Page 9 of Sweet Cinnamon and the Mountain Man
He shakes his dark head and then he holds out his hand to Alanis. “I think I’ve talked to you. Bookstore owner, right?”
She smiles at him and a wellspring of anger roils up in me, swamping my good sense.
“Why don’t you go ahead and clean up and go home, Reginald. I’m just gonna be a few more minutes. All the booths are closed except for the food so if you’re hungry you don’t have much time to get something to eat.”
He nods and stalks off. I turn back to Alanis and her speculative gaze narrows in on me.
“You know…I used to think you two actively hated each other but there’s a little something buzzing under the surface there. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you guys actually like each other.”
I shake my head and start gathering my things up to close up. “No. I don’t think so. And even if we did, we’ve had so many awkward interactions thanks to Agatha’s terrible tricks that neither of us actually knows what to do with each other. It’s maddening how fixed she is on this.”
My friend’s eyes snap happily and she chuckles. “Methinks the lady doth protest too much. But Agatha is definitely a force of nature.”
“She’s more than that. She’s a nut. At least on this. I love her but she’s driving me crazy.” I pause and watch the way that he disappeared. “I actually thought we were moving along. If not dating, we were at least friendly. But then he came back from getting coffee for us all surly and annoyed. If I didn’t know better I’d swear he was swapped with some pod person while he was gone!”
Her smile curls up mischievously. “Was that when James showed up?”
“Actually he was here when Reginald got back. What does that have to do with anything?”
“He was jealous!”
“No!” I scoff. “There’s no way. He doesn’t even like me!”
“I think that he might say one thing and mean the other. Guys have such fragile little egos. They can’t take any kind of conflict when another guy shows up. Hurts their feelings. I bet that’s his problem”
Drake pops up behind her and growls, “Hey! My fragile ego and I need some sustenance. Let’s get some food, woman. And you can tell me about my fragile little ego while I’m trying to eat whatever fried monstrosity you find to eat.”
Giggling, I watch them walk away, bickering in a good-natured way. Honestly none of us expected Alanis to settle down. Ever.
But then her favorite author showed up and it was all over but the shouting. These two love each other.
I watch them walk away and wonder if anybody will ever love me like he loves her.
For some reason, Reginald Hawks pops into my head. His bright eyes and smirky smile.
My heart sinks a little and I push those thoughts way down.
He can barely bear to look at me without getting ticked two minutes later.
I don’t need that kind of hassle. Bitterness swirls in my gut as I lock up my brochures and grab my purse.
Time to get away from the guy. Go home and get something to eat and try to find some sleep.
And wish that things could be different than they are. Because right now, I’m just plugging away and all I’ve got to show for it are a lot of little problems and a big, snarky man that likes to snarl at me when I offer to help him.
Yeah, who needs it. Definitely not me.
Reginald
I’m an idiot.I can’t seem to help myself. I order twice as much food and an extra thick banana shake and then walk back, keeping my eyes open for her.
As I’m walking, I see her tiny, lush figure ahead of me. She’s slogging along like she’s exhausted and my heart twinges in my chest. I honestly don’t know what my fascination is with Cinnamon Walker but it’s just growing the more time I spend with her, talking to her and watching her talk to others.
She’s sweet and smart and driven in what she wants to do and that’s also one of my issues with her.
If she’s so driven would she try to help a guy do something a little dishonest if she could make enough money to get that storefront she’s looking for?
I don’t know. My heart tells me she wouldn’t. But my head has seen an awful lot of stuff over the years and people you think you can trust, you can’t. It’s a sad state of affairs but there it is. Everyone is out for themselves.
