Hawk’s eyes roamed over her, quickly taking in the light cardigan and the tank top underneath.“You look fine.Besides, is there a professional wardrobe that booksellers hold themselves to that I don’t know about?”
“No,” Lilian said, trying very hard not to dwell on hisfine.“I guess you have a point.”
“Of course I do.”He cut the engine of his truck and jutted his chin to the door.“Come on.Let’s socialize.”
“Why are you so chipper?”Lilian couldn’t help but ask, throwing herself out of the truck before the cool air of the air conditioner evaporated.
“Because, for once, we’re operating in my sphere of influence.”
“You told me you don’t know how to run a bookstore.”
“I don’t.But I know business and numbers.”He rubbed his hands together like a kid in a candy shop.“I have some questions of my own to ask.”
Despite the plain outside appearance, The Pretty Pages had a sleek, clean feel to it.The floor was a kaleidoscope of yellow and white tiles that blended nicely with the painted black bookshelves.The space was large enough for floor-to-ceiling shelves on either side of the room and display tables on the main floor.
A woman behind the counter smiled at their entrance.“Welcome to The Pretty Pages, how can I help you?”
“We’re here to meet Emily.”Hawk flashed her a polite smile, one that was reserved for business partners.
She brightened.Not in a swoony kind of way, but in a way that showed genuine excitement.“Ah, you must be Hawk and Lilian.I’m Emily.”She stepped out from behind the counter and shook their hands.She was a tall woman, with shoulder-length hair that had streaks of gray highlighted among the mousy brown.She wore a stylish polka dot maxi dress that looked perfect for the summer weather and a pair of bright red glasses that matched the outfit perfectly.Once again, a sense of self-consciousness engulfed Lilian.This woman was so put together.
Emily shook both their hands with an air of confidence that Lilian was instantly jealous of.
After the pleasantries and introductions, Hawk’s hand fell against her shoulder, where it settled with a reassuring squeeze.“I’ll let you two talk.”
Lilian turned to him.“I thought you said you had questions as well.”
He leaned close, voice dipping low in a whisper.“This is the time for you to make connections.I’ll chat up her salesclerk and get everything I need.”
His breath tickled the shell of her ear, sending a delicious shiver through her.This close, she could smell his cologne.An intoxicating scent of sandalwood with a hint of spice.She liked it.A lot.
“Why don’t we go to the back?My coworker can watch the shop while we talk.Weekday mornings are pretty slow around here.”Emily’s eyes darted between the two of them, clearly trying to assess their relationship.
Lilian took an involuntary step back, hopefully making clear her feelings about the man next to her.
They walked to the back of the shop, where a door led to a storage room that doubled as an office space.A standing desk was positioned between two shelves and boxes of books.Lilian quickly took note of the space: the dry-erase board with scribbled to-do lists, the metal racks of books still in boxes, waiting to be put on the shelf.
“First of all, thank you for taking the time to talk to me today.I really appreciate it,” she blurted out, sounding like a nervous kid on their first job interview.
“Of course, we booksellers have to stick together.”Emily winked.“Everyone said I was crazy for quitting my old job to do this.But I don’t have any regrets.”
“You opened a few years ago, right?”
“That’s right.”Emily beamed.“Have you been here before?”
“Of course.I always try to stop by when I’m in town.”
“Thank you, that means a lot.”Emily draped her long body into a rolling chair and waved an arm at the empty armchair.“And what about your bookstore?”
“Mine?”She almost askedwhich one, but she wasn’t here to talk about Bodice and Brawn, no matter how much she loved her little shop at the faire.“It’s an old used bookshop my mom bought for a steal.And when I say old, I mean it.”
“Oh.”Emily’s eyes danced behind her glasses.“Like archival pieces?”
“More like dime-store paperbacks no one has ever heard of or wants to buy.”
“Ah, that is a problem.”Emily cocked her head in consideration.“Used bookstores do well when there is a flow in their stock.Things come in, but they need to sell quickly.”
“Right.Unfortunately, the books have sat around for too long.The majority of our stock is too old.”
