“Taffy’s something else, isn’t she?” Maureen asks, her eyes dancing as she hands me a stapled stack of papers.
“Mesmerizing,” I tell her honestly. “And she’s going to help me with some stock suggestions too. I really appreciate everything you both are doing.”
“It’s our pleasure,” Maureen says. “We book people have to stick together.”
That makes me smile, and I give her a little wave as a customer approaches, calling her name.
Back outside, the sunshine is taking the edge off the cold. And maybe it’s just how pumped up I am after my visit to the library, but I really think the whole town looks brighter and happier than before.
On a whim, I slide my phone out of my pocket and tap my best friend’s contact. She picks up on the first ring.
“Taylor,”Chessie’s husky voice sings out in her typical over-the-top way. “I thought you fell off the face of the planet.”
“No such luck,” I joke. “What are you up to?”
She pauses before answering and it breaks my heart. I know she’s still working in publishing. Chessie actually got a huge break with an internship at one of the Big Five companies, and she’s pretty much living my exact dream, trying to work her way up the ladder there.
“You know,” she says lightly. “Mostly fetching coffee. And reading, reading, reading. How about you?”
“A lot of cleaning and moving stuff, actually,” I tellher. “But it’s worth it. The shop is going to be super cute. And the town is really special. Hang on…”
I tap the video icon and swap the camera to face out.
“Oh, wow,”she says over the speaker.“It’s like something out of a movie.”
“Right?” I say. “There are so many nice little shops. There’s a museum, and even a movie theater. And if you stay with me a second, I’ll show you the bookshop.”
“I love all the decorations,” she tells me as we pass more of the storefronts.
“Okay, see the Christmas tree lot?” I say. “My shop is right after that.”
“Whoa,”she practically yells. “Who is that? They build them big and handsome up in the mountains, huh? Hubba hubba.”
She’s on speaker and her voice is so loud that I’m sure the whole town can hear her. I press the phone to my chest and scurry past the lot as fast as I can.
“What’s going on?”she asks.“I can’t see anything, Taylor.”
“Shh,” I hiss, fumbling for my keys.
I make the mistake of glancing over at the lot and am rewarded by the sight of Roan Connellyclearlytrying not to laugh as he watches me.
I’m mortified, but I can’t help the little squeeze of my heart at the sight of him looking lighthearted for a moment.
Why am I so worried about what he thinks?
And why does it feel so good to see him smile?
5
ROAN
Ifind myself trying not to smile as I watch Taylor hurry into the bookshop, blushing furiously.
They build them big and handsome up in the mountains, huh?
I kind of like the idea of Taylor running away at the thought that I overheard. Like maybe she agrees with her outspoken friend.
This isn’t the first time I’ve caught myself almost smiling today. Normally by now, I would have been fighting not to lose my temper at least once already.
