“Genius,” he praised.
There was a beat of silence after that, not an uncomfortable one, but one that hinted at promise.Chemistry, Diana thoughtpleasantly. There was a nice vibe between them that would best be called chemistry.
Just then, however, the emcee called an end to the open mic night, and the two broke their eye contact to politely clap for all the performers. Not long after that, Cadence returned to their table.
“Sorry to interrupt, but Diana, you’re my ride,” she said.
“Oh, and it’s getting pretty late, I guess,” Anthony said, looking at his watch in surprise. “Past my bedtime for sure.”
Diana was surprised to notice that she felt a pang of disappointment that their conversation was coming to an end.
“It was really nice to meet you,” she said truthfully.
“Yeah, you too,” Anthony said.
As she and Cadence headed out the door, giving June a quick wave over their shoulder, Diana couldn’t help but hope that she would see him again… and soon.
CHAPTER FIVE
“I’m so excited for our first official book club meeting,” Eleanor gushed to Garrett as she arranged snacks on a platter.
Her boyfriend paused from where he’d been mixing a pitcher of sangria.
“Ellie, you know I think you are a dream, but, woman, what are you talking about? Your book club has been meeting for months at this point.”
She grinned at the combination of gruffness and fondness in his tone.
“Okay, yes, that’s true. But the bookstore is starting to look real and ready now, so it feels real. Real-er.”
“So you’re telling me I’ve been helping make snacks for a fake book club until this point?”
Eleanor finished up her arrangement, quickly washed her hands, and then crossed over to hug Garrett around the waist from behind. She leaned her cheek against his broad, flannel-covered back. It didn’t matter that they were well into summer. As soon as the sun dipped beyond the horizon and the air started to cool, Garrett was sure to be found in his usual uniform of flannel and jeans.
“Have I said recently how much I appreciate you?” she asked.
He twisted so he could hook an arm around her and give her a side hug, keeping his hands, sticky with sangria fruit, from touching her.
“You have, but I’m not opposed to being thanked with a kiss,” he said, smiling down at her.
Eleanor obligingly pressed up onto her toes and gave him the requested kiss and then, when she couldn’t stay up on her tiptoes much longer, sank back down and settled into a hug.
There were really no words for how grateful she felt for Garrett’s support throughout the entire process of getting her store up and ready to go. It wasn’t just his help and expertise with building and home repair, although that had of course been invaluable. It was more the emotional support that mattered to her. From the time she’d hatched the idea, Garrett had never wavered in his belief that she could do it, that she could make a bookstore happen and indeed thrive in Magnolia Shore.
“I’m a little disappointed that my bookshelf didn’t arrive, though,” she admitted after she had really absorbed the happiness of the hug.
Eleanor was waiting for one more delivery to really make her bookstore complete. It was the biggest furniture purchase she’d made for the entire store.
“Oh, the focal point bookshelf?” Garrett said. “The one that’s going to go over there?”
He pointed to a large, conspicuously empty space in the room.
She nudged him with her hip.
“Yes, yes, okay, maybe I’ve already talked about it a lot,” she admitted. “But can you blame me? I’m just so excited. The carvings are going to be so beautiful?—”
“—and that’s not even to mention the hand-painted designs on the side,” he interrupted, finishing the exact sentence she’dbeen about to say. “And no, honey, I don’t blame you at all. I like to see you excited about it. Is it coming tomorrow?”
Eleanor gave a mock little pout. “I sure hope so. It was supposed to be here today, but they sent me a message that something happened with the delivery, and it would be delayed. They saidprobablytomorrow. But I’m not going to be satisfied until it’s in my store, full of books, just waiting to find people something amazing to read.”
