I feel myself blushing with pleasure. He’s not one to fill in pauses in conversation with empty statements. If he’s saying it looks nice, he means it.
“That’s whatIsaid already,” Meg puts in.
“I had a lot of help,” I remind them both. “From two very special people.”
“We like helping,” Meg says right away. “Especially Dad. He said he wants everything to be perfect for your big opening.”
“He did, huh?” I ask her.
“Yeah,” she says. “He said he wants you to be happy here, and never leave.”
When I turn to Roan, I expect to find him looking anywhere but me. Instead, his intense blue eyes are searching my face, like he wonders if I can handle that.
“That’s the nicest thing I’ve heard in a long time,” I say, keeping my eyes on his even though butterflies are swarming in my chest. “I’m glad you want me to stick around, Roan.”
“Willyou?” Meg asks.
“Where else am I going to go?” I ask playfully. “I’d miss you too much.”
Meg smiles at me like I hang the stars, and I feel like she’s got a hook through my heart and she could tug on it and send me flying in any direction she wants.
And somehow, I’m okay with that.
“So, Chinese food?” Roan asks.
“Yes,” Meg yells.
He slides his phone out and places an order while Meg skips around the store with a big smile on her face.
“They’ll bring it over in fifteen minutes or so,” Roan says.
“Can I read my book?” Meg asks suddenly. “I’m almost done, and Taylor already finished it.”
“Of course,” he tells her. “Maybe we can talk about it while we eat dinner.”
“Can I sit on the sofa?” she asks, eying me hopefully.
“Definitely,” I say. “That’s what it’s for. I’m so glad you’ll be the first reader to try it out.”
She dashes off to grab her book out of her backpack and then heads for the sofa, kicking her shoes off and putting her feet up when she gets there.
I’m totally charmed, and she looks so pleased and comfortable, she could be a kid in an ad for a bookshop.
“I don’t know if Taylor wants your feet on her couch,” Roan says gently.
Meg looks up in alarm, like she thinks I’ll be mad at her.
“Oh, it’s fine,” I tell her right away. “Thank you for taking your shoes off first.”
“That’s the rule at home,” Roan says, nodding.
Meg’s nose is back in her book two seconds later, leaving Roan and me to carry the conversation ourselves.
“How was the lot today?” I ask him.
“It was great, actually,” he says. “The lights help, and so does the new sign. Business is picking up, more than last year even, and people have started telling me they like the new location.”
I nod, feeling proud that I helped. I’ve noticed the lines from over here. And I’ve seen that Roan’s brother, Buck, and his dad are taking turns covering for him here and there so he can take a lunch break without closing.
