Page 21 of The Bookshop By the Loch

The dark stranger whirled round and scowled down at me with striking green eyes that reminded me of the Bracken Way hillsides on a dappled summer’s day.

I’d never seen him before. I would have remembered if I had. He was very handsome and looked in his late thirties. He made me think of an Italian Renaissance artist.

He possessed thick, dark brows and a proud, regal nose. His jaw was peppered with black stubble. John disappeared back inside Book Ends, while the stranger glowered down at me. “Are you Lexie Dunbar?”

I blinked up at him. “Yes. That’s me.”

He jerked his head at the bookshop window, where John had stuck a sign up on my behalf:

Book Ends Bookshop – Grand Re-opening 25th May, 10am!

“What on earth is that about?” he snapped.

“Excuse me?”

“That.” He was struggling to keep his deep, brisk voice on an even keel. “A re-opening?”

“It’s as it says on the notice,” I explained, noting the irritation in his voice. “Book Ends is undergoing a makeover and is re-opening on that date.” I hesitated. “Sorry, but I didn’t catch your name?”

The man continued to stare at the notice in the window, as though he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. He jerked his strong profile round to look at me again. His face was all angles. “I’m Tobias Black. I’m Trevor Newman’s nephew.”

I blinked up at him. Nephew? I never recalled Trevor mentioning he had a nephew and I’d known him for years. A kernel of worry grew inside me, but I tried to dismiss it.

The man shoved his hands into the pockets of his dark jeans. He eyed the bookshop again. “I think there must be some mistake.”

“Like what exactly?”

Tobias Black surveyed the written notice again, taped to the inside of the window. “I was told that my uncle was closing down Book Ends.”

“Yes, he was,” I replied evenly. “But he had a change of heart.”

Tobias Black cocked one brow. “Why ever would he do that? I understand that footfall is well short of what it used to be.”

“Yes, it is, but we’re intent on changing that.”

“We?”

I gave him a professional smile. “Trevor has appointed me manager. Together, we’re going to turn the fortunes of Book Ends around.”

Tobias Black looked like he’d been punched. He shook his dark, curly head, as he processed what I’d just told him. “No. I’m sorry, Ms Dunbar, but that’s what you think.”

A flicker of worry lit up in my chest. “What do you mean?”

“I’m going to have a chat with my uncle now. I need this shop for my own business.”

It took a few moments for what he said to sink in. Why did I feel like I’d suddenly gate-crashed a private event? “But it’s off the market,” I stammered. “Trevor wants to keep it going as Book Ends.”

He glowered at me, making me take a faltering step backwards. “Well, let’s see, shall we? I’m sure he’ll change his mind, once I’ve spoken to him.” His cool gaze froze me to the spot. “I can be very persuasive when I want to be.”

Chapter Eight

What?!

No. This couldn’t be right. This Tobias Black was talking a load of bollocks. He couldn’t be Trevor’s nephew… could he?

But why would he say that, if it wasn’t true?

Worry and panic revved up faster inside me.