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I looked at the clock on the wall and loudly groaned. Alex giggled. “Mason and his mom are downstairs.” He rushed to hug me, and I quickly knelt down, wrapping my arms around him, too. No matter if I was mad at him or upset with him, we always parted like this. Life was too short to let anything get in the way of showing someone how much you loved them. “I love you!” he called as he darted out the back door, not even giving me a chance to respond before it was shut behind him.
I laughed and shook my head. “Just like your dad,” I murmured.
I quickly pushed through the door that separated our home from the bookstore. I’d bought this place below market value since the owner was trying to part with it fast, and with Dad’s help, I converted the front half into a bookstore, and the back half was mine and Alex’s home.
And for seven years now, it had worked for us.
I unlocked the front door and propped it open, letting the smell of the ocean waft into the store. I inhaled deeply, loving the smell of the saltwater in the breeze. I could never get enough of it, and I never wanted to.
After grabbing the rolling carts of discounted books and placing them outside, I made sure to adjust any cushions and spray them with Febreeze before wiping down the tables outside. Many people bought books and liked to read on my porch while enjoying whatever drink they’d brought with them. It’s what so many people loved about my place. Hell, some people came to just sit on my porch and listen to the sound of the waves crashing against the shore as they read whatever book they decided to bring from home and get lost in.
And I loved that I could provide this kind of sanctuary for people. I loved that what I found to keep me going helped others, too.
* * *
I jerkedmy head up when a throat cleared from in front of me. I quickly shut the book I was reading, my eyes locked on the man from last night. In bright, clear lighting, he looked even better than before, and my heart pitter-pattered in my chest.
“Um, hi,” I squeaked, surprised to see him standing there. It was Sunday—wasn’t he supposed to be on a beach or something? He didn’t look like the kind of guy to browse books. Okay, that was a rude thought. I even had a sign up that said not to judge a book by its cover, and here I was, doing exactly that, even if the man in front of me wasn’t exactly a book.
He grinned. “I found your friend from last night at the gym. Pretty sure her name was Amber?” I nodded. He leaned against the counter, his eyes running over me. “I asked her about you, and she told me where you’d be.”
My cheeks reddened. I quickly held my hand out to him. “I’m Tawney—Tawney Williams. I own this store.”
He grinned and clasped my hand in his. But instead of shaking it like I’d been expecting, he brought it up to his lips, pressing them against my knuckles. My face was practically on fire, and my belly was flipping around in my body.
“Slater Kennedy,” he introduced himself. “Accountant Monday through Friday, lifeguard Saturday and Sunday.” He reached over and tucked my hair behind my ear. “What do you say to dinner?”
“Dinner?” I squeaked. Jesus, he moved fast, didn’t he? My mind was reeling. I could barely keep up with him.
He nodded. “I have a shift starting in thirty minutes, but I’m done by nine. I know it’s a late dinner, but I’d appreciate your time.”
I swallowed nervously. I hadn’t dated in a long, long time. But I wanted to give this a shot, even if my nerves were just about shot thinking about it.
“I haven’t dated in a while,” I blurted.
He laughed softly, but not like he was laughing at me. The way he was looking at me . . . it was clear he found me endearing and probably a bit adorable, which was kind of strange but felt really good. “Then let me help you experience it again, Tawney.”
Biting down on my bottom lip, I looked away from him and down behind the counter where a picture of Eric sat. I swallowed past the sudden lump in my throat.
He would want me to move on and be happy, right?
Drawing in a deep breath, I looked back up at Slater. “Okay. You’ll have to pick me up here.”
His eyes brightened, and his grin was so wide, it looked like it might split his face. He gently squeezed my hand. “I’ll see you sometime after nine, Tawney.”
I frowned at him. “No set time?”
He shook his head. “Just know it’ll be before ten; I promise.”
I blew out a soft breath and nodded my head. He waved at me before disappearing out of the door and jogging down the street towards the beach.
I dropped back down into my chair, Eric’s handsome face staring back at me. In this picture, he was holding Alex in his arms. It was two days before he was due to deploy overseas, and I’d thankfully had Alex just in time.
It was the only time he ever saw his baby boy.
Tears clogged my throat. “I miss you,” I whispered.
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