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.”
“Don’t look to me for sympathy when she runs off with some other fella. You’ve been sitting on the fence with this one for too damn long.”
“That’s really not the way it works anymore, but I’ll keep your advice in mind.”
“What are you wearing?”
Tayla stopped at the sound of Emmie’s horrified voice as she walked into the living room. She looked down at her outfit. “What?”
“Is that a sexy witch costume?”
Tayla shrugged. “You told me game night was wizard-themed this month and I should dress up.” She held up her wand with a flourish. “I dressed up.”
“It’s middle school book club night.” Emmie marched toward Tayla and pulled her open robe across her midriff and cleavage-baring top. “You can’t wear this.”
“So judgy. You know I look amazing.”
“Yes, but you also look over-the-top sexy. Which if we were going to the Ice House on Halloween would be awesome. But we’re going to family game night at Top Shelf. I’m sure Jeremy will love it, but I’m guessing all the parents won’t.”
“I love your outfit.” Tayla tried to distract her. “It’s got kind of the crazy fortune-teller thing going on. I like it. The glasses are a nice touch.”
“I’m supposed to be Professor Trelawney.”
“Nailed it.”
“Can you please go put on slightly more clothes?” Emmie gave her the puppy dog eyes she used on Ox when she needed him to lift something heavy. “Please?”
Tayla rolled her eyes. “Fine. But I want it on the record that I look hot as hell.”
“You totally do. In fact…” Emmie handed her the broom from the kitchen. “Hold this in a provocative manner.”
“You know I will.” Tayla posed as Emmie snapped a picture. “You sending that to Jeremy?”
“Mmm-hmm.” Emmie gave her a wicked grin. “I do love tormenting him.”
“Funny thing—so do I.” Tayla turned and walked back into her room, stripping off the cleavage-baring top and reaching for a less revealing one. She’d known she couldn’t get away with the first top, but she also knew Emmie would send a pic to Jeremy. She had to get back at him for that indecent dance the other night.
Oh, he’d been playing the sweet and courteous dance partner. His fingers hadn’t even strayed below her waist. But he knew what he was doing. Chivalry like Jeremy’s was nearly as indecent as her cleavage. So much restraint. So much left unsaid. It drove her absolutely crazy.
If he was that hot when they were in public, what kind of reaction could he provoke when they were alone?
This was not okay. She had to regain control.
Tayla left her robe open and put on a white button-down shirt with a loose school tie hanging between her breasts. Then she put on fake wire-rimmed glasses and pulled her hair into a messy bun.
When she walked out to the living room, Emmie frowned. “That is somehow even more indecent, but I can’t put my finger on why.”
“Then I have accomplished exactly what I intended.”
They walked downstairs and across the street, joining the small stream of foot traffic headed toward Top Shelf Comics and Games. Mostly it was one or two parents with a couple of kids between the ages of eight and thirteen. Almost all the kids were dressed up. The adults were not.
Tayla didn’t care. She knew she looked fabulous.
She looked forward to game night most months. It was where she’d met Jeremy’s grandfather, who was a complete riot and managed to make overalls a fashion statement. And she’d seen his parents once, though they hadn’t been introduced.
It was small-town nostalgia at its best. Families getting together to play games. Shops open late. Checkers tournaments at the diner. Bingo in the park. Hamburgers and hot dogs. Beer and popcorn.
It was brilliant marketing on Jeremy’s part. He usually had a theme related to something going on in town—a new movie opening, high school homecoming, the book club—and he donated the games for all the businesses who agreed to stay open. Any activity that would attract more than the usual gaming crowd. He put a lot of work into it, but he sold a ton of games and usually attracted quite a few people who hadn’t known a gaming and comics shop had opened in town.
Tayla could admire Jeremy’s hustle even if she was annoyed with his game.
And it was a game. She knew it was a game. He thought he was luring her into his world. He thought if he played everything right, she’d fall for him.
<
br /> Ha!
She fell for no one. She was in charge of her life and her hormones. His tempting, small-town-hunk charm was not irresistible.
This wasn’t a Hallmark movie, dammit.
She was in Metlin as long as she wanted to be there, but it wasn’t going to be forever. She wasn’t a forever kind of girl.
