“Walk with me.”
Certain she’d misheard him, she blurted, “What?”
His smile widened. “Walk with me. Unless you’re in a hurry or have somewhere else to be.”
She frowned. “You get that it’s kind of cold to be walking around, right?”
Ben chuckled. “We don’t have to go far. I was on my way to Whimsy just down the sidewalk.”
“The bookstore?”
This man kept surprising her. Or maybe she just kept putting him in a stereotypical box where he didn’t belong. He struck her as someone who could lose himself in the action of a sporting event versus the pages of a book. Realizing he was a readerappealed to her. The more she learned about him, the more she liked.
She tilted her head to one side. “The bookstore isn’t open on Sundays.”
He sipped his coffee, looking very pleased with himself. “It is today. I passed by there on my way to the coffee shop, and the open sign was all lit up.”
“Oh, um, I don’t know. I just…”
Her mind searched for a plausible reason for not joining him, but an idea never materialized. The truth was she’d been wanting to visit the quaint store but was never able to get there during its business hours. To visit it with Ben at her side sounded perfect, even if it was a danger to her peace of mind.
“Come on. I was on my way there anyway, and I would appreciate the company.”
His voice washed over her rich and tempting, like fine wine she craved. She spent many weekends on her own, so his offer touched a lonely part of her she’d come to accept but didn’t want to have.
Maybe this once.“Yeah, okay, but I don’t have a lot of time.”
She didn’t really have any other plans for the day, but by implying that she did, she gave herself an out if being with him got to be overwhelming.
“Great.”
With a warm hand at her back, he carefully led her across the street to the sidewalk. Traffic wasn’t heavy at this time of day or in this part of town, but she felt protected as if nothing would touch her with him at her side.
He started talking once they were on the sidewalk, leaving openings for her to remark if she wanted but carrying the conversation when she didn’t. She was content to listen, knowing anything she contributed would probably be lame and awkward.
“I didn’t realize there was a bookstore here until this week. I was scrolling on my phone one night, and an ad for Whimsy popped up. I drove by here, saw the open sign, and decided to grab a coffee and check it out. Maybe you can help me choose a new read.”
“I don’t have time to read a lot, so I may not be any help.”
Ben shrugged. “Then we can just sit and talk.”
Whimsy was empty when they stepped inside. Charlotte glanced around, marveling at the quaint interior with beautiful book displays and cozy seating areas. The air smelled of vanilla and cinnamon, and while the atmosphere felt relaxed and elegant, she sensed an element of fun brewing underneath the surface.
A bell over the door signaled their arrival, and a striking woman appeared from the back. Her shimmering black hair was piled in a messy bun on top of her head, appearing effortless. Her make-up was impeccable with the earth tones enhancing her caramel skin and wide blue eyes. She wore jeans and a simple top with name brand sneakers adorning her feet. Even casually dressed, the woman was poised and refined, like an accomplished actress walking the red carpet. Charlotte felt frumpy by comparison, but the woman smiled as if having them walk into her store was the most exciting moment of her day.
“Welcome! Anything I can help you with?”
Ben shook his head. “I think we’re just going to browse.”
“That’s fine. We’re running a sale on children’s books right now if you have an interest. Just let me know if you have any questions. My name is Tabitha.”
“I love your store,” Charlotte said. “I didn’t think you were open on Sundays, or I probably would have been by here sooner.”
“We’re not open every Sunday. I usually only open when my husband is working. I like to keep busy when he’s on shift,” Tabitha explained.
“What does your husband do?” Ben asked.
“He’s a fireman. If I’m working, he and his buddies will stop by. Mainly to eat the treats my mom bakes for the store, but I like getting to see him.”
