Page 11 of Hooked
Jeremy put his arm around Emmie’s shoulders. “My coconspirator is kind of known for being brilliant.”
“Thank you, Professor,” Emmie said.
Jeremy was wearing a wide smile. “Everyone really got into it. It’s been awesome, and I’ve already sold a dozen games.”
“Nice!” Emmie turned and high-fived him.
Geeks. They were such geeks, and they were both adorable.
Tayla just shook her head. “So what are you two nerds planning for next month? I think people are pretty game for anything in this town—no pun intended. As long as you’re not readingThe Hunger Games, you should have a good turnout.”
Jeremy and Emmie took a step apart and exchanged a furtive look.
“Why notThe Hunger Games?” Jeremy asked.
Tayla closed her eyes. “You’re readingThe Hunger Games, aren’t you?”
“What’s wrong withThe Hunger Games?” Emmie asked. “That’s what the kids voted on.”
“I’m more concerned for the game tie-ins that you two would try to cook up.”
“An archery tournament would be fun! We were going to coordinate with the local Boy Scout troop so it’d be safe and everything.”
Tayla turned to Jeremy. “And this relates to your shop how?”
“It doesn’t. I just wanted to shoot stuff with bows and arrows.” He turned to Emmie. “But you could probably get Greg at Metlin Outfitters to cohost that, now that I think of it.”
“Oh, that’s a great idea.”
Leave it to Jeremy and Emmie to turn what should have been a moneymaker for their own shops into a promotion for someone else.
“Hey!” Tayla waved her hand. “Voice of capitalistic self-interest here. Greg is doing just fine. Summer is coming and his shop is crowded. Emmie, you and Jeremy need to be focused on keeping people’s heads in books and games now that everything is warming up. Pick a different book and find a cross promo, because this night brings in too much traffic for both of you to just give it away.” She pointed at Jeremy’s register. “You’ve had a line all night.”
“And Kim said we’ve already gotten four new sign-ups for the romance book club from the moms here.” Emmie sighed. “I think we’ll have to shoot bows and arrows on our own time, Jer.”
“I can live with that. But don’t change the book. I can think of plenty of combat and survival games for the next club read.” He offered Emmie his knuckles to bump. “Chill, Em. Tayla’s right.”
Tayla smiled. “You’re so sexy when you say that.”
“What? That you’re right?”
She heaved a dramatic sigh and fanned her face. “You said it again. And it was just as good as the first time.”
Jeremy gave her a wicked laugh and leaned down to her ear. “You’re right,” he murmured. “I’mverysexy.”
Emmie rolled her eyes. “Leaving now. Carry on. Don’t scar the children please.”
Tayla pursed her lips and managed to swallow the embarrassinghhnghsound that wanted to leave her throat when she smelled Jeremy’s cologne and felt the tickle of his beard against her jaw.
Play it cool. This is Jeremy. The man needsnoencouragement.
“Don’t you love how it was good for both of us?” she whispered back. “I’m right and you’re sexy.”
“Oh, it would definitely be good for both of us,” he said. “Just tell me when and where.”
“And be that obvious?” She leaned back to meet his eyes. “What’s the fun in that?”
“It’d be fun.” The corner of his mouth turned up. “You know it would be.”
