A small sign on the door bid new arrivals to come straight in, so Rosie pushed it open. As soon as they walked inside, everyone greeted them with enthusiasm.
Andrew counted a few more people than he was expecting. Maybe thirty?
As she had done at her neighborhood party, Rosie made the rounds, introducing him to everyone. He knew he would never remember anyone’s names and was touched when theirhost, a tall, stately woman, pulled out a marker and adhesive name tags for everyone. He knew it was only on his account as these people must all know each other.
It was clear that Rosie was enormously well respected in town. He had noticed it during her party and it was even more apparent here, surrounded by a smaller group of friends.
As the group chatted prior to the actual start of the meeting, Andrew found himself pleasantly surprised by how much he was enjoying himself. Everyone was gracious and welcoming and their enthusiasm for his work was both flattering and invigorating.
Every so often, his gaze would drift to Rosie, catching the way her face lit up when she smiled or how she leaned forward, completely engrossed as she listened to someone speak to her. Her genuine interest in others was magnetic, and Andrew found himself increasingly drawn to her gentle strength and easy grace.
He marveled at how she could make everyone, including him, feel so at ease.
He liked her, more than he had liked anyone in a very long time.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Emma
“I’m sorry we’re going to be late to the book club, Grandma.”
Sylvia made a dismissive gesture. “Don’t you worry about that. Being late gives us the perfect chance to make an entrance, which you know is my favorite thing in the world.”
Emma had to smile, even after the long, arduous day she’d had. She adored Sylvia, who looked particularly charming tonight wearing a dress in kaleidoscopic colors, along with dangly earrings and multiple bangles at her wrist.
“Did you get our Olive settled with the babysitter?”
“Yes. She was excited to have her. She’s quite familiar with Maya from seeing her at the bookstore. Maya’s always great to read to her when she has a minute free between shelving books. I think they’ll have fun.”
As usual, she hated leaving Olive yet again, though they had spent all morning together. Still, Emma had vowed to herself that after tonight, she wouldn’t go to another social event without her daughter for at least a month.
As soon as the bookstore renovation was done, she planned to reduce her hours to spend more time with Olive. For now, she brought her daughter into the store with her as much as she could and always had Josie, her mother and Sylvia as backup.
How could she miss out on the chance to hear Andrew Morgan talk about his books? She had her own copies of The Starbound Chronicles in her bag and hoped he would agree to sign them.
“How’s the renovation going?” Sylvia asked as Emma drove toward the cove where the book group was meeting.
“Slow but steady. Bryce is a good worker.”
“And he’s not bad on the eyes, am I right?” Sylvia asked with a twinkle.
Emma sighed. Not at all. If he was only good-looking, she would find it much easier to resist him. But Bryce was so much more and she was having a tough time reminding herself she didn’t have room in her life for a man right now.
“Oh, he’s fine, I guess,” she said casually.
If you’re into big, muscular construction workers who are also well-read.
And who wouldn’t be? Emma rolled her eyes at herself. Was she crazy to keep him at arm’s length? It was obvious he was interested in her, and she certainly was attracted to him. Every time she thought about him, she was aware of a breathless feeling.
“He’s a great guy,” Sylvia said. “Hardworking, conscientious. You could do a whole lot worse.”
Yes. She was fully aware. She had dated enough losers to know when a man was the very opposite of one.
“Not in the cards,” she said to Sylvia. “I’m much too busy right now with the bookstore and Olive and trying to figure everything out.”
To her relief, Sylvia didn’t press the issue as she helped navigate to a part of town Emma wasn’t familiar with, a development of newer beach houses.
She didn’t know the woman hosting the book club. Apparently Barbara West was a relative newcomer to town. Thanks to Sylvia’s directions, they soon arrived at their destination.
