He tensed against her.But she meant the words.
“I want to have a relationship.I am committing myself to you.Your business proposals.Your family even.Because… because I love you.”
There.She’d said it.
He turned to her.The wide-eyed stare told her he hadn’t expected it, but she’d known it since the moment he’d bought her that book in The Pretty Pages.Or maybe it was when he’d gotten her the poisoned turkey leg.Maybe it had been when he’d first walked into Ten Cents Books.
He grinned, and the sight of that smile sealed her resolve.Even more so with the kiss he bestowed on her lips.
This was their fresh start.A new beginning.A new year and season awaited them, and she wanted this man by her side.For all of it.
Spring – First Week of A New Life
Fallmightnotbeher favorite season anymore.
Spring was definitely giving it a run for its money.The air of newness seemed to cover everything in her life.New apartment.New boyfriend.New start.
Lilian reflected on all of this while sitting in the car next to Hawk.Her fingers tapped against the inseam of her jeans until he reached over and laced them together.
“Nervous?”he asked.
“What gave you that idea?”
He shrugged.“Don’t be.You’ve worked hard for this.It will be great.”
“It’s… I keep thinking of that first day when I opened the shop at the faire.How excited I was.How amazing everything seemed before reality set in.”
“It wasn’t a complete flop.”Hawk sipped his coffee to hide his smile.
“No, that came around week two.”Lilian sighed, feeling her chest constrict at the memory.“I want this to be different.I want this to work out so bad.”
“It will be different,” he assured.His words were like a soothing balm against the knot in her stomach.
It was strange that she’d ever considered this man her enemy.He still had a curtness to him that might be seen as rude or snobby.But she couldn’t remember the last time he’d spoken to her in such a way.He’d been nothing but supportive since they’d started dating.
It had been terrifying at first, like she was stepping out of the practice ring of the Ren Faire and into the real world.Both in their relationship and her business.But with Hawk at her side, she knew she could do it.
“Besides,” he continued, “I think everything worked out pretty well that first time.”
She scoffed.“You call all that well?I barely made a profit.”
“But youdidmake a profit,” he pointed out, helpful as always.
Lilian gritted her teeth and looked out the window.They were almost there.“This just feels more real.”
“Because it is.”
He squeezed her hand, and the double meaning of the words settled between them.She brought his hand up to her lips and kissed the knuckles.
The new shop wasn’t far from their Manhattan apartment.Just ten minutes away on the west side of town, where a major city expansion was happening.Houses were going up, businesses were moving in, including Lilian’s.Before she knew it, they were pulling into the tall brick structure that housed three business suites.A cake and coffee shop, a boutique, and Lilian’s bookshop.
A large, fancy,officialsign hung above the space that spelled outBodice and Brawn Bookstore.It was a big step up from the smaller version Margo had made, but the connection to the faire was still there.Her friend had made a beautiful logo that featured a sword over a bodice.The sign’s bright blue color was clear from the road, but it was the overwhelming shine to it that nearly brought Lilian to tears.
It wasreal.
She and Hawk had purposefully arrived early to make sure everything was in place for their opening day.After long nights of putting together bookshelves, painting while listening to sports podcasts (for Hawk mostly), and setting up their stock, there wasn’t too much left to be done.But she had been looking forward to a few quiet moments with her boyfriend before the craziness of the day started.
But they weren’t alone.
