Page 67 of Booked on a Feeling

The bell above the door rang, and an attractive, older Asian woman walked into the store. She smiled when she saw Shannon. “Hi there. I need to replenish my book supply.”

“Hey, Linda,” Shannon said, walking up to the customer. “I can’t believe you went through the last batch so fast.”

“Well, I don’t do much other than watch my granddaughter and spend time with my daughter and son-in-law.” The lady shrugged and smiled a little wistfully. “I have plenty of time to read.”

“Annyeonghaseyo.” Jack walked up to the customer and bowed at the waist. “It’s nice to see you, Mrs. Choi. Morgan must be getting big.”

“Jack, I didn’t see you back there.” She smiled warmly at him. “Yes, she’s officially a toddler. I feel like my life is in fast-forward mode when I measure it by how quickly Morgan is growing.”

“This is Lizzy.” He drew her into the conversation, placing a hand on her lower back. “Say hello to Aubrey’s mother.”

“Annyeonghaseyo,” Lizzy said with a bow. Just the thought of Aubrey made her think back to the killer chocolate muffins Jack had brought her. Mrs. Choi deserved a medal for bringing the genius baker into this world. “Nice to meet you. I’m his…”

She stopped with a jolt of panic and shot a glance at Jack. She was his… what?

“She’s my girlfriend,” Jack smoothly interjected, pulling her closer to his side.

It felt as though her heart had sprouted wings and lifted her a few inches off the ground.

“Oh, isn’t she just lovely,” Mrs. Choi said, beaming at the two of them. “Nice to meet you, Lizzy.”

“It sounds like you’ve been reading quite a bit,” Lizzy said, bringing the topic back to the reason for Mrs. Choi’s visit to the bookstore. Something the older woman said—there was a hint of loneliness in her words—had given Lizzy an idea.

“Yes, I have. I wish I can say it was purely for the love of reading, but some of it was to pass the time,” the older woman said with a self-conscious laugh.

“Why don’t you guys chat while I pick out some books for Linda.” Shannon turned around and headed toward the fiction section.

“My mom enjoys your company,” Jack said. “You guys should spend more time together.”

“I already take up too much of her time.” Mrs. Choi shook her head and waved aside the suggestion. “She’s so busy with the brewery.”

“Would you be interested in joining a book club?” Excitement fluttered in Lizzy’s stomach. Hosting a book club would give Sparrow a presence in the community, and it would provide a wonderful way to meet people. Mrs. Choi wouldn’t have to feel so lonely.

“A book club?” Jack and Mrs. Choi said at the same time.

“I have to confirm with Shannon, of course, but I think it’ll be great if Sparrow started some book clubs for the community.” Lizzy turned to the older woman and placed her hand on her arm. “You’ll get to meet other avid readers and discuss interesting books with them. What could be more fun than that?”

“I would love to join a book club,” Mrs. Choi said with a new glow in her face. “In fact, I must implore Shannon to get one together as soon as possible. I spend all day talking to a toddler. Stimulating adult conversation sounds like a dream.”

She hurried over to Shannon, who was holding a pile of books in her arms.

“You know, I wouldn’t mind joining a book club myself,” Jack murmured.

“Really? I think that’s a great idea…,” Lizzy began.

“Yeah, spending all day with you makes me miss stimulating adult conversation,” he said with a shit-eating grin.

Her first impulse was to smack him on the back of his head, but then she got a much better idea. She pressed up against his side and said in a low, husky voice, “Stimulating adult conversation? Does this count? I want to take you upstairs and have you on the kitchen table. Twice.”

Jack choked on his own spit and doubled over in a coughing fit.

“There, there.” She patted his back, wearing a self-satisfied smile. When he straightened, she raised her eyebrow at him. “Stimulating enough for you?”

He had tears in his eyes from the coughing, but a wicked light came into them. He cast a quick glance toward the back of the store, where Shannon and Mrs. Choi were talking, and turned to her. His arms shot out and pulled her up against him.

“Here’s what we’re going to do,” he said with a subtle pump of his hips.

God, he was already hard.

---