Book of Love Read Online Free Page A

Chrissie, your sandwich is ready.”
    “Thanks, honey.” The aunt, Chrissie, brought him his sandwich and latte, which smelled like heaven.
    Okay, he needed this. He dug in, groaning as the sweet caffeine hit his belly. The cheese sandwich made him moan again. So tasty, that homemade bread.
    “Oh, can I have one of those? I haven’t eaten since last night.”
    “Sure thing.” The older lady handed Shiloh a treat.
    He stopped stuffing food in his mouth to examine the younger lady again. She had amazing bone structure and a laugh that went right to his balls. He sat there, sandwich halfway to his mouth, to watch her move.
    She was stirring batter, and that fascinated him, the way her breasts moved.
    God, he was turning into a horndog on the spot.
    Insane. He never just went all big bad wolf on a girl. This one made him want to howl. Crazy. Sandwich. Eat your sandwich. Coffee. Breathing.
    Focus.
    His phone beeped, and he glanced at it, raising a brow. Huh. One of his best contacts from Denver had just checked in online at the Minotaur Bookstore in Culper, Colorado. Weird. Or fate.
    Either way, it was interesting.
    Distracting too, which helped him not stare at the pretty lady. What was Liam doing here, all the way from Denver? Might as well ask, so he fired off an email.
    “In Culper? Come to pawn shop.”
    It took about five seconds for “No shit?” to come back.
    “No shit. Finally get to meet in person?” He and Liam had been online colleagues for four years, but he never got to Denver these days, and Liam had never managed to get to Santa Fe.
    “Fuck yes. Be a few minutes. What are you pawning?”
    “Having a scone, actually.” At least he hoped. So far he was still sandwiching.
    “Pawning a scone? K.”
    He chuckled. “Get your ass over here,” he sent.
    The world was a fascinating place. Seriously. He munched a little more sandwich. If Liam was hungry, Elijah would get another one, they were so good. That way Liam wouldn’t have to eat alone.
    Flour was flying madly in the kitchen, both women laughing, working together. He loved that sound. It reminded him of his mother and grandmother and sisters when he was a kid in Taos. They had made fry bread much the same way.
    He was done with his sandwich and considering that scone when the bell above the door jingled, a short, broad redhead waltzing in. That had to be Liam. The old headshot he had on his profile didn’t do him justice. Stocky, well muscled under a long-sleeved tee, Liam had dark red hair and some serious freckles, a bright, happy smile lighting up his face.
    “You are a real boy!” Liam came right over, sat with him, green eyes bright as anything.
    He reached out, offering a hand, which Liam shook firmly. “I am. You’re younger than I expected.” Elijah grinned.
    “Am I? You’re taller.”
    “Thank my Sioux grandmother.” Most of his people were Pueblo, but his gran had come from up in the plains, giving him some length of bone.
    “So, this place is…a baking pawn shop?”
    “And post office.”
    “And feed store and we have tarot readings on Fridays.” The younger lady plopped the most delicious-looking raspberry scone on their table.
    She smelled like vanilla, and goose bumps rose on his skin when her arm brushed his. His cock went hard in a rush that left him lightheaded, and when he glanced up, Liam stared at him, nose quivering.
    Okay. Okay, whoa. This felt…way more intense than normal.
    Liam waited until the lady named Shiloh walked away, then peered at him intently. “So, there is something going on up here. Mystical, I mean.”
    “Yeah. Who called you?”
    “Bella. Uh, Bellanotte93,” Liam said. “She said weird things were happening in her shop. You?”
    “CatsEye1980.”
    “Huh. She runs the hot springs, right?” Liam propped his chin on one hand. “She give you any real intel?”
    “Meeting her tonight. She’s supposed to tell me something about a manifestation in town.” Elijah stopped to sniff his scone.