“Jenna!” Her thoughts were interrupted by Becca Jenkins, one of the library employees that Jenna had known for years. Before she could even unbutton her coat, Becca had wrapped her in a warm, loving hug. “How are you, my friend?”
They chatted as Jenna stowed her things and Becca showed her to the romance table, which was set up right off the entryway this year. “Oh, look at us, right in the traffic pattern,” she said with a grin.
“We decided not to put you in the basement this year,” Becca said, laughing, then detailed pricing for her, where to send folks to pay, everything Jenna already knew, but Becca had to go over anyway. “Wow, there’s some good stuff in here,” she said quietly, as she scanned the books available, picking up a Susan Mallery novel.
“There always is,” Becca said. “Thanks again for giving up a Sunday for us. We’re always thrilled to have a romance expert to help guide people.”
Jenna waved her away with apfft. “I’m just happy to help.”
This location was perfect. The library wasn’t huge, but it wasn’t small either. Three floors and a basement level, all filled with shelves of books. Becca was right: for last year’s book sale, the romance section had been set up downstairs, and foot traffic to that floor was minimal. But where she was today, you could see her and her table of books through the windows from the street. Anybody entering the library would walk right past her.
The doors opened at ten, and people filed in, and Jenna was busy for a solid hour before a to-go cup was set in front of her, the mouthwatering scent of fresh coffee wafting up from it. She looked up to see Dakota and Veronica.
“You guys! What are you doing here?” Jenna came around the table and hugged each of them, then took a sip of the coffee and hummed her approval.
“We couldn’t let you stand here all day without saying hi,” Dakota said. “Plus, Ronni wants to check out the sci-fi section.”
“My nephew’s really into sci-fi and fantasy now, so…” Ronni shrugged. “Thought I’d see what they’ve got here.”
Jenna pointed her in the direction of the sci-fi table while Dakota hung out. “How’s things?” Jenna asked. “I feel like I haven’t seen you in a while. This time of year gets so busy.”
“We need to set up a holiday happy hour,” Dakota said.
They chatted for a bit as people came and left Jenna’s table. Then Dakota asked if there were cookbooks for sale, and Jenna pointed her toward Becca as the woman to ask.
Each time she got a slight break in the action, Jenna would scan through the books on the table, picking up one here and another there, and soon she had a pile of about six books she planned to buy. She set the most recent choice on her pile behind her, then turned back and gave a small, involuntary gasp at the person suddenly standing there.
“Hi,” Sawyer said with a warm smile, handing over another to-go cup of coffee. She saw the one Dakota had brought and she frowned, but Jenna didn’t care. Sawyer was just the sight she needed. Her cheeks were rosy, and there were small snowflakes melting in her dark hair. Her glasses were in one hand. She set the coffee down and held up the glasses. “It’s cold out, and they fogged up as soon as I came in.”
“What are you doing here?” Jenna asked, feeling like she had no control over her face or what had to be a goofy smile. “I didn’t expect to see you.”
Sawyer pointed to the cup. “Brought you this.” Her eyes indicated the cup Dakota had left her. “Though I see I’m a bit late.”
Jenna grinned at her and took the coffee. “You can never have too many warm liquids on a cold day like today. Plus, this one’s almost gone.” She met Sawyer’s bright blue eyes. “Thank you,” she said softly.
“You’re welcome.” Sawyer jerked a thumb over her shoulder. “I’m gonna wander around, see what there is, but then…can I hang with you for a bit?”
“I’d love that.”
Sawyer’s responding smile was radiant, and Jenna felt a gentle pulse low in her body as she watched her walk away, farther into the library, absorbed by the rest of the wanderers.
“Was that—?” Dakota asked as she came back by the table.
“It was.”
“Things are going well there?” Rather than sounding happy for her friend, the best way Jenna could describe Dakota’s tone was hesitant.
“Yes. They’re going slow, but that’s a good thing.”
Dakota nodded, clearly a woman with thoughts on the subject, but she ended up keeping them to herself, aside from saying, “Just be careful.”
“I will.”
“I think she has the potential to hurt you.”
Jenna met her friend’s gaze, saw the worry there, and felt a warm love for her. “I know. I’m paying attention. Promise.”
Dakota and Ronni left soon after—Ronni with a stack of books for her nephew and a big smile on her face—and Jenna dealt with a handful of customers before she saw Sawyer wandering back toward her. Her heart rate kicked up in speed, something she was keenly aware of when it happened.
