And yet, as she watched Eveline recommend a book to an elderly customer, her dark eyes lighting up as she discussed the prose, Emery couldn't help hoping that maybe, just maybe, she might survive the day without completely embarrassing herself again.
Though knowing her luck, that was probably too much to ask for.
Chapter Six
Eveline turned the shop sign to closed and breathed a sigh of relief. The day had been a busy one, but they’d stayed on top of everything and made a fair amount of sales. Which she had to admit was almost certainly down to one person.
She leaned back on the door and looked over to where Emery was finishing up shelving the last of a stack of biographies. She sighed. She’d spent most of the afternoon darting glances at the woman, trying to figure out just why she seemed so familiar. She’d spent the rest of the afternoon thanking all the bookshop gods for sending her someone with an inkling of sense.
The thing was, Emery might be clumsy, but she also knew what she was talking about. And the customers liked her, responded to her. Eveline thought about the stack of resumes she had upstairs, then she thought about still needing to deal with the plumber. Again. Why put herself through more work when there was a perfect candidate just about to knock over a stack of Dan Browns?
She covered the distance between them in two strides, just in time to smack a hand on top ofThe Da Vinci Code, rescuingthe pile from tumbling to the floor. Emery turned around at the noise.
“Oops,” she said.
“No harm done,” said Eveline, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Was this a terrible idea? She bit her lip. Maybe. But it was an expedient one as well. “Um, this all went better than expected.”
Emery beamed and dropped the book she was holding, quickly bending to pick it up again. “Really? I mean, I tried not to knock anything else over.”
“A remarkable achievement,” Eveline said dryly, but the corner of her mouth twitched upward. “Listen, I… I wanted to thank you for your help today. It would have been impossible to manage alone.”
Emery shrugged, her cheeks coloring slightly. “It was the least I could do after causing a classic literature avalanche.”
They stood in silence for a moment, the soft ticking of the old clock on the wall the only sound in the now-empty shop. Eveline shifted her weight, uncharacteristically uncertain.
“I don't suppose,” she began, then paused. “That is, if you're not busy…”
Emery grinned at her.
“The position is still open,” Eveline continued. “Temporarily, of course. Until I find someone permanent.”
“The position?” Emery repeated, blinking. “You mean…?”
Eveline sighed impatiently. Yes, it was a terrible idea, yes, she was already regretting it. “Yes, the shop assistant position. Autumn is always my busiest time. You seem to know your way around books, and the customers liked you.”
“So you're offering me a job?”
“Is it really so surprising?”
“No. I mean, yes. Sort of. I mean…” Emery took a deep breath. “I just didn't expect it.”
“It would only be temporary,” Eveline said quickly. “A few hours here and there. Nothing too demanding.”
Emery hesitated, and Eveline tried to hide her regret, or her nerves, she wasn’t sure which, wasn’t sure what exactly she wanted Emery to say. Of course, the woman probably already had a job. She probably worked in publishing or something similarly literary. Why would she want to waste her time helping out in a small bookshop for what was undoubtedly less money than she currently made?
She took a breath. “Never mind,” she said, turning away. “It was just a thought.”
“I'll take it,” Emery blurted out.
Eveline turned back, surprised. “You will?”
“Yes,” Emery nodded, grinning even more widely now. “I'd love to. I mean, I have a… flexible schedule. I can definitely help out.”
“Oh. Well, good.” Eveline nodded, feeling strangely pleased. “We can discuss the details tomorrow, then?”
“Tomorrow,” Emery agreed, a smile spreading across her face that made something in Eveline's chest tighten unexpectedly.
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