Tayla and Emmie walked into Top Shelf, following a family with two small rainbow-colored unicorns holding hooves. Jeremy’s eyes caught Tayla’s outfit and bugged out for a second before he turned his attention toward the kids.
“Welcome, unicorn maidens!” he said. “You will be relieved to know that we have put a protective ward around the shop tonight so you don’t have to worry about any evil wizards drinking your blood.”
The girls giggled. “Thanks, Mr. Jeremy.”
“But I’m guessing you have magic that would probably turn them into glitter dust or something if they tried being evil, right?”
No! It should not be legal for anyone to be that cute with children!
“Yep,” the littlest unicorn said very seriously. “There would be glitter everywhere. And guts.” She giggled. “It would be really gross.”
“I understand.” Jeremy put his hand on his chest. “Please try to control your unicorn magic so we don’t have a horrible mess we have to explain to the store elves later.”
“Okay!” The two unicorns skipped back to the short table where a game of Candy Land was going while Jeremy said hi to the parents.
Tayla finally got a chance to take in his costume. It was almost as if they’d planned it. He was wearing a sweeping black robe with silver threads in it over a pair of dark grey pants and a white shirt. With a bow tie.
How did he make bow ties hot?
Now she was imagining doing dirty things to Jeremy while he wore a bow tie.
Dammit.
“Hey.” His smile was just a little crooked. “Is there a delinquent student witch on the premises?”
“I beg your pardon, Professor.” Tayla pulled her wand from the messy bun on her head and put it to her pursed lips. “I’m a naughty librarian witch.”
Emmie shook her head. “Is the book club here? You know, the middle school students who are the guests of honor tonight?”
Jeremy nodded toward the back room, never taking his eyes off Tayla. “They’re in the back tournament room. My pop is teaching them chess, and he even agreed to call it wizard chess for the night.”
Tayla grinned. “Is Gus wearing his overalls?”
“Yes, but he put on a black shirt and a bowler hat for the occasion.”
“I love him so much.”
“You’re trying to kill me with that outfit, aren’t you?”
“Is it working?”
“So very much.”
Chapter Three
Tayla surveyed the crowded shop. “So this looks really fun. The book club tie-in was brilliant.”
Jeremy put his arm around Emmie’s shoulders. “My coconspirator is kind of known for being brilliant.”
“Thank you, Professor,” Emmie said.
Jeremy was wearing a wide smile. “Everyone really got into it. It’s been awesome, and I’ve already sold a dozen games.”
“Nice!” Emmie turned and high-fived him.
Geeks. They were such geeks, and they were both adorable.
Tayla just shook her head. “So what are you two nerds planning for next month? I think people are pretty game for anything in this town—no pun intended. As long as you’re not reading The Hunger Games, you should have a good turnout.”
Jeremy and Emmie took a step apart and exchanged a furtive look.
“Why not The Hunger Games?” Jeremy asked.
Tayla closed her eyes. “You’re reading The Hunger Games, aren’t you?”
“What’s wrong with The Hunger Games?” Emmie asked. “That’s what the kids voted on.”
“I’m more concerned for the game tie-ins that you two would try to cook up.”
“An archery tournament would be fun! We were going to coordinate with the local Boy Scout troop so it’d be safe and everything.”
Tayla turned to Jeremy. “And this relates to your shop how?”
“It doesn’t. I just wanted to shoot stuff with bows and arrows.” He turned to Emmie. “But you could probably get Greg at Metlin Outfitters to cohost that, now that I think of it.”
“Oh, that’s a great idea.”
Leave it to Jeremy and Emmie to turn what should have been a moneymaker for their own shops into a promotion for someone else.
“Hey!” Tayla waved her hand. “Voice of capitalistic self-interest here. Greg is doing just fine. Summer is coming and his shop is crowded. Emmie, you and Jeremy need to be focused on keeping people’s heads in books and games now that everything is warming up. Pick a different book and find a cross promo, because this night brings in too much traffic for both of you to just give it away.” She pointed at Jeremy’s register. “You’ve had a line all night.”
“And Kim said we’ve already gotten four new sign-ups for the romance book club from the moms here.” Emmie sighed. “I think we’ll have to shoot bows and arrows on our own time, Jer.”
“I can live with that. But don’t change the book. I can think of plenty of combat and survival games for the next club read.” He offered Emmie his knuckles to bump. “Chill, Em. Tayla’s right.”
