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Magnus doesn’t belong in my life, at least not the way he is. I know he has hopes and dreams like everyone else, even though all he said was he wanted to make sure those he cared about were happy, would lead full lives, he’s not made to work in a store.
But my stupid heart hopes there will be room for the two of us.
Room in whatever his next adventure will be for maybe a chance.
That’s all I want.
I’m an idiot. But that hopeful idiocy is something I won’t let go of. Just like I won’t stop fighting the injustice of Edward Sinclair.
I sit at the little desk in the back even though the store is open. It’s too early for people to come in, and I turn on my computer. Amanda, his gran, never got back to me, not that she had to, so I log onto my account.
She took the money. Check deposited and the warmth in me rises.
The move is a risky one because it puts my business in a precarious situation, but only I know that. And it’s doable as long as I keep things on an even keel.
The bell on the door dings and I rush out.
The man coming over to the counter grins. “If I knew that smile waited, I’d have worn my best uniform, Zoey.”
“Thanks, Hank.” I take the bundle of mail from the postman and we make small talk for a minute until he has to continue on his route.
I hate standing around, so I set the mail down and start collecting the books in the box I have out to put on the shelves. And while I do it, I try not to think about the time as it ticks.
But it’s hard because with every passing minute, I keep thinking he’s not coming in.
When the bell rings again I whirl, but it’s Harry, who looks past me to the cookies with a hopeful expression.
“How are you today?”
“Still no rain, so things ache.”
“I hear you,” I say as I pick out the new knitting book I found in the sale. It’s the perfect thing, full of designs his wife would have made and I know he’ll enjoy spending time going over it. I place it on the counter and then slide it into a bag, and add a selection of the chocolate gingerbread and spiced orange and macadamia cookies.
He pulls out his wallet and goes to open it, but I stop him.
“My treat, Harry.”
“I’ll get you next time,” he says, drawing himself up to his full height. “Here, how bout I give you today’s paper?”
“Sounds like a deal.” I place the folded up newsprint on top of the mail.
“Where’s your boyfriend?”
My cheeks start to heat. “He’s not my anything. And he hasn’t come in yet.”
“He’s a good one. If he isn’t, I’ll kick his behind for you.”
Harry winks and then makes his way out of the store.
I pick up the paper and my eye catches the headline.
Sinclair Scandal it says. I half glance at the story and the blurry photo, but it’s about Ryder Sinclair and I just don’t have the stomach for it. So I ignore it.
The bell dings loudly as the door flies open and my heart’s already beating like a wild thing as the pressure suddenly changes and even as I turn I know who’s there.
Magnus.
I look at him.
