Page 30 of The Bookshop By the Loch

We fell silent, snapping our furious faces away from one another to look at Trevor. His exasperated expression softened as he concentrated on me again. “Lexie. I want to stress that you don’t have to agree to this, if you feel it would hinder Book Ends’ new launch.”

Tobias let out an audible growl. “What? Oh, you’re kidding!”

Trevor shot his nephew a glower. “But let’s be honest, Tobias’s rent would help us out, going forward.” Two spots of pink flourished on his cheeks. “And it would mean a great deal to me.”

I frowned at him, willing him to explain his head-spinning change of heart in helping his nephew. Had they decided to resolve whatever disagreement they had? Perhaps Trevor’s sister-in-law had managed to persuade him to help Tobias? Maybe she’d laid a guilt trip on Trevor, seeing as Tobias had a stake in the shop? Questions spun around in my head, but Trevor was providing no answers. Instead, he just gazed beseechingly at me.

If I didn’t agree to this, it could put Trevor in a more difficult situation with his sister-in-law and nephew. It sounded like they weren’t exactly happy families, judging by Trevor’s previous comments. And Tobias viewed his stake in the shop as a reason to throw his weight around, even if it was to contradict well-meaning plans for the benefit of the business. The last thing I wanted was to create any more problems for Trevor than appeared to be there already.

I was aware of both men staring at me under the scudding clouds of the Bracken Way sky. I had to make a decision. I shuffled from foot to foot on the pavement.

Across the road, Loch Bracken shimmered.

“I know I still own the shop,” said Trevor interrupting my off-kilter thoughts. “But you’re the manager now and I want you to be content about everything.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Tobias perform an exasperated eye roll.

If I did agree to this, was I making a huge mistake?

I had to give them an answer. I wasn’t prepared to have Tobias think I was some ditzy young woman who couldn’t make a decision if her life depended on it.

If I went along with it, I would just have to concentrate on the bookshop, work hard for Trevor and Tobias could do one. I’d ensure that I had as little interaction with him as possible. It wouldn’t be easy though, sharing the same shop space as him.

This was not what I was expecting this morning. But what other choice did I have? The more I thought about the future of Book Ends, the more I was starting to believe I might just be able to make a difference, in the long term.

I fired a steely glower at Tobias, before softening my expression for his uncle. “Trevor, you’ve put so much faith in me and I’m grateful.” Trevor’s tense expression relaxed as I nodded. “Yes, of course. I’m on board with it.”

Tobias lifted one expressive brow.

Trevor let out a relieved sigh. “Thank you for being so understanding, Lexie. I appreciate it.”

I whirled my attention back to Tobias. “Now, seeing as we’ll be sharing business premises, Mr Black, I think the three of us need to discuss the practicalities of how this will work.” Now it was my turn to be direct. “Oh, and you can help us set up our discounted books for sale as well.”

Tobias’s teeth clenched.

I gave him a wide smile. “No time like the present to start getting details finalised, is there?”

Chapter Eleven

If someone had told me a few weeks ago, that I would be managing my local bookshop, I would’ve laughed.

Good grief. Talk about your life taking an unexpected turn.

I was about to speak to Trevor about next steps, but he began to move away from Tobias and me.

Alarm took hold. “Where are you going? We need to have a talk about things going forward. Then we have to get the table set up outside for the book sale.”

Trevor observed me like a wise owl. “I won’t be long. You and Tobias can have a chat.”

Tobias arched one brow at me.

“I thought I’d take myself off for a stroll and a coffee at Mrs Hegarty’s. You two will have a lot to discuss.”

Great. I was going to be left alone with Tobias. “But Book Ends is your shop,” I insisted, mentally willing him to stay. “You need to know what’s happening.”

“And I will. No, you two can sit in peace and sort things out. Then you can give me a debrief and we can set up the books for sale. See you soon.”

I watched with increasing dread as Trevor headed off up the pavement, which was now strobed with tentative patches of sun.