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“Now that we’ve covered progress on the new Virginia stores, I’d like to discuss new business. Specifically, what we can do to keep The Book Nook not only profitable but continually moving forward. In an era of bookstore closures, we’ve flourished because we refuse to stick to the tried and true. We’ve also moved into areas where the big box stores have failed to satisfy their customers’ needs. That means we have to do better. We can’t slack, not even for a moment.” He tapped his fingers on the conference table, probably to make sure all eyes were on him. “We value our employees’ ideas. To that end, we’ve instituted an incentive program for those who offer suggestions we implement.”
“I don’t want another damn watch,” Marcia muttered.
“Duly noted, Marcia. We’ll discuss mutually agreeable rewards once we have a few ideas on the table.”
Kelly crossed her legs and suppressed a smile. She had averyagreeable reward in mind.
She jerked in her seat when she realized Spencer had paused beside her chair. She glanced up at him and something about their positions—her seated and him towering over her—jolted pure lust through her system. She imagined kneeling in front of him, her hand encircling his cock as she brought the thick length to her lips. He’d be hard and hot and unrestrained as he fucked her mouth.
God, she wanted to hear him groan and know she’d caused it. She ached for him to let go with her in a way she suspected he rarely did otherwise.
Her gaze traveled up his chest, finally meeting his. For an instant, something burned in his eyes, as if he knew what she was thinking. As if he were thinking it too. Then he went back to his journey around the room and the moment was gone.
“There will be a comment box outside my office. I’ll be available for private meetings if you prefer to arrange one or leave your thoughts in the box.”
“Apps.”
“Kelly?”
Startled he’d used her first name, Kelly flattened her palms on her thighs. “Nothing, sorry. I’m just thinking out loud.”
“Good. That’s the point of this discussion. What about apps?”
She inclined her chin. “I’ve talked to several of our regulars who’ve admitted they prefer them lately. Even Leigh’s orgasmic lemon cookies aren’t luring them in anymore.”
He cleared his throat and she struggled to hold back her grin. “Agreed, digital books still command a large cut of the market. But statistics show that print books are undergoing a renaissance—”
She cut him off. “The statistics don’t correspond with what I’m hearing. Many people much prefer the idea of sitting on their couch and downloading a book on release day. There are still diehards that won’t consider reading on an app, and for them we’re a great option. But for those eager to embrace the future, we’re nothing but a pretty dinosaur shivering in the cold.”
Silence spread around the room like a virus. Terse exchanges between her and Spencer weren’t unusual. But her frank comment went way beyond their usual pissing contests.
“I’m telling it how I think it is,” she said, risking another glance at him. She didn’t know what she expected to find but it wasn’t him studying her thoughtfully.
“We’ve worked together what, three years now? I’ve gathered you do that often. Tell us how it is,” he said at her blank look. “In this case, you’re not the only one who has spoken with our customers. I spend a lot of time on the floor when I visit each of the stores. In case you haven’t noticed, I don’t particularly relish riding a desk.”
Ride me.The errant thought invaded her brain so unexpectedly she actually blushed. But he wasn’t through.
“You’re right. Some people will stop visiting the store in favor of reading on devices.” He pronounced the worddevicesas if it were a communicable disease. “Some are willing to abandon the joy of opening a book and smelling the ink, feeling the weight of paper and binding in their hands. Some don’t mind not being able to pass down treasured hardbacks from one generation to the next. We can try to influence those customers with sales and specials but ultimately we’re not what they’re looking for. And perhaps the reverse is also true.”
She nodded but, good point or not, she wasn’t done yet. It was probably lucky for her he had an open mind toward his staff being vocal or she might’ve been looking for a job years ago.
“But it doesn’t have to be that way,” she said in her most nonconfrontational voice, her spine tingling as she got fired up. Making reading accessible to everyone was a topic she was passionate about, every bit as passionate as Spencer. “We can reach those people too. What if we created a haven for the person who wants to read e-books? Or at least explore them? We could have informational kiosks on dedicated reading devices and yet specialize in the things we do best, figuring if we draw them in the store there’s a chance they’ll buy. We need to make reading time a specific appointment like a trip to the hair salon,” she improvised. “If they stop coming in, period, we’ve lost them. This gives us an opportunity to—”
“We’re not one of the huge chain stores,” Spencer began. “We’re not going to produce a store specific e-reader to try to compete in an already overcrowded market. We’re also not going to peddle toys or collectibles to try to hold on to market share. What we’re doing, what we have to keep doing, is excelling at what we do best. Treating our customers as if they’re family, as if they represent more than just a dollar.”
“I know that.” Kelly fought to retain her composure. “Believe me, I wasn’t absent the day you read the company mission statement. All I’m saying is that we need to change with the times. It’s not enough to just give out cookies and put pretty pictures on the wall. We need to offer customers something they simply can’t get anywhere else.” She let out a breath. “If you’re asking for suggestions, there’s one. Innovate. If we don’t grow, we stagnate. If we stagnate, we die. Look at all the bookstores that have closed or are caught in the death spiral now. They all missed the opportunity to act.”
As far as she was concerned, that applied to her too. She’d been stagnant for too long, putting all her eggs in the basket of her job.
Yes, she loved it. Yes, nothing mattered more. But what about the rest of her life? What about fun? Spontaneous fun, the kind not regulated by her list of potential fuck buddies?
Maybe it was just as well she’d lost the list. Perhaps the time had come for her to move beyond games to a real relationship.
And if that was the case, she could see only one candidate for the position…
Spencer’s gaze rested on her for so long she almost forgot they weren’t alone. “We’re moving on. Unless anyone else would like to jump into the fray?”
His knife-thin smile dissuaded any other dissenters from joining the conversation, so he swiftly moved on to discuss their next sale and a few more particulars about the new store launches.
