“Harper Morrison.” Her hand dropped, and I lifted mine to run through my dark hair, secretly thrilled with the way her eyes traced my movements and held on my bicep. I flexed on purpose for her, and she flushed deeper, finally looking at me directly. I dropped my hand, letting it rest on the table.
“Well, Harper. Here’s the thing about music and me—when I’m playing it, usually nothing comes between the two of us. But yesterday,I saw you. I don’t know what that means yet, but I feel like figuring it out—if you’re into it, of course.”
She blinked, her lips pulling into a smile that blinded me. “Are you asking me out?”
“Yep,” I replied, resisting the urge to step closer to her, my lips tugging into a wolfish smile.
“When?”
“How about now?” I cocked a brow, my lips tugging into a crooked smile. “After you pick a book, I mean.”
“I don’t think so.” The corner of her lip lifted, revealing a pretty dimple on her right cheek. She moved to the next table, her eyes flitting to mine for my reaction.
“Why not?”
“I have a lot of books to pick out.” She shrugged daintily, picking up another novel, eyes scanning the back of the cover.
“I can wait. I’ll even carry them for you.”
After a moment, those dark pools lifted to assess me. “Maybe I already have plans after this.”
“Do you?” I moved closer, unable to stop the tug I felt to be near her, not that I would have if I could. “
“Hmm?”
“Do you already have plans?” I stood directly in front of her now, and she wasn’t running. She was peering at me with interest. “Because if you do, I understand. But if you don’t…spend the day with me.”
“The entire day?” she parroted, a delicate brow quirking like she couldn’t quite figure out if I was for real.
“Why not?” I issued my challenge with a head tilt. “Come on. I’ll show you around town. If you can’t stand my company, you can bail at any time.” I was confident that she’d enjoy my companionship.
She bit down on her bottom lip, the subtle, distracting action stirring arousal within me. I waited, giving her a moment to think it over—standing still as she regarded me thoughtfully.
“All right Calum Jacobs, I guess I’ll spend the day with you.”
Harper
My heels clicked as I walked down Pleasant Street, feeling strikingly optimistic. The sun was shining, although the air carried the frigid winter winds off the water as it blew against my face. I didn’t mind, though. Soon, spring would arrive in Mahone Bay, and with it—tourists and festivals.
It was one of the main reasons why I moved here after finishing up my degree at Acadia. This vibrant community had the exact kind of environment I thrived in.
Pushing open the door to the bookstore, I smiled and greeted my business partner, Ellery. She stood behind the counter of the café, passing a cardboard cup with our business logo on it to a customer. The sign behind her boosted the brews of the day—dark roast, medium roast, and a hazelnut press brew.
I closed my eyes for a moment, allowing the scent of books and coffee to wash over me like a warm embrace. Music played softly on the speakers, combining with the sound of the cash register and conversing patrons.
“Morning, Harper,” she called out, grabbing a large cardboard cup, filling it with the succulent aroma of fresh coffee. Ellery was always the first to arrive—which wasn’t all that surprising, considering she lived in the bachelor apartment above the store. Second to arrive was usually Holly, the barista.
“Good morning,” I replied, unwinding my scarf as I moved through the storefront. I met Ellery eight and a half years ago when we took business administration together and bonded over our mutual love of coffee and books. She was the first true friend I’d made in years, since I moved to Nova Scotia from Ontario the summer before twelfth grade.
After two short weeks in Lunenburg, I managed to attract the attention of Calum Jacobs. I had gone for a walk in my new hometown and been drawn to the park by the sound of live music. I stopped to listen to his band perform at the bandstand. I’d been so captivated by him, by the ambiance he radiated while he sang. It was like watching magic happen.
His fingers strummed the strings of his guitar like it was second nature. The other guys playing with him were every bit as talented—and even good looking in their own ways, but they didn’t hold my interest the wayhehad.
There was something about his smile, his eyes, and his voice. I’d stood, memorized by him, for the rest of the set. But when they took a bow, I came to my senses, and the fear set in.
All my life, I’d grown attached to people I’d ultimately end up having to say goodbye to. My father was in the Royal Canadian Air Force, and we moved from base to base, never staying anywhere for long. I was wary of forming new connections because I knew those connections would change with distance when we moved on to Dad’s next assignment.
I left the park immediately after, but I couldn’t walk away the next day when he approached me in the bookstore.
