Page 72 of The Bookshop By the Loch

All went well, thanks but my mum is still not sure about what she wants to do with regard to meeting up with my dad.

I know she feels so emotional and mixed up over it.

As for Trevor, just take your time to decide how you want to play things. Think he’s done the right thing by making himself scarce for now.

Thanks for your concern.

See you tomorrow.

Lexie. x

I jabbed in the kiss, deleted it, mulled it over for a few seconds and put it back again. Then I fired the text back to him.

Now stop dwelling on Tobias and keep reading Celeste’s book, I urged myself.

Chapter Twenty-One

“My mum has been trying to speak to me,” admitted Tobias the following Monday lunchtime. It was the beginning of June and there was an air of anticipation at the school holidays starting in a few weeks.

“I told her I don’t want to see her right now, not until I can get my head around this.” He let out an angry growl. “I also used getting everything sorted with my new flat as an excuse. When I think about them not telling me… my own family, for Christ’s sake!”

I arched my brows. “Yes. Well. They maybe thought they were doing it for the right reasons.”

Tobias didn’t look convinced.

“Life has thrown a few curveballs our way recently,” I sighed.

Tobias’s expression darkened. “I couldn’t agree more. I feel like mine has turned into one bloody great lie.”

I pushed myself out of the chair, stationed behind the bookshop counter. “No, it isn’t. You’re still the same man you were before. And though I hate to admit it, a very talented artist.”

Tobias’s lips flickered for a few seconds. “You could’ve added how attractive and dynamic I am as well.”

I felt my stomach flutter. “Let’s not get too carried away, shall we?” I moved away. My heart zoomed in my chest like a rogue rocket. I shot Tobias a glance. “Trevor texted me to say he’s gone away for a few days to a book festival in the Scottish Borders.”

“How convenient.”

I busied myself, gathering together my jacket and bag then proceeding to switch off the light.

“What are you doing for the rest of the evening, Lexie?”

I halted in my tracks. “I’m going to head back to Mum’s to continue reading and editing Celeste’s book. How about you?”

The dark tips of his lashes made his eyes glow. “Well, I was going to head home and do some more admin, but I got more done in here today than I thought I would.” His eyes raked my face. “And it’d be nice to have some company and think about something else for a while, other than my car crash of a family and where I’ve packed my favourite sketching pencils.”

He continued to stare down at me. “How about you come back to my place and I make us something to eat? I’m no Gordon Ramsay, but I’ve been known to make a mean stir fry. We can commiserate together over our relatives.”

My head screamed No. We were both vulnerable right now. Both our lives were in a mess. You don’t need romance, Lexie, remember? And you certainly don’t need any complications.

Politely refuse, hissed an inner voice. Thank him and go home. Focus on Celeste’s book.

But the reasons not to go and have dinner with Tobias were dismissed with full force by my skittering heart. It thumped harder in my ears.

“I’d like that,” I found myself saying, unable to stop myself. “Thank you.”

Tobias’s new apartment reflected him perfectly.

It was masculine and uncompromising with wooden grained floors.