Page 52 of Safe With You

I opened the door.

“We’ll see you around.”

“I have a feeling you will.”

The bell chimed as we stepped back onto the sidewalk.

Mila waited until we were halfway to the truck before looking up at me.

“I like that bookstore.”

“You do?”

“And the lady.”

I glanced down at her. “You’ve known her for ten minutes.”

“She know about dragons.”

“Fair enough.”

Mila hugged the bag closer to her chest as we continued toward the truck.

Behind us, Chapter & Charm disappeared between the boutique and the flower shop. But Luna crouching beside Mila, listening as though dinosaur books were the most important decision she’d make all day, stayed with me.

Mila was right.

We’d be back.

I looked up from the register when the bell above the door chimed.

A woman stepped inside, paused just past the entrance, and slowly turned in a circle, taking in the shelves around her.

I smiled.

First-timers always did that.

"Hi," I called. "Welcome to Chapter & Charm."

She returned the smile as she made her way over. "Hi. I need help finding a book."

“You’ve come to the right place.”

She rested both hands on the counter. "I'm trying to buy a book for my sister, but I have absolutely no idea what she likes."

I laughed.

"That's okay. We can figure it out together."

"She's thirty-five. Loves romance. Says she's 'read all the good ones,' which feels impossible."

"I've heard that sentence at least once a week."

The woman grinned.

"So there's hope?"

"Always."