Chapter 11

CHAPTER 11

NINA

Innocence laced with charm and desire.

Those are the words I'm looking for when describing Jay.

He’s a fun-loving guy, sweet to all, but he still exudes an overtly masculine charm that draws women to him. He’s a golden retriever book boyfriend if there ever was one in real life.

I’m finding it hard to resist him, and I definitely couldn’t resist the lead-in he left wide open about asking me out. Again. Twice he’s mentioned this taco joint, so I’ll let him put his actions where his mouth is.

And maybe a bit more than his mouth.

We enter Just in Queso and I feel like I’m walking in with a celebrity. We don’t make it five feet inside the restaurant before he’s approached by someone to say hello. And it legitimately takes us twelve minutes before we’re escorted to our table with people coming over thanking him for something he’s done, laughing about something his cousin did, or just talking to him about Sunday’s football game.

And each one who stops him, knows my name as well. They greet me with kindness and include me in the conversation. It’s refreshing and overwhelming all at once.

Just as we’re about to slide into our booth, Jay pulls me to a stop at the table next to us.

“Hey, what are you guys doing here?” Jay asks as the man at the table stands. They clap hands, pulling each other in for a quick hug, and then Jay leans down and gives the woman a quick kiss on the cheek.

“She was dying for a margarita, so here we are.”

“Me?” the woman in question asks. “You were the one crying that you hadn’t had good tequila in a month and begged me to drive you here.”

The man reaches across the table and takes her hand, and the look he gives her is complete adoration. It’s the sweetest thing and catches me off guard.

What is with the men around here?

Jay pulls me close, putting his hand on my lower back and it feels like I was just touched by a live wire. “This is Nina, she’s the new librarian here in town. Nina, this is Maddox and Marigold. Maddox and I played ball together as kids, and Marigold just opened up Cakeology. It's an amazing bakery in the next town over.”

“Yea, opened for the second time.” Marigold says and Maddox waves her off, and Jay laughs.

“How's the air conditioning running?”

“Perfect! Thanks to your contacts. I’m glad someone—” s he pauses, directing a stern look at Maddox before continuing, “knows how to run the correct wiring.”

Jay leans down and says quietly, “Her shop’s faulty wiring kept setting off the fire alarm. Maddox works for the Fire Department and he couldn’t figure out how to fix it, and it ended up burning down.”

“That’s terrible,” I exclaim.

“It wasn’t ideal,” Marigold laughs, brushing away my concern. “But the place needed a makeover anyway, and Jay was a lifesaver recommending a great electrician and handling the new AC unit.”

Jay shrugs off the praise but the gratitude from Maddox and Marigold is obvious in the way they look at him.

“Anyway,” Marigold says. “It’s nice to meet you, Nina. Are you new here? I don’t think I've seen you around town.”

“Yes, I just moved here a little over a week ago.”

“And you're out with this guy already?” Maddox asks playfully.

Marigold gives him a look and then says, “She’s got good taste.”

“Nina and Hazel went to school together,” Jay explains. “She’s taking over for Mrs. Holly since she’s retiring.”

“Oh, that's great! I was kind of surprised to hear she’s retiring. That woman loves everything about that building.”

“She hasn’t really left,” I say with a laugh. “She’s there with me every day.”

“I bet she’ll never leave,” Maddox states. “That woman loves to talk.”

“Enjoy your dinner guys,” Jay says as he motions for me to walk in front of him toward our table. “I’m sure we’ll be seeing you around.”

When we finally slide into the booth, I sigh then laugh and say, “That was … a lot.”

Jay nods in agreement smiling as he responds, “You’ll get used to it.”

I raise my brows at him. “That didn’t happen when I went to Deja Brew with Mrs. Holly. Or to the sandwich shop with Hazel. Seems to happen only when I’m with you.”

He shrugs and smiles again as he picks up two menus and hands me one, obviously intentionally ignoring my nonquestion. So, I sputter, “Jay! It took us seventeen minutes before we got a table because everyone had to talk to you along the way! Are you a local celebrity that I don't know about?”

“Not a celebrity, just a nice guy, Nina. Don’t you know any of those?” He gives me a smirk that comes off as cute rather than arrogant and I’m silent just long enough for him to add, “But now that we’re here, you and me, at this table—you’ve got my full attention. So, ask anything you want to know. I’m an open book.”

He winks and my heart flutters. I clear my throat, annoyed that I’m out of sorts over a wink, then I say, “Before we start rehashing elementary school grades, why don’t we start with finding out how many shots are in the margaritas here?”

“I know what you’re up to…you wanna get me drunk so you can take advantage of me. See, I’m onto your little game, Nina.” He leans in close, his eyes locked with mine as he whispers, “And I’m ready to play.”

I shiver, a blush rushing over me as his smirk grows knowing and his low rumble of laughter has my blush growing deeper.

I’m in big trouble here.

Before I knew it, three hours had passed. We’ve each had a few margaritas and have continued to order plates to share.

I take a bite of quesadilla, the cheese stretching from my mouth. “I love a girl that eats”, he says and I laugh as I say around the food in my mouth, “That's what she said.”

Jay laughs loudly and I smile as he replies, “You are something else Nina. When we met at the beach I felt like you were a little reserved. And sometimes we do that to people. This town can be a lot. “

“It’s not the town. They've been very sweet. It’s me. I do keep to myself. I’m a true introvert and being social is sometimes hard for me. That's why walking in here with the King of England was a lot for me to digest.”

He shakes his head. “I'm glad you’re opening up now though.”

“As I get to know people, it becomes easier. It always makes me laugh how Hazel and I are friends. If you haven't noticed, we’re kind of complete opposites.”

He laughs. “Actually, I don’t think you are. Yes, she’s a bit more outgoing, but I think it’s only because she’s been here for a while. When I first met her, she was reserved, too.”

“As kids she was always the life of the party, and I was the background dancer.” I smile thinking about all the parties she attempted to drag me too only to have to leave with me an hour later. “I’m okay with that. I do better one on one.” I look at him, taking another sip of my drink. “I’m enjoying tonight. One on one. Thank you for this.”

“Anytime, Nina. I’m hoping there will be plenty more one on ones.”

He winks as he takes a sip of his drinks and those damn butterflies reappear again.