Page 103 of Trick or Stalk

She sets the books on the counter. “I believe that.”

Penny wags her tail.

Margaret reaches over to scratch beneath her chin. “Especially when discussing handsome men.”

My mouth falls open. “Were you eavesdropping?”

“I own a bookstore. Eavesdropping is one of the benefits.”

“That wasn't in the employee handbook.”

“You didn't get an employee handbook.”

“True.”

She laughs and begins sorting through the books.

I set Penny back down.

I'm already more comfortable at The Crooked Spine than I expected to be.

Yesterday, I worried I'd spend the entire shift asking stupid questions or putting books in the wrong places.

Today, I've helped customers find three novels, rung up purchases without accidentally crashing the register, and recommended a thriller to a woman who returned twenty minutes later to buy the sequel because she'd read the first chapter at the coffee shop and was already hooked.

Basically, I'm killing it.

Or at least not getting fired.

I’m counting that as a win.

My gaze drifts toward the front windows, scanning the street outside. Again.

Margaret smiles. “He's not out there.”

I give her an innocent look. “Who?”

Her eyebrows raise.

I look away before I crack. “I’m not looking for anyone.”

“Mmm-hmm.”

“I was just looking outside.”

She smirks. “At?”

“The weather.”

She turns toward the windows. Gray clouds cover the sky. “Fascinating.”

“Very.”

“Looks like weather.”

“Exactly.”

She laughs under her breath.