Hooked on You by Kathleen Fuller (hot novels to read .txt) 📕

Riley came out of the bathroom, Erma and Bea were already in the back room discussing the work Riley had done in theshop so far. She left the outfit on its hangers in the bathroom so it wouldn’t wrinkle.

“I’m going to say goodbye to Harper,” she told the ladies. “I’m sure she has to get back to work.”

Mimi nodded, giving Riley a wink, then turned back to Bea.

Riley walked up to the front of the store. Harper was sitting in the Man Chair, scrolling through her phone, the bag on thefloor next to her.

Riley pulled over the stool she’d used to reach the top of the shelves and sat near Harper. “I can’t believe you got my sizesright.”

“Fashion is my passion. Besides, you have such a cute figure. You need to show it off more.”

Cute wasn’t the word Riley would use, especially next to the lithe Harper. Still, that didn’t change the fact that the new clotheshad made her feel good and attractive. That wasn’t the goal, of course, especially since tonight wasn’t a date. It was a meetingbetween two friends to discuss a common interest. She wished she didn’t have to keep reminding herself of that.

“What time is Hayden picking you up?” Harper asked, slipping her phone into her purse.

“Five thirty.” Her nerves spiked again, and to distract herself, she continued talking. “He’s taking me to some steakhousea little ways past Maple Falls.”

Harper chuckled. “Sounds like you’re getting some of your Southern accent back.”

Riley frowned. “I am?”

“A touch. You don’t have a New York accent for sure, but you don’t sound Southern either.” She leaned forward. “Once you startcallin’ me sugah dumplin’, then I know you’re here to stay,” she drawled.

Riley didn’t bother to correct her. She couldn’t keep telling everyone she would be leaving soon. They would find out whenshe was gone.

Harper got up from the chair and grabbed the bag of clothes. “Have a great time with Hayden,” she said, hitching her pursestrap over her shoulder. “He’s a good guy.”

“You’re not interested in him?” She hadn’t meant to ask the question out loud. It just popped out. She couldn’t imagine anyonenot being attracted to Hayden.

“Oh, he’s cute. Can’t deny that. But he’s not my type.” She smirked. “He’s definitely yours, though.” She walked over to thedoor and opened it, letting in warm, humid air. “We girls will expect a full report later on,” she said.

“Girls?”

But Harper was already out the door.

Riley stood there, stunned by what had just happened. She figured Harper meant herself, Anita, and Olivia. But a full reportof what, Riley wasn’t sure. She wasn’t used to having girlfriends to report to. She was also finding she didn’t mind it somuch.

She thought about the pink outfit again and Harper’s thoughtfulness. This was the nicest thing any woman had ever done forher, with the exception of Mimi or one of the BBs.

Riley smiled, blinking back something she wasn’t used to—happy tears.

Chapter 11

Hayden slicked back his hair, the ends still damp from the quick shower he took before he went to pick up Riley from Knotsand Tangles. He could have just changed his work shirt in the back room of the hardware store, then got in his car and pickedher up behind the store instead of rushing home first, but that didn’t feel right for some reason. Even though he spent theday reminding himself that dinner tonight wasn’t a date, his nerves sure made it feel like one.

At 5:30 p.m. sharp he opened the door to the yarn shop. The bell above him dinged as he walked inside. When he didn’t seeher right away, he paused in the middle of the shop, noticing how much room there was now since Riley had arrived and puther organizing skills to work. He wasn’t sure what to do. Should he wait for her at the counter? Holler that he was here?Text her? He was pulling out his phone from the pocket of his jeans when she walked through the doorway that led to the backof the store.

He froze, phone in hand, unable to take his eyes off her. She was wearing a light-pink top that dipped a little low, but nottoo low to be indecent, and a flowing skirt that skimmed the tops of her knees. Her hair was pulled back in a loose ponytailwith a few strands framing her face. At the base of her neck was a simple gold necklace. Her cheeks were rosy, as if she wereblushing. She was so beautiful he could hardly breathe.

“Hi,” she said, looking at him but keeping her distance.

He swallowed. “Hey.” Great, he sounded like a bullfrog. He cleared his throat. “Uh, ready to go?”

Riley nodded. “Let me get my purse.” She went behind the counter and picked up her crossbody bag, hanging it over her shoulder.

“I parked in the back,” he said, walking over to her.

She nodded and walked around the counter. Then she suddenly tripped and started to fall forward.

Hayden curved his arm around her waist, steadying her, seeing that she’d tripped over the corner of an old area rug that wascurling at the edges. He noticed she had on a pair of white strappy shoes with cork-colored heels. When he faced her, he realizedthey were nearly nose to nose.

“New shoes.” She sounded like she’d swallowed a squeaky dog toy. “I’m not used to them.”

The words hardly registered. Besides their kiss the other day, he’d never been this close to Riley before, not that he hadn’twanted to be. He should let go of her, but his arm remained firmly in place. He could feel the softness of her shirt and thecurves underneath, see the light sprinkling of freckles across her nose that were only visible this close up. Kissing heragain would be so easy, so pleasurable—so wrong.

He dropped his arm and stepped away. “Can’t help you with that,” he said, letting out a chuckle about her new shoes and hopinghe didn’t sound stupid. “I prefer cleats myself.”

“They wouldn’t exactly go with the outfit.”

That made him laugh—and