Smitten in the Stacks (For the Love of Austen Book 2) by Sherry Sinclair

Author:Sherry Sinclair [Sinclair, Sherry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ever After Ink
Published: 2024-06-13T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

The washer’s buzzer jolted me from my reading reverie. Seated in the local laundromat, I had been thoroughly engrossed in Rosemary’s Babysitter by Ivan Leery. Placing my bookmark inside the page, I stood up and glanced at the clock made from a repurposed detergent box.

Scuffed linoleum tiles covered the floor, and retro artwork decorated the walls. Bright fluorescent lighting illuminated the multicolored clothing and linens whirling behind the round windows of the washers.

The door swung open, and Dax entered with a lopsided grin, holding a mesh bag of dirty clothes. “Ah, my favorite bookworm, venturing out from her literary lair to tackle the laundry beast.”

“Hey, Dax.” My heart skipped a disturbed beat.

“And I thought I was the only one who liked to mix fabric softener with my horror novels.” He jerked his chin at the paperback lying on top of my basket. “How are you liking Rosemary’s Babysitter? Has it started to creep you out yet?”

Taking change from my pocket, I dumped quarters into the dryer. ”Only slightly more than the local gym instructor has.”

He rolled his eyes, then hoisted his bag onto a counter. “Looks like we both had the same idea. Though I have to say, your choice of reading material is far more intriguing than my old sports magazines.”

I held up the book, the cover featuring an eerie babysitter. “Horror novels and laundromats. The perfect combination for an exciting Friday night. Keeps me on the edge of my seat, wondering what’s lurking in the shadows...or the lint trap.”

Dax grinned. “So, am I right? Has the babysitter cast a spell on you yet?”

“No, but it’s always nice to have someone checking to make sure I haven’t joined an evil coven of childcare providers.”

“I got you.” His reply was immediate, sincere. “Pampers and holy water on standby. So, the book? What do you think so far?”

“The storyline’s gripping and intense, and has an odd sense of romanticism.”

“See?” Dax said, sorting his socks into piles. “Horror’s not just about the scares and gore. Some have a touch of romance, too.”

My eyebrow lifted. “Dax, if homicidal babysitters signify romance for you, we clearly need to work on your dating profile.”

Dax leaned against a dryer. “Perhaps, it’s time to redefine my idea of a meet-cute to include spellbooks and moonlit rituals.”

I shook my head, transferring my clothes from the washer to the dryer. Leave it to Dax to find the romantic potential in occult activities. His ability to spin even the most outlandish scenarios into date ideas was both endearing and mildly concerning.

“Should I be worried about you showing up at my door with a bouquet of wolfsbane and a pentagram-shaped box of chocolates?”

He laughed. “Nah, I’m more slick than that.”

“Oh, really? What’s your approach then?”

Dax smirked. “Think less ritual sacrifice, more Netflix and hex. Maybe some popcorn for the full effect.”

I snickered. “Of course, you’d find a way to make dark magic sound like a casual Saturday night.”

Dax shrugged. “Why not? Life’s too short to take everything so seriously.”

I studied him, then grinned.

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