I nod slowly as he pulls open the back door to the bookstore. “It’s all I have. Maybe people are right when they say work is family.”
He holds open the door as the wind pushes against it. “Do you feel like they’re your family?”
I shrug. “I feel like I’m closer to my colleagues than anyone else.”
“Is that enough?”
We track into the fainting warmth of the bookstore, the lights out, the sky dark, the cool air meeting the heat to create fog.
I shrug. “I don’t get a choice in the matter. I mean of course I want the family, the fantasy, the fresh cut tree, the homemade ornaments, the little kids screaming and playing, but maybe family was never supposed to be in the cards for me. Maybe I’m meant to figure things out on my own.”
“You’re not, Tess.” He shakes his head, his gaze on mine hard and steady as though he really wants me to hear what he’ssaying. “You’re not meant to figure anything out on your own. No one is.”
We stay like this for another beat before the vulnerability makes my stomach hurt. “I need a second. You mind if I call Marley? I’m sure she’s wondering how things are going here.”
Cole nods once, then reaches behind me for the flashlight perched on the chair rail. “I’ll see if I can get the generator started. Take your time.” His hand lands on my shoulder. “You’re not alone, Tess. I won’t let you be.”
Why does that feel so good? Why are his words so warm and full? Why do I want to lay out on the floor and wrap myself in them until every pain I’ve ever had disappears?
It’s dangerous. It’s incredibly dangerous, and I need to get my head on straight before I get wrapped into something stupid with a man on his way to jail.
God, why do I keep forgetting that?
Thankfully, Marley answers on the first ring.
“Hey.” Her tone is bright and soft. “How are things at the store? I tried calling a bit ago but there was no answer.”
“Sorry. Cole Maxwell is here with me. He was fixing the heater when the storm alerts came in. We just walked to town and back.”
“Cole Maxwell?” Marley shifts her tone up a few octaves as she says, “Lucky you! I think half the women in Rugged Mountain wouldpayto be stuck with that man in a snowstorm.”
“I’m gathering that,” I say, leaning back in the chair of the main office. It’s Marley’s space, but she lets whoever’s on duty use it for breaks and we’ve all put our own personal touch on the decorations. My added artistic vision is a red cardinal that sits on the perch above the dry erase board.
“He’s a great guy. Gets a bad rap because of the fight he was in, but he literally spends all his time doing things for the community. Before all this drama, he saved my nephew’s life.”
I pause for a moment remembering a story Marley told me about her nephew nearly drowning last year. “You’re not talking about the incident down at the lake, are you?”
“That’s the one. If Cole hadn’t been there that day, who knows what would’ve happened? I’m telling you, the guy would do anything for anyone. Do you like him?”
I shake my head. “What do you mean? Do I think he’s hot? Who wouldn’t?”
“Well, yeah, but do youlikehim?”
“I don’t know. We’re just trying to get through this. Also,” I say changing the subject, “I wanted to apologize about the whole book club thing. I didn’t get to my‘save the bookstore’speech before the storm took over.”
“It’s not your fault.” Marley hums low in her throat. “I have tons of faith in you, but I’m not sure anything is going to save this place at this point. I mean, you girls have tried everything. The only choice I have left is to call my ex.”
My brows narrow. “Why would you have to call your ex?”
“He’s this big business guy,total asshole,but he owns a bunch of successful stores out in Whiskey Falls, and last I checked, he was flipping a failed bakery.”
“You think he can do the same for the bookstore?”
“I didn’t want to find out, but even after everything everyone’s done to help, I’m still going to be short on January’s bills. I need to do something fast and he’s the only guy I know that has this kind of expertise. The man is a genius when it comes to this stuff.”
“Isn’t that going to piss Richard off? You said he’s super volatile already, right?”
She lets out a heavy sigh. “I’m overwhelmed. I don’t know what to do anymore. Richard is awful for me, I know he’s awful for me, but we’ve been together for so long now that I don’t know how to end it. And, yeah, he’s probably going to be pissed thatI called my ex for help, but I have to do something to save the store and I think Tex can help.”
