Page 16 of Booked on a Feeling

“Nope.” Shannon breathed the sigh of the downtrodden. “But this is a conversation for another time. You’d better not keep your friend waiting.”

“Okay. But I definitely want to hear more about it when I come back.”

Lizzy loved independent bookstores. Each one had a distinct personality, showcasing the hopes and dreams of their owners. A bookstore was never just a business. They had soulsfilled with love, passion, and vulnerability. It broke her heart to hear that Sparrow wasn’t thriving.

When she stepped out of the store, she spotted Jack leaning against the passenger door of his hybrid semi-compact. His eyes crinkled at the corners as his lips spread into a crooked grin, and an answering smile blossomed in her heart and spread across her face. His hair was still damp from his shower and a strand fell across his forehead, and her fingers twitched at her side with a sudden urge to brush it back. As her gaze dipped lower, she couldn’t help noticing that his gray T-shirt did ridiculous things to his chest and arms. Maybe it was because she knew exactly what he looked like underneath. The image of his glistening, naked torso swept across her mind.

What in the literal hell? Was she undressing her best friend in her head? No, no, no. It was merely a passing thought. An objective observation. She was just a woman whoobjectivelynoticedin passingthat Jack, a man, had an impressive physique. It was not a big deal.

“Hungry?” he asked, opening the passenger door for her.

“What?”Oh, my God.Had she been devouring him with her eyes? She looked everywhere but at him as she slid past him and into the car.

He closed her door and came around to get into the driver’s seat. “I figured you must be hungry after the morning jog.”

“Why, yes.” She coughed into her fist, then loudly cleared her throat. “Yes, I am positively starving. For food.”

For some good old-fashioned breakfast food. That was what she was hungry for. Nothing else.Good Lord.Why was it so hot in the car? She rolled down her window.

“Are you still warm from the run?” Jack glanced at her and lowered the AC by a couple of degrees.

“Maybe. I’m so out of shape. It’s been hard to make time toexercise. Busy, busy, busy.” She snapped her mouth shut. She needed to chill.

“Well, we should make it a regular thing.” He turned the corner and drove down Main Street.

“Make what a regular thing?” she asked absently, taking in Weldon’s lovely downtown. The mom-and-pop stores spilled onto the tidy street with their cheery handwritten signs and carts filled with goodies. Brightly colored awnings dotted the storefronts of cafés and restaurants with inviting outdoor seating. She really liked it here.

“The morning run. You should join me every day while you’re here.” He pulled into a small parking lot and took one of the many spots.

Ooh… ample parking. It was so luxurious. But what was he saying about morning runs? The image of him shirtless flashed through her mind again. “Run? Every day?”

“Yeah. It’ll help you recharge.” He turned off the ignition and got out of the car.

“Maybe,” she murmured, joining him outside. She wasn’t at all sure if she could handle a shirtless Jack every day even if her observations were purely objective. “I’ll think about it.”

“You do that.” He shot her a playful grin. “Just don’t think I’ll let you off the hook easily.”

A sudden premonition told Lizzy that her stay in Weldon was going to be more eventful than she’d anticipated.

Jack fell into an easy pace so Lizzy could keep up with him. It took some convincing to get her out to jog this morning. She complained that she had five years of sleep to catch up on, but she capitulated when Jack reminded her that she could take naps. Her eyes had gone dreamy at the prospect of sleeping inthe middle of the day. She called it the ultimate indulgence. She should take every opportunity to indulge in whatever her heart desired while she was in Weldon. She deserved it. Before he could fantasize about what other indulgences she desired, he focused on breathing in the fresh morning air and doing the opposite of mooning over her.

For the sake of his sanity, Jack decided on Option Two: Get over his crush on Lizzy. It was the safest, most logical choice—he could protect their friendship and stop the needless heartache of a one-sided crush. Over the many years they’d been friends—while only seeing each other a few times a year—he’d probably built her up as this impossibly perfect person in his head. But spending every free moment of the next three weeks with her was sure to shatter his fantasy. Then he would be able to see her as she saw him—just as an old and trusted friend.

“My mom wants you to come over for lunch today,” he said, glancing to his right. Lizzy, who had been jogging beside him, wasn’t there. He looked over his shoulder to find her lagging a few paces behind. He ran in place until she caught up with him and resumed jogging by her side. “Did you hear me?”

“Your legs… are… freakishly… long,” she accused.

“What has that got to do with lunch with my family?” he asked, confused by her sudden animosity. He thought they were having a nice run. More than nice for him. Seeing Lizzy first thing in the morning felt amazing. Shit. He was mooning over her again. But there was no need to worry. It was bound to get old after a few days. This was all a part of his plan for carrying out Option Two.

“I have to… work… twice… as hard… to keep up.” She glared menacingly at him as she wheezed for air.

“Sorry.” He made a valiant effort to keep his face straight as he shortened his stride. “Is this better?”

She stared straight ahead and pressed her lips into a mutinous line as she kept pace with him. Her face was bright pink with blotches of red on her cheeks, and she huffed and puffed like an angry bull. She was too stubborn to admit that she needed a break. He bit the inside of his cheek to hold back his grin. She was too cute. No, wait. Being a blotchy, stubborn bull wasnotcute. It was very unattractive. Damn it, he wasn’t buying his own lies.Patience, Jack.

He was tempted to see how long she would keep pushing herself, but he caved and slowed down so they were basically taking a brisk walk. Like a couple of spry senior citizens.

“That was quick.” She was still out of breath, but her words held more sound than air this time.

---