‘We got the attention we needed,’ Ivy said. She shed her pink coat and hung it up on the coatrack. ‘Now, I’m going to call the town hall and make sure that wecanhost a meeting there tomorrow. In the meantime, you will make me tea.’
‘Oh, right?’ Quinn had a few choice words to say about being bossed around in his own shop, but he bit his tongue. Without Ivy, things wouldn’t be happening. ‘I didn’t know about the talk tomorrow at the community centre.’
‘Neither did I until I said it.’ Ivy smiled. ‘Shame, because I had plans to eat my weight in gingerbread biscuits. Never mind. There’s always the day after.’
Ivy stood at the counter, looking out the window at the towering castle.
‘Just bad energy.’
‘Hmm?’
‘I sense terrible energy from that place.’
‘Ah, okay.’
Ivy nodded as if she had said something profound, and Quinn watched her with fascination, wondering what was going on in her head. He was learning she was always five steps ahead, somewhere else in her brain, working something out.
Before he could ask her, the door dinged, and in walked…
‘Bloody Blair Beckett,’ Quinn muttered.
‘I’m sorry?’ Blair asked, a grin on his face. He was so pretty he hadn’t heard a word Quinn said.
‘Nothing. Hi, Blair.’
‘Online article went down well, boys.’
‘I’m a woman.’
‘Yes.’ Blair looked at her. ‘Yes, getting lots of hits on the website and the socials.’
‘We thank you for your time,’ Ivy said.
Blair strode around the shop, taking it all in. His hands slipped into his trouser pockets, and Quinn tore his eyes away from the perfect peach bum toned in the gym. Bloody Blair Beckett. He would not be attracted to Bloody Blair Beckett.
‘Is this an original church pew?’ Blair shouted from the back of the shop.
‘Yeah, we kept one back. You can even see some carvings in there left behind by some anxious people confessing their sins.’
‘It says “Quinn was here 2k9”,’ Blair called.
‘Yeah, wonder who that was.’
Ivy laughed.
Blair came back into view, holding a copy of his own book.
‘You sell these?’
‘Obviously.’
‘I’m surprised,’ Blair said, and Quinn hated to admit that he seemed surprised. ‘It was a shameless cash grab for Christmas. Didn’t think people would still care about this Llanelli boy now broadcasting the news.’
Quinn shrugged. ‘Seems like people care. Unfortunately, I don’t sell your children’s books.’
Blair nodded and put his book on the nearest shelf, something that annoyed Quinn and his need for order.
‘Let’s do a book signing.’
