thought he might like. You should probably get thatone too.”
“Thanks.”
Charisma followed Michelle around the store while she compiled the books, not knowing what to say. Finally she blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
“So, have you heard from Morgan?” She knew it sounded idiotic. Of course Michelle talked to Morgan.
“I just got off the phone with her. She was putting Mackenzie down for a nap before the boys gothome.” Michelle hesitated, then glanced at her. “So you’re going to be learning the ropes from Jared?”
“Yes. I’m also looking to take some college courses as well. Jared says my apprenticeship can move at a pace I’m comfortable with while I help out with his projects. I’m helping him with the Slap Shot job.”
“There’s nothing like on-the-job training. Especially when there’s a hot hockeyplayer involved.” Michelle raised an eyebrow. “Will there be more misconstrued photos of you and Derek in the future?”
“That was a horrible misunderstanding. I was there on business, and his girlfriend was there throwing a temper tantrum because he’d dumped her.”
“He brought her by the store once. What a diva. She pranced around here with her nose in the air, being really loud so peoplewould know the great aspiring actress Phoebe Palentz was in the store. I told her that unless she was auditioning for the part of bookseller, she needed to pipe down. Derek hustled her out of here quick. I don’t know what he saw in her.” Michelle laughed.
Charisma couldn’t help but laugh too. “Well, she phoned in an even greater performance as the jilted lover. It was an awful wake-up tothe way I used to behave.”
“You were way worse. But I did like that time you poured the chocolate syrup all over Lamont’s Cadillac Escalade. He looked like he wanted to cry.”
“He was a real button-pusher for me. I fell right into his trap with the fight the other day.”
Michelle shrugged. “I’ve been prone to fits of immaturity on social media too. Women say raunchy things aboutTyler all the time. I can take a lot, but I don’t let those cheating posts slide. There’s something in my DNA that compels me to respond.”
“That’s the way I felt about Lamont’s remark to Derek. He referred to me like I was used Kleenex or something.”
“No one ever accused Brayer of being a class act. Derek shut him up good.”
“It shouldn’t have gone that far.” She sighed, and hergaze trailed over to the chalkboard again. She pointed at the lecture announcement. “What’s this about?”
“Derek is my resident history buff. Buff being the operative word. He loves Texas history, particularly the Battle of the Alamo, and he hosts discussions every now and again. Most of the attendees come for all the wrong reasons, but they buy anything Derek’s selling. He also is one ofthe contributors to our reader suggestion wall.”
“He’s full of surprises,” she murmured.
“As a matter of fact…” Michelle went over to a table and retrieved a book. “This is the latest book I got for him about the Alamo. You should check it out and come to the discussion.”
“I think it’s best if we’re not seen in public together.”
“I guess you’re right. Who wants to be connectedto a gorgeous athlete with smoldering bedroom eyes, killer body, and a devilish smile?” Michelle quipped, her tone full of thorns. “That has to be a total burden.”
“Thanks for the help with the books.” She headed toward the counter to pay for them.
“Jared said to put them on his tab.”
“Wow, that was nice of him.”
“Most Reeds are.”
She stopped in her tracks. “I haveto admit it doesn’t come natural to me. For instance, there was a time when I would have responded in totally different way to that remark, but I understand you’re Morgan’s friend and you’ve witnessed some of my treachery firsthand.”
“I don’t want to see anyone I care about hurt if you’re not sincere about
“Thanks.”
Charisma followed Michelle around the store while she compiled the books, not knowing what to say. Finally she blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
“So, have you heard from Morgan?” She knew it sounded idiotic. Of course Michelle talked to Morgan.
“I just got off the phone with her. She was putting Mackenzie down for a nap before the boys gothome.” Michelle hesitated, then glanced at her. “So you’re going to be learning the ropes from Jared?”
“Yes. I’m also looking to take some college courses as well. Jared says my apprenticeship can move at a pace I’m comfortable with while I help out with his projects. I’m helping him with the Slap Shot job.”
“There’s nothing like on-the-job training. Especially when there’s a hot hockeyplayer involved.” Michelle raised an eyebrow. “Will there be more misconstrued photos of you and Derek in the future?”
“That was a horrible misunderstanding. I was there on business, and his girlfriend was there throwing a temper tantrum because he’d dumped her.”
“He brought her by the store once. What a diva. She pranced around here with her nose in the air, being really loud so peoplewould know the great aspiring actress Phoebe Palentz was in the store. I told her that unless she was auditioning for the part of bookseller, she needed to pipe down. Derek hustled her out of here quick. I don’t know what he saw in her.” Michelle laughed.
Charisma couldn’t help but laugh too. “Well, she phoned in an even greater performance as the jilted lover. It was an awful wake-up tothe way I used to behave.”
“You were way worse. But I did like that time you poured the chocolate syrup all over Lamont’s Cadillac Escalade. He looked like he wanted to cry.”
“He was a real button-pusher for me. I fell right into his trap with the fight the other day.”
Michelle shrugged. “I’ve been prone to fits of immaturity on social media too. Women say raunchy things aboutTyler all the time. I can take a lot, but I don’t let those cheating posts slide. There’s something in my DNA that compels me to respond.”
“That’s the way I felt about Lamont’s remark to Derek. He referred to me like I was used Kleenex or something.”
“No one ever accused Brayer of being a class act. Derek shut him up good.”
“It shouldn’t have gone that far.” She sighed, and hergaze trailed over to the chalkboard again. She pointed at the lecture announcement. “What’s this about?”
“Derek is my resident history buff. Buff being the operative word. He loves Texas history, particularly the Battle of the Alamo, and he hosts discussions every now and again. Most of the attendees come for all the wrong reasons, but they buy anything Derek’s selling. He also is one ofthe contributors to our reader suggestion wall.”
“He’s full of surprises,” she murmured.
“As a matter of fact…” Michelle went over to a table and retrieved a book. “This is the latest book I got for him about the Alamo. You should check it out and come to the discussion.”
“I think it’s best if we’re not seen in public together.”
“I guess you’re right. Who wants to be connectedto a gorgeous athlete with smoldering bedroom eyes, killer body, and a devilish smile?” Michelle quipped, her tone full of thorns. “That has to be a total burden.”
“Thanks for the help with the books.” She headed toward the counter to pay for them.
“Jared said to put them on his tab.”
“Wow, that was nice of him.”
“Most Reeds are.”
She stopped in her tracks. “I haveto admit it doesn’t come natural to me. For instance, there was a time when I would have responded in totally different way to that remark, but I understand you’re Morgan’s friend and you’ve witnessed some of my treachery firsthand.”
“I don’t want to see anyone I care about hurt if you’re not sincere about
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