Book of Love Read Online Free

the way above the treeline, buzzing like misplaced bees. The energy off it thrummed in his bones, heightening his senses.
    Sure enough, he got three bars, which wasn’t great, but it was better than nothing, and he emailed CatsEye1980 again with an “in town—meet tonite?”
    The immediate response of, “Six okay?” was gratifying. That would give him time to get his room, change and get the lay of the land.
    “Works for me,” he wrote back. Man, he needed some coffee.
    He headed to the tiny front desk and rang the bell, looking at the wee printed map sitting on the counter. His choices were a bakery with a coffee shop or some kind of coffee hut.
    “May I help you?” The girl behind the counter wore her hair in huge dreads, the ring in her nose glinting silver.
    “Where should I go for the best coffee and a bite to eat?”
    “Starlight Bakery. Today is ham-and-cheese panini, cream cheese brownies and macadamia nut coffee.”
    “Oh, that sounds good.” He nodded toward the door. “How far is that?”
    “Come here.” She led him to the door and stuck her head out. “You see the wooden pawnshop sign next to the post office one? It’s right there.”
    “Cool. So is the hut the other direction?” He wanted to keep his options open.
    “It is. It’s over by the bookstore.”
    “Thanks. I appreciate your help.” He gave her a smile. This way he wouldn’t have to drive with his bags and all in the car.
    “Anytime.” She waved and bounced off, just as cheery as could be.
    Elijah grinned. Small towns. He did love them.
    This one looked deliciously odd too, old and weird and charming, all at once. Half mining town, half late-Victorian hot springs boomtown, it had all sorts of echoes of history to listen to. Hell, there had been people walking this land for eons, doing magic, calling the gods.
    His people, some of them. He checked in on the truck, then headed on toward his lunch. His belly was gnawing at his spine.
    There were rocking chairs in the front of the…well. It was all one thing: bakery, coffee, post office, pawnshop, gift store. Wow. This was even smaller a town than he’d thought.
    He headed in, the scent of cocoa and pecans—and raspberry?—strong in his nose.
    “Smells good in here.”
    “Thanks.” The lady behind the counter was solid, with a tanned, lined face and long, graying blonde hair.
    “I hear you have coffee.”
    “All sorts. Cappucino, lattes, macchiatos.”
    “Do you have almond milk?”
    She raised a brow. “This is Western Colorado. Of course I do.” Her lips curved in a smile.
    “I’d like a caramel latte with almond milk, one of those amazing-looking sandwiches and whatever smells like raspberry, please.”
    “You got it.” She winked before ringing him up. “Have a seat and I’ll bring everything out.” There were three tiny tables in the spot between cafe and pawnshop.
    “Thanks.” He wandered to a little table and sat, pulling out his phone. No signal, but he could check the Wi-Fi, see if he had any other messages.
    A pretty blonde came in, earphones in her ears, the effect young, at least until she smiled and Elijah realized she was in her twenties. “Hey, Auntie!”
    “Shiloh. I need you to get the second batch of scones in the oven, please.”
    She was something else, this Shiloh, all bouncing ponytail and curvy butt. Yum. Elijah hoped staring was okay.
    “Oooh. Chocolate chip or white chocolate raspberry?”
    “The raspberry are going like crazy. Use the gluten free flour mix. Andy is coming later.”
    “You got it.” Elijah got a quick grin from Shiloh. “Raspberries are the best.”
    “They are,” he agreed. The place was small enough that he could talk to them while they worked.
    “Are you here for the rafting?” Shiloh asked. “I hear the waters are running high.”
    “I’m actually here to meet a friend.” That seemed the easiest way to explain it.
    “Oh, cool.” All that mass of blonde hair was put up, then an apron came on. “Aunt