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“You think you’re being charming, but you’re not.”
He chuckles and sets down the plate, eyeing the cake, and so I cut him another piece and give it to him. And my gaze wanders to the door that stays closed and Magnus free.
“I only mean you’re glowing. And, I’m always charming.”
“I think that’s the accent.”
“It’s well known all Jamaicans are charming.”
“You’ve been in New York how long?”
Harry starts counting on one hand. “Fifty-three years.”
“You’ve been here since you were a kid.”
He chuckles again and straightens his tie. And I duck behind the counter to get some of the books I put aside for him.
“Oh, Zoey girl, what are we going to do?”
“I’m not selling.”
He sighs and I know what he’s not saying.
“There’s no way I’m going anywhere.”
The bell tinkles and a cool breeze swirls in along with a wash of noise from the world beyond my store. For a moment, every nerve ending sings and trembles, but it’s not Magnus. He’d say something, and he isn’t the type to be so late. At least, I think he’s not. “I’ll be with you in a moment.”
Harry leans over the counter and looks at me. “Did you meet a man?”
“I’m pretty sure that’s the first question you should have asked.”
“Yes, Zoey,” says a rich, low voice, alive with warmth and humor, “did you?”
I surge to my feet, narrowly missing Harry and bashing my head on the side of the counter. For a moment, my ears ring and my heart goes wild.
“Magnus.”
“You did meet a man!” Harry looks at him. “Did you—”
“Harry!” I’m not having him ask Magnus if he got me pregnant. “This is my new assistant.”
“Magnus,” says Magnus and holds out his hand.
Harry studies that hand like it’s a fanged snake. “You sure he can handle this work? Have you seen those hands? I don’t think he’s done a day’s hard labor in his life.”
“You’re a retired accountant, so neither have you.”
Harry isn’t bothered. “I’ve thought about it.”
“This is a bookstore. The heaviest labor is shifting a box of books.”
“Well, what about when you two—”
“Harry! There’s a whole new shipment of knitting books.”
Harry sniffs. “I’ll have a look.”
“I didn’t think you were coming,” I say, my cheeks going nuclear hot the moment Harry lopes off toward the aisle with the knitting books.
