Page 8 of Hooked
Jeremy couldn’t stop the smile. His pop had taught him how to fish, how to camp, and how to paddle a canoe, but he’d never understood Jeremy’s love of comics. He’d only kept the comic books in the attic because they were books. And one did not throw away books in the Allen family.
His parents had thought he was insane to start a comic and game shop in Metlin, but they went with it. Pop had been even more skeptical, but it had always come back to that.
Whatever makes you happy, J.
Surprising everyone, including Jeremy, the shop had kind of taken off. He’d hit the market at the right time. Geek stuff was cool now, thank goodness, and Jeremy managed to pay his bills with enough hard work and imagination.
More than once he’d had to stifle a laugh when one of the older jocks from school brought an eager son or daughter into the shop. The kids’ eyes would light up with wonder at the walls of comics, games, and fandom T-shirts while the parents looked lost.
But credit where credit was due, most of them were also supportive even if they didn’t get it. People changed. Towns changed.
“We gonna be late,” Pop muttered. “Fish won’t even be biting anymore.”
Jeremy sighed and rubbed his temple. Old men, on the other hand, did not change. “We’ll make it.”
“You stayed out too late last night.”
“I was home before ten, Pop.”
“Humph.” Pop opened the thermos and poured some coffee in the mug Jeremy kept in the center console. “You spend any time with that sweet girl?”
“We danced.” Jeremy smiled at the memory. “It was nice.”
It was more than nice. Holding Tayla that close had been intoxicating. He hoped it was a fraction as good for her as it had been for him. Dancing with Tayla gave him all sorts of ideas about foreplay. They moved well together. It was instinct. Chemistry. Just the memory of it heated his blood.
Jeremy was making progress. He knew Tayla didn’t think she was the settling-down type, but he thought otherwise. She thought they were too different, but he thought that made things fun.
He was hooked on Tayla McKinnon. Like a fish on the line. Completely and utterly hooked. But she was playing with him. Reeling him in for a little while, then letting out the line. It only made him crazier about her.
She was smart and sexy and hot as sin. He loved her attitude. Loved that she was particular about her looks and her image. He loved the games she played—even though she said she didn’t—and the fierce loyalty she showed her friends.
An idiot might look at her and see the superficial. Jeremy wasn’t an idiot. There was nothing false about Tayla. She was true to herself and to her friends. But she was cautious about who she let in and what she allowed the world to see. He respected that.
A man wanted to please a woman like that, because pleasing her would be damn hard. She was a challenge. Like climbing a mountain or navigating a new trail. He was still studying her and mapping his route. When conditions were right, he’d make his move.
His pop thought he was nuts.
Pop had met Tayla McKinnon six months ago and hadn’t stopped giving Jeremy shit about her since then. Tayla was “that sweet girl” and Jeremy was a “damn fool” for not moving faster with her.
Sweet thing like that is gonna get snatched up by some smooth talker if you don’t hurry up. Fine women like that don’t last long in Metlin.
Progressive, Pop wasn’t.
“Dancing ain’t enough,” Pop said. “You gotta woo that woman, J.”
“Woo? I don’t even know what that means.”
“Woo, dammit. Give her flowers. Take her to dinner. Open doors. Buy her… candies.” He tossed back his coffee. “I don’t know what young women like these days. Just make an effort.”
“I am making an effort. But I’m taking my time. Didn’t you tell me anything worth doing is worth doing well?”
“Measure twice, cut once applies to building a shed, Jeremy, not to wooing a woman.”
Jeremy grinned. “I’m still getting to know what she likes. She’s cagey. It’s fun. She’s fun. The whole thing is like a dance, okay? I know what I’m doing.”
Pop shook his head. “You’re a damn fool.”
“Thanks, Pop.”
