Page 66 of Worth the Trip

His laugh followed us back toward the promenade.

A broad stone walkway curved along the harbor, lined with cafés, boutiques, benches, shade trees, and couples making no effort to hurry anywhere. Children ran around a fountain shaped like an open book while old-school R&B drifted from somewhere ahead.

A cyclist came around the curve faster than common sense recommended.

Landon shifted closer and put one hand against the small of my back, guiding me toward the inside of the walkway.

The bicycle passed.

His hand stayed.

I looked up.

“You know I wasn’t about to get run over.”

“I know.”

“Then what was that?”

His eyes dropped toward me.

“Opportunity.”

“For what?”

“To touch you.”

The answer was so immediate I nearly missed a step.

“At least you’re honest.”

“I told you Friday I don’t believe in wasting good openings.”

His palm left my back when we reached the door of Black Laurel Books.

That was probably fortunate.

The bookstore looked nothing like Franklin’s.

Where Franklin Books felt inherited, Black Laurel felt curated. Dark wood shelves rose beneath brass lights. Poetry occupied an entire wall. Art books stretched across marble tables, rare editions sat behind glass, and open books hung from the ceiling of the children’s section like birds caught midflight.

A Black woman with silver hair looked up from behind the counter.

“Landon Brooks. You finally brought somebody worth dressing decent for.”

“I dress decent every day, Ms. Renee.”

“You wear Langston shirts and athletic pants every day.”

“That’s campus formal.”

Her attention shifted to me.

“This is Nolani,” Landon said. “She owns Crème & Chill Ice Bar & Bakery in Self Ridge. Scoops & Stories is part of it.”

Recognition brightened Ms. Renee’s face. “The place with the author murals and reading section?”

“The reading space has grown beyond a section, but yes.”