“They get darker. But in a good way.”
“That’s what I’ve heard.” She slides the book away and slips off the stool she was sitting on. “Are you looking for anything in particular?” Her question is innocent, one she probably asks all her customers, but I feel like she’s testing me.
“What do you recommend?”
“Depends on what you like to read. Do you only read epic fantasy?”
“I’ll read anything if it interests me.”
“Even romance?”
I give her a grin. “I did read Fifty Shades of Grey.”
“No way.” She smiles right back at me.
“I mostly wanted to see what the fuss was about. Once I start a book, I tend to finish.”
She laughs. “Did you read the other two?”
“I can’t say I did. But thanks to the internet, I know how the story ends.”
Sierra laughs again and her green eyes sparkle. She pushes a curtain of thick hair over her shoulder and comes around the counter. She’s wearing denim shorts and a white T-shirt. Her long hair hangs straight around her face, and she’s not wearing makeup. She’s just as beautiful as the first time I saw her.
“I’ve been meaning to read this,” she says and picks up a copy of The Fake Wife and hands it to me. “The movie came out last year, but I haven’t seen it yet. I try to read the books before I watch the movies.”
“The books are always better. And I haven’t seen it or read it either. I’ll take it.”
She nods and goes back to the counter to ring me up. “Chase,” she starts, saying my name slowly. It sounds so good coming from her lips. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“About your dad. I didn’t know and—”
“It’s okay. And thanks.”
“So…does it feel like home yet?” she asks as I pay for the book.
My heart lurches in my chest. “No.”
“Maybe it’ll take time.”
“Yeah, I’m sure it will.”
She gives me my change and motions to the window. “What you see is what you get here. It’s simple, but I like it. Life is complicated enough, right?”
“That’s for sure. At least it won’t take me long to figure out where things are.”
Sierra smiles. “Very true. You can do a tour of the town in just a few hours. Or less. Probably less. Though there are rumors we might get a Target. People already come all over to go to the Walmart here. I can’t imagine what a Target will do. Especially if it’s one with a Starbucks inside.”
I laugh. “I do miss getting coffee in the morning.”
“Suzy’s Cafe has the best coffee,” she tells me. “I get a cup almost every morning before work.”
“I’ll have to try it. What about places to eat? Living in the city made it easy to never have to cook.”
“Uh,” she starts, smiling again, and I realize that I’ll do just about anything to make this woman smile. “There are a few places. But if you’re looking for something to take home, my go-to is Suzy’s again. We do have a Pizza Hut, too. And Paragon has decent Chinese.”
“And that’s probably all the restaurants in town, right?”
“We do have a few sit-down places, and then The Mill House, of course.”
“Of course.” I look into Sierra’s green eyes, trying to figure her out. She’s guarded and it’s almost as if she’s shy. From what I saw Friday night, she’s not. It’s not often I come across someone I can’t figure out, especially when they’re not trying to fool me.
“Do you want to go out sometime?” I ask Sierra before I have a chance to overthink it.
She opens her mouth, but no words come out. She blinks a few times and shakes her head before looking down. “You don’t want to go out with me.”
I chuckle. “I do. Or else I wouldn’t have asked you.”
She takes a hold of her necklace, rubbing her thumb on a little cat charm. She takes in a shaky breath then looks back up, eyes meeting mine. For a split second, her walls come down and I see it.
Pain.
The same pain that’s ricocheted its way through me, leaving scars on my soul.
“How about this,” I start, giving Sierra my best smirk, the one that always works for me. “I take you out and then I’ll decide if I want to go out with you or not.”
“What if I decide I don’t want to go out with you?”
“That won’t happen.”
“You seem rather sure of yourself.”
“I am,” I tell her. “I’ve never had any complaints before.”
She lifts an eyebrow, and I can’t tell if she’s amused or annoyed. Dammit. Leave it to Sierra Belmont to get under my skin. “There’s a first time for everything,” she quips and flips my receipt over. “Call me then, and I’ll see if I’m feeling it.” She sticks the receipt in the bag and hands it to me. “Or text, because I actually don’t like talking on the phone.”
“You’re honest. I like that.”
“See if you still like that when I give you my honest opinion after you take me out.”
I give her a smile again, shaking my head. The door opens, and we both turn to see Josh walking in.
“Hey, Sierra,” he says then turns his gaze to me. “Ready? Sorry to rush you. We have to open soon, though.”
“Yeah.” I pull the bag off the counter. “Thanks for the recommendation. I’ll call you.”
“Bye, Chase.”
Josh and I leave, making a beeline for his truck.
“You’re going to call Sierra?” he asks once we’re in.
“Yeah.” I reach into the bag for the receipt, wanting to put her number in my phone before I lose it. “I got her number.”
“Seriously?”
“I’m gonna pretend the shock in your voice isn’t insulting.”
“It’s nothing personal,” Josh starts, and I unfold the receipt. I recognize the number immediately. The blood drains from my face and my chest tightens. No. Fucking. Way. Sierra is the mystery woman. It all makes sense now and I feel dumb for not recognizing her voice. Though, in my defense, most of her messages were left when she was crying or emotional, distorting the way she sounds.
“Sierra’s always been a little odd,” Josh goes on, and I immediately feel defensive of her. “I didn’t think you’d go for her. Though, I know a good-looking woman when I see one. And those Belmonts are very selective. Don’t tell Melissa, but I used to crush on Sierra’s older sister, Samantha.”
Josh’s words go in one ear and out the other. I can’t take my eyes off the number written on the thin strip of paper. Sierra’s handwriting is big and loopy, messy yet neat in its own way. Shouldn’t I be happy to find out who my mystery woman is?
“Chase?” Josh asks. “Is something wrong?”
Yes, something is terribly wrong.
“No, not at all.” I force a smile and fold the receipt, shoving it back in the bag. Josh starts the truck and I turn, watching The Book Bag grow smaller and smaller out the window, heart in my throat.