena had left her there forty-five minutes ago. Why wasn’t she answering?

“Are you okay?” Jenny asked breathlessly, the bathroom door banging shut behind her. Her cheeks were rosy from being out in the early January chill.

“What?” Athena blinked at her.

She pointed toward the front of the diner on the other side of the wall. “I was walking back to the store-” her clothing shop, Blue Tumbleweed, was right next door “-and saw you and your date.”

“Glenn.”

“Glenn. Then you hustled away like you were going to be sick. Are you okay?”

“What? Yes.” Athena leaned forward, her indignation rising again. “Did you see him out there?”

“Glenn?” Her friend tried for a smile. “He’s older than I expected and he seems to have a passion for brown clothing, but he’s nice, right?” Her tone became tentative.

“No, Chad.”

“Who?”

“Chadwick Mullens.”

“Oh, yeah. Mullens. I said hi to him on my way by. Henry’s watching him eat like it’s his favorite game show.”

“What?” Why would Henry Wylder, a man who was grumpy about everything and everyone, be focused on Chad? Whatever the reason was, it couldn’t be a good one.

Jenny shrugged. “He actually seemed entertained. He almost smiled.” She gave Athena a meaningful look.

“It’s all worse than I thought.” Henry didn’t smile about anything. Ever. If even he was succumbing to the Chadwick Mullens charm effect, then what hope did Athena have as a mere mortal woman?

Her phone vibrated with an incoming text. Meddy. I thought you were going out with the teacher guy. Nice score on getting Mullens instead!

Athena let out a frustrated growl and tapped out a quick reply. Not with him!!! Fill you in later. Jenny’s here.

She put her phone away and focused on her friend.

“So, you have a date with both men?”

“No!” She frowned at Jenny. “Ew.”

“Okay, so you’re dating Mullens? But he found out you’re seeing Glenn on the side?”

“What? No! Ugh. Why does everyone think I’d go out with Chad? That man is not getting anywhere near me for a date. And why is he even here? Why’s he in town, sitting at that table thumbing his nose at me?”

“Free country?” Jenny was watching her carefully, as though Athena was becoming unglued.

Maybe she was.

During the last filming she could have sworn Chad was familiar with her cookbook and recipes. He’d blown off the few comments he’d made about cooking as though he’d been faking culinary knowledge for the cameras. But it had initiated enough doubt that Athena no longer felt she could believe anything about the man.

She clasped a hand to her forehead, collecting her thoughts. “He ordered onion rings and a milkshake.”

“Oh, I love Mrs. Fisher’s milkshakes.”

“I know. Me, too. But they’re forbidden.”

“Oh, right. The hockey player diet thing.” Jenny lowered her voice. “Do you think he’s trying to ruin your date?”

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