With Hawk, she could see the gears turning.He heard everything she said, every concern, every plan, and then he got to work on a way to make it more efficient.To make it better.
Hawk somehow sounded as if he cared as much about her little bookstore as he would any other business.
Slowly, she found herself relaxing into the leather passenger seat.She’d meant what she’d told Margo—she wasn’t attracted to Hawk, though he was an attractive man.They were complete opposites.He clearly didn’t feel anything toward her.
This strange thing between them was more like a business partnership.
And it turned out they actually got along pretty well like that.
Finally, Hawk pulled into a small strip mall and parked.Lilian took in their surroundings eagerly, noting a dentist's office, a boutique, and… a bookshop.One she recognized instantly.
“The Pretty Pages?”she asked, turning to Hawk.
“Have you been here?”He lifted his sunglasses and eyed the building, face inscrutable.
“Of course.”Manhattan only had two bookshops.The Dusty Bookshop—a Manhattan favorite that sold both used and new books—and The Pretty Pages.The latter was a recent addition, but Lilian made sure to stop by whenever she was in town for her mother’s chemo.
“Great.I got in touch with the owner and told her about you.She agreed to meet with you to talk about strategy.”
“You did what?”Lilian reeled back.Hot embarrassment scourged through her.“What did you tell her exactly?”That her business was failing?That she was totally impotent at selling books?She should have known better than to trust Hawk.
“I told her you are a new bookstore owner looking for insight on running a business.”Hawk sounded entirely too calm for her liking.
“I’m wearing jeans and sneakers.”A spike of anxiety pierced her at the realization.If he had told her this was a business meeting, she would have dressed differently.Something more professional.Something that made her look like an actual grown-up.
“Hey,” Hawk said, his voice breaking through her rising panic.
The tone wasn’t its usual sharp irritation.If it had been, she would have snapped back.He was still in control, still calm, and to her surprise it helped her calm down.
“This is nothing formal.Just two business owners talking shop.Emily is really down to earth.She’ll love you.”
“You really think that?”
He offered a small smile.“Well, she loves fantasy novels and books.So of course she’ll love you.”
She’d heard her share of fake pleasantries before and had always brushed them off.But somehow, Hawk’s words sent a different kind of warmth through her.This time, it wasn’t anger.
“Thank you.”It was the only thing she could think to say.“You really didn’t have to do this.”
He shrugged.“I figured it was a good opportunity for you to ask about pricing.What works for them?I know a used bookstore isn’t the same as one that sells new releases, but it doesn’t hurt to make friends with local sellers.Right?”
“Right.”
His brows dipped in concern.“Lilian, are you all right?”
“Yeah.”She shook her head, trying to clear the fog of shock still hanging over her.She scrambled for a reasonable excuse.“It… it was a really good idea.I feel kind of dumb for not thinking of it myself.”
“Don’t.”His tone was firm but not unkind.“You’re still new to the bookselling business, and I’m not afraid to call the right people and ask questions.I know not everyone’s comfortable doing that, but if it helps my clients, I’ll do what it takes.”
Clients.Only moments ago, she’d thought of them as business partners.That word felt wrong.Heavier.Was that what she was to him?Another client?No, it didn’t feel right.She wasn’t paying Hawk to help her.She hadn’t asked him to do this, any of it.She’d only asked for his advice.This was above and beyond.
This was one of the nicest things anyone had done for her in recent years.God, that was embarrassing.And she would never admit it out loud.
“Thank you,” she said again.
“You’re welcome.”
“It would have been nice to have a heads up, though.I would’ve dressed up if I knew we were doing this.”
