“I’llnap through it,” Declan said, relieved that he wasn’t going to have to drive forfour solid hours if he didn’t want to. Even if Ash only did the parts thatweren’taround a mountain, it’d make a big difference.
“Howbad can it possibly be if you can nap through it?” Ash asked, raising aneyebrow.
Declandidn’t have a response to that. Ash’s driving wasn’t reallythatbad, hejust looked at all speed limits as loose guidelines.
Hedidn’t even own a car, which might actually have explained that. Ash had neverdriven often, as far as Declan knew.
Ifthey were about to live in the middle of nowhere, maybe his driving wouldimprove.
“Youknow what?” Declan said. “I’m gonna let you have that. It’s not that bad.Besides, I trust you.”
“Famouslast words,” Ash said wryly, heading back inside.
“Idoubt it,” Declan responded, watching him go.
Yeah.A brand new life with Ash wouldn’t be so bad at all.
ChapterTen
Ashhad always enjoyed unpacking box after box of books, but doing it in hisownstore was ten times better.
Well,his and Declan’s store.
Whichwas also ten times better. He’d tried to be cool in front of Declan, not wantingto push him into something he wasn’t ready for, but this was probably the mostexciting day of his life.
Declanhad gone out to talk to the local grocery store about buying coffee in bulk,mumbling something about wanting to be part of the community, and had left Ashalone to stack shelves.
Well,that wasn’t entirely true. Ash had practically begged him to go, since he’dbeen hovering.
Mostly,Ash was glad he’d decided to try his hand at running a coffee shop in the frontpart of the store. Firstly, because the idea of a second-hand bookstore with acoffee shop in it was enough to make Ash grin every time he thought of it.
Secondly,because the last time he remembered seeing Declan happy was back in college,when he’d been behind a coffee machine most days. Ash wanted that back.
Still,Ash was nervous about tomorrow, underneath the excitement. What if no oneshowed up? What if they didn’t trust strangers, or weren’t ready for outsidersto run their beloved bookstore?
Thesound of the door opening made him turn around. He’d expected it to be Declancoming back, but it turned out to be a dark-haired, slightly younger man withhuge glasses.
“We’reactually not open until tomorrow,” Ash explained.
“Iknow. I’m looking forward to it,” the other man said. “I was just coming by tointroduce myself. I’m Charlie.”
Heheld out his hand, and Ash took it automatically. “Ash. Uh. Nice to meet you.”
“Iwouldn’t have barged in here if the door wasn’t open,” Charlie said. “I work atthe library. Run the library, actually.”
“Oh.”Ash blinked at him.
“I’mnot here to tell you to stay off my turf or anything. This place was a havenfor me as a kid,” Charlie said, looking around. “I’m glad to see it getting alittle love again.”
“Ipromise to love it,” Ash said, grinning at Charlie. Charlie was a book person,so that made him one of Ash’s people. “Did you, uh… did you know the guy whoused to run this place?”
“Marv?”Charlie asked. “Sure yeah, and his husband. I thought of them as friends, andthey were good to me. I probably wouldn’t be a librarian without them.”
“Huh,”Ash said. “I never met him, but… I’m glad you have good memories of this place.I hope I can live up to them.”
“Ihave no doubt you will.” Charlie beamed at him.
Ablush crept down Ash’s neck. Charlie was cute, and he was being very charming.It probablywasn’tflirting, but he didn’t meet cute bookish boys allthat often.