Tayla smiled. “You’re so sexy when you say that.”
“What? That you’re right?”
She heaved a dramatic sigh and fanned her face. “You said it again. And it was just as good as the first time.”
Jeremy gave her a wicked laugh and leaned down to her ear. “You’re right,” he murmured. “I’m very sexy.”
Emmie rolled her eyes. “Leaving now. Carry on. Don’t scar the children please.”
Tayla pursed her lips and managed to swallow the embarrassing hhngh sound that wanted to leave her throat when she smelled Jeremy’s cologne and felt the tickle of his beard against her jaw.
Play it cool. This is Jeremy. The man needs no encouragement.
“Don’t you love how it was good for both of us?” she whispered back. “I’m right and you’re sexy.”
“Oh, it would definitely be good for both of us,” he said. “Just tell me when and where.”
“And be that obvious?” She leaned back to meet his eyes. “What’s the fun in that?”
“It’d be fun.” The corner of his mouth turned up. “You know it would be.”
Tayla had no doubt. Jeremy would be one of those lovers she laughed with. He’d tease her in the best way. He’d make her laugh as much as he’d make her moan. Everything about the electricity between them told her she would not regret pursuing a relationship with this man.
Except…
His eyes narrowed. “What are you afraid of, Miss McKinnon?”
“Nothing.” She leaned over, kissed his cheek quickly, and cleared her throat. “I better go help Emmie with those book club sign-ups.”
She escaped before she started seeing forever in his eyes.
What was she afraid of?
Oh, just everything.
She walked to the back room where Jeremy’s grandfather was teaching a group of kids how to play chess. His bowler hat was adorable and yet completely dashing. If Jeremy aged as well as his grandfather, whatever lucky girl he eventually married would be very happy.
“Miss Tayla.” He gave her a nod. “Young people, this is one very smart lady. How much you wanna bet she knows how to play chess?”
“You’re not supposed to bet us, Mr. Allen,” one kid piped up. “Jeremy said you can’t take any money off us tonight.”
“No bets,” Tayla said. “And of course I play chess, but backgammon is my game.” She offered Gus a wink. “I’m a numbers girl.”
Gus turned to the kids around him. “You all got the basics?” When they murmured agreement, he said, “Set up games and I’ll come around and check what you got going after I get a drink.�
� He grabbed his cane, walked over, and offered Tayla his arm. “How you doing tonight, young lady?”
“Better now that I have dashing male company.” She walked with him toward the table where lemonade and iced tea were set up. “Gus, when are you going to ask me to dinner?”
He chuckled. “I told you it’s not fair of me to lead you on when I’m still in love with another woman.”
“I had to try.”
“How about that grandson of mine?” Gus asked. “You gonna give him a chance?”
“A chance at what?” She poured two cups of lemonade and handed one to Gus.
“To take you out. I see you two making eyes at each other.”
She put a hand on her chest. “Have I said no?”
“That fool boy hasn’t even asked you out, has he?”
She smiled. “We’re friends, Gus. We hang out all the time.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about, and you know it.”
Tayla sighed. “You know it’s complicated.”
“What’s complicated?” Gus frowned. “You like a girl. You like a boy. You ask them out for dinner. Or to the movies. Or—”
“Netflix and chill?” Tayla interjected.
Gus gave her a suspicious look. “I have a feeling I don’t really know what that is, judging by that innocent look on your face. You young people make it more complicated than it needs to be with your phones with little pictures. How you supposed to have a conversation with a woman like that?”
“You’re old school,” Tayla said. “I like it.”
“Do you?” Gus looked at her from the corner of his eye.
“Don’t give me that look.” She couldn’t stop the laugh. “And don’t start messing with his head, Gus. We’re doing just fine.” And I don’t really know if I’m staying in this town, so don’t get attached. “Besides, we’re really different. I’m not into all the outdoors stuff. He and Emmie were talking about archery earlier.” She shook her head. “I don’t even know.”
“Nothing wrong with having different interests. That’s what keeps things interesting.”
“I’m taking you back to the wizard chess room now.” She steered him through the growing crowd, mindful of the uneven floor in the old building where Jeremy had his shop. “Teach those kids something.”
Hooked: A Love Story on 7th and Main Page 3