I hope she likes it.
I open the door and guide her inside. “All right, you can remove the mask.”
With one swift hand movement, she yanks it off her face.
Her eyes are huge as she takes everything in.
After a few long beats, she flips around to face me. “Kaz Lindström, what have you done?” Her eyelashes flutter like crazy.
“Last week, I was busy with the Grazie Mille drama”—and doing a damn good job at avoiding you—“while you kept My Little Bookish Heart in business?—”
“Excuse me.” She hooks a closed fist at her waist and adopts a defiant stance. “Do you know the percentage of people who forget to use gift cards? Huge. I wasn’t going to be another statistic and turn you into one by default. You’re welcome.”
This woman.
“I’m a neat freak?—”
“Didn’t notice.”
My lips flatten in a thin line.
“Sorry I interrupted you,” she says, her tone sheepish.
“During the renovations, I insisted on having multiple storage rooms throughout the house. Chaos gives me the hives.” I rub a hand at the back of my neck. “I figured I’d transform this room into a library. The designer called it a reading nook.”
“When did you do this?”
“I contacted my designer on Wednesday. She asked me for measurements and photos. I waited for you to get into a taxi and head to Number 22 to capture photos of the brunch. The designer arrived half an hour after you had left––to play it safe.”
She does a little happy dance. “I can’t believe… you did this for me.”
“Even though the design team worked at lightning speed, it isn’t finished. The designer still needs to get more lighting, and pretty curtains for the window. The area rug she ordered won’t arrive for another two weeks. Since this is your room, she suggested you select the chair and ottoman. Artwork will be here mid of next week.” Right now, her reading nook is nothing more than a room with bare shelves. “And her team needs to come back to install the rolling ladder.”
She gasps, inhaling all the air in the room.
“A rolling ladder?A freaking rolling ladder?Did you say that or did my ears fail me?”
I nod. “You heard right.”
She places a hand against her heart. “I’ve always wanted one. It’s top of the list for any book lover. This”––she opens her arms out––”is a dream come true.”
“I’m––”
She lunges at me, landing on my chest, circling my waist with her arms. “Thank you for… everything.”
I kiss the top of her head. “It’s my pleasure.”
She glances up at me, misty-eyed. “No, you don’t understand.” Something catches in her throat. “Reading is soimportant to me. When I was a kid, books allowed me to expand my vision beyond my parents’ narrow view of the world. Since we didn’t have much money, the library was my happy place. Without stories that allowed me to believe anything was possible, I would’ve followed in my parents’ and sister’s footsteps.” She pauses. “And that would’ve been a tragedy.”
This is the first time she’s shared so much about her past.
Curiosity prickles at my brain.
What has her family done to warrant that last statement?
Chapter 43
Lie back and enjoy the ride
