“I already told Jack he’d be opening the booth on Saturday. Katie just told me that you gave out all of my adventure tour flyers. We might be busy this week as well. Who knew a bike race would bring in so many hikers.” Archer put the last silver chair on the rack and pushed it into the storage behind the fireplace.
Darby was behind him, waiting to put the lectern in the closet as well. “One more thing and we can lock this up.”
“Teamwork, right? Good to have you back home, squirt. Except for the whole accent. You sound weird.” Archer took the lectern from her and set it in the closet before closing the door.
“I don’t have an accent. You should have heard some of my professors. I had to have my roommate translate lectures the first semester I was there. After that, I picked up the dialect.” Darby glanced around the room. “Should we sweep and mop the floor before heading home?”
“You’re kidding, right?” Archer rubbed his shoulders. “I’m heading to Rarity’s to man the grill for tonight’s dinner. Are you coming?”
“I’m walking Marc back to his hotel.” Darby paused, blushing as she did. “Then I’ve got plans.”
Rarity put her arm around Darby. “This girl already has a date for tonight.”
Darby’s blush deepened. “It’s not really a date. Just someone I knew from before. I haven’t dated since, well, it’s been a while. I’m still getting used to the idea again.”
“You move fast. You’ve only been home a month.” Archer glanced around the almost empty bookstore. “I take it Katie’s heading back to Flagstaff. What about the rest of your misfits? How many steaks do I need to grill?”
“Thanks for all your help tonight.” Rarity squeezed Darby and let her go. “Six. You, me, Sam, Drew, Shirley, and Terrance.”
“So the old folks,” Archer clarified.
Darby watched Marc gather his things. She turned back to the group. “No, all the couples. The rest of us haven’t found our soulmate.”
Rarity glanced over to where Shirley was closing up the sales table. She was still claiming that her relationship with Rarity’s neighbor, Terrance, was in the friend zone. Her husband, George, was getting worse and Rarity expected a call any day. But until that day, Shirley was committed to her marriage. Even though George didn’t remember either her or their vows. “Let’s not define the group that way.”
“Old folks or couples?” Archer waved his hand up and down in aso-sogesture. Then he saw Rarity look at Shirley. “Darby, I think you should know, Shirley’s a little touchy about what we call her spending time with Terrance.”
Darby snuck a glance over to where Shirley was stacking the final books that Marc Billings had just finished signing. “Sorry. I should be more sensitive. Maybe you should have invited Marc too.”
“I did invite him, but he says he wants to go back to the hotel and do room service. He says he’s a bit overwhelmed with everything. Thanks for walking him back to the hotel.” Rarity waved Shirley over when she saw her watching the small group. When she got there, she gave her a hug. “Best author event ever.”
“So far,” Shirley said, amending Rarity’s statement. “I really enjoyed putting this together. I didn’t realize doing this was an actual job. My professor said if I write up a paper on the process and the results, I can use it for my term paper in his class.”
“Let me know if you need numbers. I wasn’t kidding. This was the most successful event I’ve had here at the store. You’re still coming tonight for dinner, right?” Rarity wanted to make sure Shirley celebrated her success.
“I’ll be there. Terrance asked me to bring my Texas sheet cake, but I think with all the kids heading out to the street dance tonight, I might have to bring the leftovers to work tomorrow.” Shirley waved as Darby, Katie, and Marc Billings left the shop. “I’m driving over to Rarity’s if anyone wants to ride with me.”
“We’ll walk.” Rarity met Archer’s gaze, and he nodded.
“I’ve got to run and get Sam at her house. She’s changing out of her book event dress and shoes into shorts. She’s bringing our suits for a swim.” Drew slapped Archer on the back and headed out the door.
“Okay, if you don’t need me for anything else, I’m going to stop by the nursing home and check on George, then I’ll be there.” Shirley gave Rarity a hug and tucked her purse on her shoulder. “It was a good night.”
As Rarity and Archer walked through the bookstore, turning off lights and checking doors, she paused, looking at the store before she locked the front door. “I never expected how much I’d love my life right now. I blew my life to bits when I quit my job and moved here to be closer to Sam. Now, I have a business, a home, a pool, friends, and you.”
He leaned down and kissed her. “You forgot something.”
She frowned as she tucked her keys into her tote. “Did I?”
“Killer. You have Killer. He’s going to be sad when I tell him his mommy forgot about him.” Archer pretended to be sad for the dog.
Rarity playfully poked Archer in the side. “Please don’t. He’s going to be mad enough at me that I made him stay home tonight.”
When they got home, Terrance was on his porch and let Killer loose when they came up the driveway. The little Yorkie bounced all the way and up into Rarity’s arms as she leaned down to get him when he reached her. “I missed you so much.”
“Whatever. Terrance, are you ready to help me get that grill started? The gang should be here in a few,” Archer called out to the older man standing on the porch, watching them.
“I’ll be over as soon as I get my contribution for dinner out of the fridge. I might not cook a lot, but I make a mean macaroni salad for nights like this.” He waved and disappeared into his house.
