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Chapter One

Leo pushed open the door to The Book Attic and said, “I have sweet and sour pork, hot and sour soup and egg rolls I really hope you’re hungry” He stopped dead in his tracks when he spotted Amanda, the owner of the bookstore and his best friend for the past three and a half years, chatting with a custo tiazine with his crisp navy blue suit and neatly trio for the corporate types He looked down at his oorn jeans and black work boots and cringed He’d forgotten to pound the dirt off Ah her store

He started to head back out the door when he noticed Auy She took the book he was holding and held it close to her chest, laughing at so the other man said Damn, it wasn’t any of his business if Amanda flirted She could flirt all she wanted, and it still wouldn’tmore

Clutching the bag of food, Leo quickly nixed the idea of cleaning off his boots He’d run the vacuum later Instead, he closed the distance between them Neither of them looked over at him, too wrapped up in their conversation apparently He rattled the bag of food for goodto Amanda talk about how fabulous some author’s books were, Leo cleared his throat—really loud The custory get lost glare Amanda turned and smiled, then sniffed the air

“Mmm, is that sweet and sour pork I smell?”

Leo grinned Mr GQand no one took precedence over sweet and sour pork “Yep, your favorite Want me to take it to the back?”

Areat, thanks”

Leo watched out of the corner of his eye as she rang up the uy slipped her his phone nuain, that it wasn’t any of his business if the pair ht here in the store

As he went through the doorway leading to the backroohts of A out their lunch They had a standing lunch date every Wednesday and Friday It’d been that way since Leo had first met Arocery store She’d grabbed the last box of caramel corn He’d beenin Halfheartedly he’d offered up the possibility that they have lunch together and share the box She’d smiled up at him, and they’d been friends ever since These days, Leo either brought lunch to her bookstore and they ate in the back, or she came and picked him up at the office of the construction company he owned Either way, they never missed a date

As he set out the last of the food, Leo heard footsteps He looked up just in ti into the rooave you his nurab it and toss it in the trash?

She blushed and clutched the paper tighter “Maybe”

He rolled his eyes “Noat you like you were an all-you-can-eat buffet”

She laughed and waved the couy to look at her with hunger? After all these years spent telling the hardheaded wo on, Amanda still wouldn’t listen

He took her by the shoulders and pulled her in for a hug “How many times do I have to say it, sweetheart? You’re a hottie Men are always going to hit on you”