“Because we decided it’d be the wrong thing to do. You needed to work it out for yourself.” Erin looked more relaxed. “And I’ll give you the run down on how Carter helped, but I will say that we never even kissed. He was a good actor, I’ll give him that.”
“I’m not sure how I worked it out for myself or even if I have – all we’ve done is kiss.” The world was all over the place this morning. I’d had the kiss on replay in my head, going over how it felt, what we’d said, what it’d been like to feel his body under the palms of my hands. I wanted more, every fibre of me wanted more, and there weren’t nerves getting in the way, just anticipation.
“We’ve lost her. She’s thinking about Carter’s penis again.” Fallon knew just how to pull me back to earth with a bang.
“Please stop talking about Carter’s penis. At least until we have some verified information about it. Or do you have any verified information?” Harriet patted me on the shoulder.
“Not yet. I think it’ll be a while before I find out.” I couldn’t see this not taking time to get to the stage where we were really over the start line of something that wasn’t friends.
Fallon shook her head. “I give you till the end of the weekend. I think you’ve both been secretly pining for each other for so long that you won’t be able to keep your hands off each other.”
I shook my head. “That’s more your style than mine.”
She shrugged. “We’ll see.”
CHAPTER 17
Rose
Silversmiths looked completely different again when Harriet and I arrived there at five o’clock. The shop entrance was surrounded with a huge balloon arch, silver, gold and bronze balloons, window art over each of the three big panes, the corners of each decorated with painted flowers so it was easy to see into the shop.
Inside there was a team of people, all wearing Silversmiths’ sweaters so they stood out from the crowds of people who were already there, even though the event had only just started. I gave our names as it was a guest list, and accepted a glass of prosecco, staring round the store at the huge amount of books, the vast majority hardbacks and a good number of them limited editions with pretty sprayed edges.
“Have you set yourself a spending limit?” I murmured to Harriet. “I think it would be healthy for you to have a boundary here.”
“I do not agree with any boundaries in a bookshop. Or library. One must be allowed to indulge when it comes to books.” She gave me an assured looked. “I have a box that’s only half full I can add to for moving.”
“I think that’s the one I’ve fallen over twice.” I also had the bruises to prove it.
“That’s because you’re clumsy.” She picked up a fantasy novel that had a limited edition cover and sprayed edges that meant the book had to be displayed on a shelf with the edges facing out. “I think this is coming home with me. We are getting a taxi home, aren’t we?”
“It looks like it.”
She already had her eyes set on her next target.
“Rose, Harriet, thank you for coming.” Laurie tapped me on the shoulder, her hair looking professionally put up, her tight black jeans and sparkly low cut sweater making her look effortlessly glamorous. “Harriet, there’s a twenty percent discount on whatever you buy, same for you, Rose, but I’ve been warned Harriet’s discount could bankrupt me.”
“Who’s told you that? It makes it sound like I have a problem.” Harriet actually looked perturbed.
“Did that hit a little close to home?” I said, keeping it low.
Harriet poked me with the book she held.
“Carter mentioned it. But seriously, go nuts. There’s a special limited edition over there which was compiled just for the opening – you might want – oh, she’s gone.” Laurie watched as Harriet launched herself over to the display Laurie had pointed to.
“There’ll be no getting any sense out of her until she’s satisfied she’s found every book she could ever wish to possess, which means there’ll never be any sense to be found.” I watched my friend meander round the displays, scoping out the shelves, occasionally pulling out a book to inspect with as much delicacy as if she was handling a Ming vase.
“Perfect customer.” Laurie was smiling. “What about you? Are you here for the books or for someone else?”
“The books. I’m as big a bookworm as Harriet, just not quite as obsessive about owning everything I’ve ever read or am going to read. I’m not sure her new house is going to fit all her books inside it.” There had already been a conversation about how she could get the loft boarded out and have shelves built in, so she had a tiny reading room, or whether she should just have a garden room installed that became her library. I hadn’t offered an opinion because I suspected she would end up with both anyway.
“You can always find room for more books.” Laurie took a glass of fizz from one of the staff members walking by. “Especially signed limited first editions.” She looked round the chamber we were in, the fantasy and romance room. “At least I hope so. I’ve got a lot riding on this.”
“Judging by how many people are here already, I don’t think you’ve got anything to worry about. How has the rest of today gone?”
“Well. We’ve been busy all day. The social media campaign has worked like gangbusters, and the live spots we’ve done have been better than I expected. We’ve had a huge increase in the subscription boxes in the last couple of days for both here and the US, so I’m pretty optimistic.” She nodded, satisfied. “And it wasn’t awkward with Jay – the crime writer.”
“Is he here?”
