Page 49 of Booked on a Feeling

“Well, findingtheright book kind of feels like that. Once you read that book, a whole new world will open up for you. You’ll take these incredible journeys through your imagination and find limitless possibilities with every new book. It only takes that one right book to change everything.”

Elliot’s eyes grew wide with wonder. “Whoa.”

“Do you want to know which book did that for me? It’s calledThe Phantom Tollbooth.” Jack motioned for the kid to follow. “Let’s see if your mom has it in the store.”

Elliot scurried after Jack to the children’s section. Lizzy’s smile turned misty as memories fluttered through her like a warm breeze. She’d lent Jack her copy ofThe Phantom Tollboothon her second visit to Weldon. They were both ten. He’d never told her that was the book that had turned him into an avid reader.

“You got yourself a wonderful man there,” Shannon murmured, nudging her with her shoulder.

“He’s not…” He wasn’t, right? But he wasn’t just her friendanymore, either. Maybe he wasn’t quiteherman, but she might want him to be. Yes… she would like that very much. “Thank you. He is wonderful.”

“And a reader to boot. Only a true book lover could talk about reading the way he did.” She sighed wistfully. “Elliot’s dad never liked reading, and it annoyed him no end that I always had my nose stuck in a book. It doesn’t matter to me anymore, but I don’t think Elliot ever cracks open a book when he visits his dad in the summers.”

“That’s a shame,” Lizzy said. She knew Shannon was divorced from Elliot’s dad, but she didn’t talk about her ex-husband very much. “Where does he live?”

“In Atlanta with his new family. His wife recently had a baby girl. Elliot is going to meet his little sister for the first time next month.”

“He’s going to be great with her.”Next month.She would be back in Los Angeles by then.

“Yeah, he’s pretty excited to meet her…” Shannon seemed to want to say more, but she hesitated.

“Are you worried about how things will change for him at his dad’s?” Lizzy asked softly.

“I’m so happy that he has a sister now, but a part of me can’t help but worry that he might feel like a third wheel there.” Her friend shook her head and grinned. “Worrying and overthinking the hell out of things is what being a mom is all about.”

“You’re an awesome mom.” Lizzy laughed, shushing the unkind thought that not all moms were so caring. Her mom cared, too. She just showed it by relentlessly pushing her to make partner.

“Aww. Thank you, hon.” Shannon snapped her fingers. “Oh yeah. Did you have any luck finding the colors we talked about at the hardware store?”

“We did.” Lizzy was so busy melting into a puddle watchingJack interact with Elliot that she’d completely forgotten about the task at hand. What was she thinking? There were tiny boxes to check off. “We put the paint out back. Do you want to see it?”

“Heck yeah. I’m so excited.” Shannon turned to her son. He was sitting on the floor with his head buried in a book. “Do you want to help us paint some furniture, buddy?”

“No, thanks,” he said without looking up. “I want to read this.”

Shannon turned rounded eyes from Lizzy to Jack to Elliot, then back to Lizzy. “I’m either inThe Twilight Zoneor Jack is a genius with children.”

“I didn’t do anything.” Jack tugged on his earlobe, coming to stand beside Lizzy. “This is all on the kid. He was just ready to find his book.”

“And he’s humble, too. You lucky girl,” Shannon stage-whispered to Lizzy.

Jack arched an eyebrow at Lizzy, and she shrugged. Based on what had happened this morning at the hardware store, it didn’t seem like they were keeping their new dating status a secret. And if his grin was anything to go by, he didn’t seem to mind Shannon knowing.

As the three of them walked around the building heading for the back lot, Jack leaned down close to her ear and drawled, “So do you think you’re a lucky girl?”

A shiver zipped down her spine. They would become billionaires if they could bottle their chemistry. It was something rare and special. She certainly had never experienced it before. And she was impatient to experience more of it.

“Why do you ask?” She fluttered her eyelashes. “Am I getting lucky soon?”

“What was that, Shannon?” He cupped his hand against his ear. “Sorry. I think she needs something.”

Lizzy watched in dismay as Jack ran ahead of her toward the back lot. Shannon hadn’t so much as sneezed. He literally ran away from her to avoid talking about sex. Didn’t he realize where all that kissing was leading them?

Maybe he had a no-sex-until-the-third-date rule or something. That sort of rule should be waived by virtue of them having known each other for twenty years. Well, if he wanted to be a stickler for such things, then she could go along with that. But since she only had a couple of weeks left in Weldon, she would just speed up the process by setting up back-to-back dates.

Jack stood behind the bar with a broad grin, shaving orange peels for garnish. The sweet tang of oranges reminded him of Lizzy for some reason—maybe it was because she tasted so sweet—and thinking about her made him happy. He’d left her earlier in the afternoon painting furniture with Shannon. She’d had sky-blue paint on the tip of her nose and looked absolutely beautiful. The brewery didn’t open for another fifteen minutes, so he had plenty of time to daydream.

“Someone’s in a good mood today.” Alex walked out of the brewing room, wiping his hands on a kitchen towel. “Does it have anything to do with you spending every spare minute with Lizzy?”

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