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“Don’t be,” I answer between grazes of lips over skin. “I’m here.”
She places her hands on my shoulders and pushes slightly. When I let her down, I watch her face, the transformation into the composed mask she wears for the world.
“Want to talk about it?” I ask, even as she starts taking a backward step, her eyes on me. I see her fold back into herself with each backward step she takes.
“Thank you,” she says, before turning and getting back in her car.
As she drives away, I decide I’m not playing by her rules anymore.
It’s my turn to be in control.
Bordeau Books looks like it’s closed. Which isn’t surprising, considering there are hardly an influx of customers as it is. In my plotting and scheming, I hadn’t thought of what I’d do if no one were here to open the store. Or if Eloise would be here.
For the first time, I’m not coming to the bookstore to find the woman who seems to have my thoughts in a vice grip.
I’m about to give up on my plan when I notice a woman strolling toward the bookstore, a satchel crossing over her body. Her bare arms are covered in tattoos, and I wonder who she is until she peers out into the street.
She has Eloise’s eyes, her dark hair, and her heart-shaped face.
Maybe this would’ve been Eloise, had she ever left Cherry Cove. Maybe she wouldn’t have virgin skin and hair that tickles her lower back. Maybe she wouldn’t be here, waiting for me to sweep her into a lust she’d only ever read about.
I wait until she enters before I open my car door, telling my driver to wait for me as I step out. I’m in a suit, prepared to walk right into work as soon as I make it to the city.
I jog across the empty street, noticing most of the cars are parked outside the diner at the end of the street. Cherry Cove is both as cliché as small-town living gets and as beautiful as nature can get. Past the main road, I can see the tree line that eventually gives way to the lake that make people flock during the warm months.
Still, I could get more people here. I could keep the charm, the original feel of it, and make it more accessible for outsiders to bring their families and spend their money here. Cherry Cove has the perfect atmosphere for family getaways.
And I could help them thrive.
If only these stubborn people could see my vision.
As I push the door open, the bell jangles and Eloise’s sister flicks her eyes in my direction.
I feel her gaze as she takes in my suit, my expensive haircut, the watch on my wrist that costs more than even what I gave her sister to help out with this place.
And the indifference is immediate.
“If you’re here to make an offer on the place, you can fuck off,” she grumbles as she glances back at the task at hand. Maybe it wasn’t indifference in her eyes. Maybe it was downright distain?
The Bordeau girls sure are friendly.
“I’m just looking for a book for my ride home,” I lie, as easily as I can. “Any recommendations?”
She stops shuffling through her papers and peers up at me before tucking her short strands behind her ear. I catch a closer glimpse at some of her ink, knowing that there’s no way she got them anywhere around here. They’re amazing work.
“Luc—Eloise is a lot better at that than I am.”
“Okay. Maybe just recommend her favorite book?” I suggest, happy to get to know her in a more intimate way.
She sets her papers down and glances at the door before stepping away from the register.
“I don’t know if this is still her favorite but just wait here.”
She rushes to the back of the bookstore, amongst the shelves that I fully acquainted her sister against. I wait a beat before rounding the desk and slip open the second drawer, shuffling some things aside to tuck my present in the far back. Someone would have to be looking for something to find this.
It’s a risk I’m willing to take.
Because if I’m going to coax this to another level, it requires a finesse I only hope I can pull off.
