Cloudy With a Chance of Marriage by Kieran Kramer Read Free Book Online Page A

glass, blocking her face from his sight.
    Good thing. He was in no mood to deal with the smug smile he could swear he saw curving her lips.

 
     
    CHAPTER FIVE
     
    Jilly stayed busy in the midst of having no customers by washing her windows, dusting her books, and baking scones for the neighbors. She left the scones on their doorsteps with a brief note of introduction and the announcement that complimentary tea and scones would be provided to anyone who entered Hodgepodge that week. After that, they’d be sold for next to nothing to discerning readers who should feel free to sip, eat, and read to their hearts’ content at the bookstore during business hours.
    When she wasn’t attempting to drum up business, she was writing a novel. She’d only just begun, but it was going to have a dastardly captain in it who married the ignorant daughter of a mushroom—who wore a silk hat smashed upon his ears so that they stuck out—and a giant woman who spoke so loudly, windows rattled.
    Quill to mouth, Jilly mused on what their dozen children would look like. She already knew how they’d behave: rudely. And they’d be cursed with seriously good looks so that no one ever felt sorry for them. And people should feel sorry for them, Jilly felt with all her heart, for these children would have sad excuses for parents.
    Perhaps the woman who lived next door to the children would take them under her wing and teach them manners—she’d even take them to the seashore each year because she would be a very rich bookshop owner patronized by all the gentry and the Prince Regent himself.
    Diligently, Jilly wrote a whole half page describing the scene in which the captain and his awful wife forgot Christmas Day. But when the cuckoo clock chimed two, she looked up from her scribbling. Otis was out, for far too long, looking for the perfect pair of secondhand shoes to go with his pink and white striped waistcoat, the one he’d found at Captain Arrow’s house the night of the theatrics. It had been adorning a bust of Admiral Lord Nelson on the stair landing, and when no gentleman there could claim the illustrious garment as his own, Otis had taken it with Captain Arrow’s blessing.
    Poor Otis. Books weren’t his passion. Fashion was. But he was trying, and he was always so supportive of her.
    Jilly heard the shop door open and wished she could be entirely excited at receiving a customer, but part of her was always prepared to see Hector. Yes, it was a shame, but it was the way things were. She knew as long as she lived, she’d never be completely free of him.
    So when a breathtakingly lovely girl peeked in the door, she released a discreet sigh of relief. The girl had rich brown hair, the color of chocolate, pulled back in a luscious, loose knot, and a dimple on either side of her mouth. Her best asset was her eyes, which were large and sea green.
    “Hello,” she said to Jilly with a shy smile. “I’m Susan Cook. I live down the street.”
    Jilly put her quill down and stood. “It’s lovely to meet you, Miss Cook.” She smiled, too, excited that someone—especially someone other than Hector—had come into Hodgepodge! She was beginning to despair that anyone on the street was friendly.
    A small boy, no more than four, popped out from behind Susan. He had her same button nose and a wide grin. “I’m Thomas,” he said in a robust manner, although Jilly couldn’t help noticing his legs were thin. “You make good scones. Could we have some more, please? And some butter and jam, too, if you don’t mind.”
    Susan’s mouth became a round O. So did Jilly’s. And then they both burst into laughter. Thomas did, too, although Jilly could tell he had no idea what was so funny.
    “Thomas!” Susan rubbed his head with a palm. Her tone was stern but fond. “We don’t go about begging. Be glad with what you got from Miss Jones. You don’t ask for more .”
    “I don’t mind a bit,” said Jilly. “I promised them to anyone who