Page 17 of Beautiful Place By the Sea

“It does involve a lot of careful budgeting.”

I offer a self-effacing smile. “Well, I tend to get very anxious when dealing with uncertainty. And overwhelmed with large projects.”

Maisie runs her hand through her hair, which still looks a bit windswept from her trip to the post office. “You and me both.”

I stare at her. “But you’ve run Shoreline for, what? Forty years?”

“Forty-three.” Her face lights up with pride. “And I’ve been terrified almost every day.” I must look shocked, because she pats my hand reassuringly. “Don’t let assumptions of how you’ll feel scare you off from pursuing something that’s written on your heart, Ivy.”

“Wow. Are you sure you weren’t a writer in another life?”

Maisie smiles. “Oh, I’ve dabbled in this one.”

Of course she has. Is there nothing this woman can’t do?

“But, as you’ve noticed, running a business is more than a full-time job. So I’ve never really gotten very far. Not like our Oliver.”

I raise an eyebrow. Oliver’s messy notebook of misogyny, or whatever it is, cannot possibly be what she’s holding up as an example of successful writing.

But I really like Maisie, so I say nothing.

“Anyway, I’ve distracted you too much. You’re not even working today!” She waves her hand in the air. “Get back to those papers, and I’ll leave you alone. And grab something off the New Release shelf for yourself when you leave. I want you to have something to read when you go to the beach later.”

I start to protest, but she cuts me off. “No, I insist. I’ve taken up too much of your time already. Let me give you this.”

I want to remind her that I work for her, that she’s hired me without a glance at my résumé or any sort of employment verification whatsoever. That she, by way of Oliver, already gave me a free hot beverage today.

But she stands up from her desk and grabs her purse. “I forgot that I need to pick up some signs for a book signing we’re hosting next week. They’re ready at the copy center. When you head out, let Oliver know where I went, would you?”

I nod in agreement, though why she couldn’t do that herself is a bit puzzling. “I will. Thank you so much!”

“Have fun at the beach, dear!” She bustles out.

I finish up with the paperwork, then head back to the shop, closing the office door carefully behind me. Oliver has taken up residence at the register again and is ringing out the three college girls I’d seen when I first came in. They’re giggling a little too much, which makes me think they’re either finding him very enthralling or perhaps buying smut.

“What’s your name?” one of the girls asks coquettishly.

Oliver seems taken aback, and I laugh out loud from my vantage at the New Release shelf. He looks up and glares at me.

“Oliver,” he mumbles in response to the girls, busying himself with the screen in front of him.

“I’m Rachel,” the first girl answers, leaning over the counter to show off her cleavage. “And these are my friends, Emily and Maddie.” She nods to the two brunettes on her right.

“Cool.” He’s making every effort not to look at them, and I have no qualms about continuing to stare and cackle.

“Do you ever go to the beach?” Maddie is mirroring her friend, leaning her chin in her hand near where Oliver is desperately trying to bag their paperbacks as quickly as humanly possible.

“Never,” he says sarcastically.

“Would you like to?” Emily asks, clearly missing his tone.

“I have to work.” Oliver slides the bag toward the trio, looking over their shoulders as if he can will them to disappear by refusing eye contact. “Have a good one.”

Maddie is persistent. “Maybe after work?” She twirls a curl around her finger and attempts to look older than she is.

They seem like they’re of majority age, though maybe only just. But I think Oliver deserves a little grief, so I stride towards the register with a grin. “Oliver gets off work at eight o'clock tonight.”

If looks could kill, I’d be sprawled on the floor without a pulse right now.