“So are we setting this up?” Kayla taps the coffee machine. “It can make hot chocolate too.” She wiggles her eyebrows because she knows she’s going straight for my weakness. It’s not like things can get worse with Missy if she is already saying my books should be burned.
“Fine. I’ll set up the coffee machine, and you paint the window.”
“Deal.” She grabs her backpack and pets Romeo on the head before going to the front of the store. I watch as she pops in her headphones and gets to work. I can’t wait to see what new exciting art she’s going to craft.
I grab an empty table from the back of the store and bring it up front. It doesn’t take long to set up the machine, but I’ll need to buy some supplies for it. Just as I’m making a mental list, I hear the bell over the door sound.
In my heart I hope it’s the first of many new customers to come.
Chapter Two
Shaw
It’s cold and rainy today, which is exactly why my mom requested a book. I have no doubts I could send one of her nurses, but that’s not their job. I don’t really think it’s mine either, but it’s something I can do for her, so I make the trip.
I’ve been in Magnolia Springs for about two months—ever since my mom got sick. I was working in the city and would come visit her on the weekends, but when her health started to decline I knew I needed to be closer. Thankfully my job as an electrician allows me to work wherever I want. I own a big company I built from the ground up and they still operate in the city without me on site. I check in and add projects, but mostly it runs on its own. I’ve taken a couple of odd jobs here in Magnolia Springs to keep busy. Otherwise my mom will keep trying to marry me off to any female who walks in the door. This includes the ladies from her senior center knitting group, Knit Happens.
I tug my Carhartt jacket closer to me as I jump out of my truck. My work boots land in a river of water and I grunt as I slam my door closed. I look around and see the light just down the sidewalk for the small bookstore.
Mom told me last night the ladies in Knit Happens were scandalized by the all-romance shop that popped up last month. As soon as the door closed on the last visitor, my mom made me look up the address and then proceeded to give me a list of books to grab. I stuffed it in my coat pocket, and as I get closer to the store I reach in to make sure it’s still there.
I push through the door and a bell chimes above it. The warmth and the smell of coffee hits me first and I'm surprised how nice it feels. It’s probably just because it’s so cold and rainy out, but if I have to be here, at least it smells good.
I push my hood back and see a few people milling around. There’s someone at a table with a laptop and a couple of people drinking coffee on a loveseat near the painted window. I see two people at the end of an aisle, but all I can make out is a thin guy and part of the woman he’s blocking from my view. There’s another woman in the back with a young child who is picking out books, and I glance back at the door to make sure I’ve got the right place.
They sell kids’ books here too? Weird.
Taking the list out of my pocket, I glance at it for the first time and inwardly groan. These can’t be real names of actual books she wants. I sigh and run a hand over my face and beard. Drops of water from the rain run off and fall to the floor, and I close my eyes as I remind myself my mother is sick and she doesn’t ask for much.
I look around and don’t see anyone who can help me locate the books, and I’m honestly not sure I’d ask for it at this point. There are small baskets at the end of each aisle and above them are labels with different genres. I realize that’s how the books are categorized, so I grab a basket and walk across the room. The first shelf is labeled BDSM and I try not to cringe as I make my way slowly down the rows of books.
To my shock and horror the book my mother requested is sitting there in all its glossy glory and I grab it up.
It’s not that I’m against this kind of stuff, it’s just thinking of my mom being into it is more than I can take. Hell, I might actually like bending a big round ass over my thigh and watching it turn pink. I’m big myself, so I’d need a solid woman to play with, and damn if the thought doesn’t get me a little warm.
“Fuck.” I shake every part of that fantasy away as I toss the book in my basket and go back to the list.
There’s another on this aisle she wants and I find that before moving to the historicals. Once there I have a hard time finding the right one, and I have to get down on one knee to look at the bottom shelf.
When I do I see the man and woman I noticed when I first walked in are in the aisle across from me. I can only see their calves at this level, but I can hear their hushed talking.
“So how long have you worked here again?” the man asks, and there’s a cocky tone in his voice like he already knows the answer.
“Actually, I’m the owner.” The woman’s voice is soft but there’s a hint of pride in it.
“Oh, that’s great.” Before she can respond he keeps on talking. “Listen, you’ve been so great about helping me find what I was looking for, let me take you out to dinner.”
“Um—”
Once again the guy keeps talking like he’s less interested in what she has to say and he’s just ready to hear himself speak.
“Let’s say Friday night. I can pick you up here. What time do you close?”
“It’s kind of late.” Her sweet voice is so soft, but if I’m not mistaken I hear her hesitate. “I’m not sure if—”
“You don’t even know your own store hours? The name Barbie really does suit you.” He chuckles and my hackles begin to rise.
I grab the book I was searching for and abandon the rest of the list when I see the pair of legs walking toward the front of the store.
I get up from my crouched position, grab my basket and walk to the checkout. I can’t see the woman behind the counter because the man is blocking my view. But I move in close enough to hear what they’re saying.
“That will be nine dollars, please,” the woman says, and I can tell her cheerfulness is forced without even looking at her.
“You really know your way around that fetish section, Barbie. Tell me, do you like to play?”
His voice is like a snake across my skin so I can only imagine what he’s doing to her. I have to bite my tongue and remind myself that this isn’t my business and I need to stay out of it.
“I make it my job to read the books I have here in my shop so that I can help people find what they’re looking for. That one in particular you asked for is nine dollars.” Her answer is a little more stern and a silence passes as she clearly waits for him to pay.
“Sure, sure.” The guy pulls out his wallet and fans it open to make a show of all the cash he has inside. I roll my eyes and shift as I try to see around him and get a look at the woman. He moves to block me again and I’m irritated. “How about on Friday we close up shop together and you show me around this place in the dark?”
This motherfucker is not taking a hint and I’ve had about enough of it.
“I…um, well it’s just that—”