Felicity moved to the front of the shop.She’d always loved it here.This place was a mix of old and new, because in the front, Connie sold new releases, and in the back, she sold used books.She always said the printed word should never be wasted.
The bookshop was decorated for the holidays with colored twinkle lights draped around the perimeter of the shop.And there was a Christmas tree in the front of the store with book ornaments all over it.It was cute.Display tables had red velvet clothes with white furry trim.
She supposed some people might be surprised by so many decorations, but this was Kringle Falls.It was a Christmas town, so the decorations never totally came down, although Connie did scale them back the rest of the year.
Felicity honestly never expected to be back working in the bookshop where she’d spent so much time while in high school.She thought she’d moved beyond stocking shelves, but this was life’s way of reminding her not to get too comfortable because she never knew what was around the next corner.
She just needed a job in New York City by Christmas—before she lost all of her belongings that were now in a New Jersey storage unit—before she had to tell everyone she cared about that she’d failed and lost not only the promotion but also her job.Even thinking of making the admission caused her stomach to take a nauseous lurch.
She couldn’t help but think that if she was better at her job—if she were more experienced—her former employer would have found another position for her.Instead, they showed her to the door.They tried to cushion the blow by giving her severance, but she’d had to use that to move her belongings to storage.Nothing was cheap in New York City.
It was why when she went shopping, she searched the clearance racks.The clothes didn’t have to be her size.They didn’t have to be her style.They just had to hold promise and be the right color.She would take them home and modify them.
She had a sewing machine to make those stylish adjustments.She’d received quite a few compliments on her clothes from co-workers.The problem came when they asked her where she shopped.She was always vague with her answers.
But now her sewing machine and most of her stylish clothes were in storage.For the most part, she didn’t need to dress up in Kringle Falls.This place was about as casual as you could get.
She glanced toward the big picture window and sighed.Being December, it was already dark out at five minutes till five.The bookshop was due to close in just a few minutes.There were still a lot of books to move on the shelves to make room for the new releases.So, Felicity kept working.Overtime was something she’d grown accustomed to at her prior position.Besides, she had nowhere to go that evening.
Jingle-jingle.
The brass bell above the door had Felicity lifting her head to see who had walked in.From her position kneeling on the floor, she noticed the guy’s work boots and long legs.Then she noticed his casual gait.As her gaze continued to rise, the breath hitched in her throat.It was Justin.
He was staring at something on his phone, so he hadn’t noticed her yet.Her first instinct was to turn tail and head to the backroom.And yet her feet wouldn’t cooperate.
Her mouth grew dry while her palms were damp.What was he doing there?Duh.It’s a bookstore.He must want a book.He had always been a bookworm.Another thing that hadn’t changed.
But he was no longer her friend.That was a big difference.He was also now someone’s husband.That was a huge difference.She ignored the pang in her chest.It was for the best.She wanted him to be happy.
She had no idea what to say to him.
The last time they’d had what she would classify as an actual conversation was many years ago—before she’d returned for her senior year in college.Of course, their exchange wasn’t something she wanted to remember.The truth of the matter was that she hadn’t handled the situation well.
Back then she’d been twenty-one and inexperienced in matters of the heart.She’d abruptly ended things between them.It was one of those moments in life that she longed to have a chance to redo.The only problem was she didn’t know what she could have said to make the moment any better.She still believed they’d been too young to get married.
Justin’s gaze rose and met hers.His eyes momentarily widened before he took on a neutral expression.“Hey.”
Before her mind and mouth could agree on how to respond, Justin passed by her and headed toward the back of the bookshop.What did he think of her not speaking to him?It hadn’t been intentional.
She stood there, looking in the direction Justin had gone.Should she follow him?Should she try to make small talk with him?Or should she just let the moment go?
What was she doing here?
Justin kept walking until he was at the rear of the bookshop.His breaths came quickly as his pulse raced.He noticed Felicity didn’t have on a coat.Did she forget it?Doubtful.Or perhaps she was working here?
Why would she be working her old job at the bookshop?Did that mean she was back in Kringle Falls permanently?His heart skipped a beat.If so, how did he feel about it?He had absolutely no idea.
He’d blindly stared at a shelf of antique books with leather bindings.He was surrounded by old books—not his type of read.He turned and walked to another section.All the while, he was glancing around for Felicity to see if she was still in the shop.When he glanced down at the used books, he inwardly groaned.He was in the romance section.He did not read romance.
That wasn’t entirely true.Every now and then, there was a romance thread in the fantasies that he read, but he never gave those storylines much attention.He’d left romance out of his first manuscript as well as the second one that he was currently working on.He thought it was better without that fluff.It made more room for the action scenes.
He still didn’t understand how the gossip about Felicity working at the bookshop hadn’t reached him.If his mother knew, she’d have been sure to let him know.His mother was best friends with Felicity’s mother.
He glanced around for Felicity.He didn’t spot her.Now was his chance to make his escape.However, he hesitated.
What if Felicity saw him making a hasty exit?He didn’t want her to think his decision to leave without buying anything was due to her presence.And even though that was the truth, he didn’t want Felicity to know that.After all, they were over many years ago.It wasn’t like he was carrying a torch for her.
“Hello, Justin.”The female voice came from behind him.
