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Slowly, she turned. Next to the gazebo, a booth that had been empty earlier now bore a sign sayingBuy a Book for the Bookmobile. Sam’s truck was parked right behind the booth. Though Sam was nowhere in sight, Jake was unpacking books and setting them on the tables and shelves.
Title Wave was hosting a Book Fair booth. Brooke didn’t know whether she was more astonished or delighted. A combination of both, it seemed, given the way her heart was rising on a bubble of happiness.
Then Sam stepped around from behind the truck and began unloading boxes. A touch of fear diluted her pleasure. Just the sight of him—messy dark hair, that ever-present stubble covering his jaw, the sleeves of his flannel shirt rolled up to reveal his muscular forearms—elicited a wave of love so strong it weighted her to the spot.
“I’ll take that chance!” shouted Cowgirl Kate onstage.
“Yay!” the crowd roared.
Sam glanced toward the stage. His gaze stopped right on Brooke. A force charged through the air.
He lowered a box to the ground and straightened, still looking at her. Though they’d been apart for less than two weeks, the emotional and physical distance had stretched taut and thin. She’d missed him with every beat of her heart.
Gripping her camera in one hand, she made her way around blankets and lawn chairs toward him. Electricity crackled over her nerves, as if awakened by his gaze. She approached the booth slowly.
“Hey, Brooke.” Jake, who was arranging a table of mystery novels, gave her his easy smile. “I heard you’d be back this weekend. How was New York?”
“Fine, thanks.” She looked past him to where Sam still stood beside the truck.
Jake glanced from her to Sam and back again. “Uh, I’m going to run over to Sugar Joy and see if Callie needs anything.”
Without waiting for a response, he headed off.
“You’ll never learn, Mad Monroe!” called Cowboy Dan in the distance.
“Teach him a lesson, Cowboy Dan!” yelled the crowd.
Sam came closer, skimming his gaze over her as if he hadn’t seen her in months. As if he were drinking her in. Whatever fears Brooke might have had about any lingering anger quickly disappeared. He stopped on the other side of the table and pushed his hands into his pockets.
“Hi.” She’d give up every last one of her pillow pets to feel his arms encircling her and pulling her close.
“Hi.” A smile tugged at his mouth. “Good to see you.”
“You, too.” The area around her heart softened at the sight of his faint smile. She set her camera down and indicated the sign. “Did Charlie finally convince you to have a booth?”
“He might’ve had something to do with it.” Sam rubbed the back of his neck. “It was a little last minute, so we had to rush the book orders and the set-up. That’s why we’re running late.”
“I’m so glad you did this.” Brooke ran her hand over a hardcover book of Greek myths. “The bookmobile is fantastic. Thank you for everything you’ve done. Even the things you don’t want people to know about.”
He shrugged, looking slightly embarrassed. “So you’re starting the new job soon?”
“Look out!” shouted the audience.
“March first.” Nervous at the mention of her job, Brooke traced her finger over the design on the book cover. “I’m doing a video call for a Tuesday meeting, then going back again to get everything finalized.”
“That’s great. Congratulations.”
“Thanks. You too. ForTripwire, I mean. And thank you for the letter.”
He nodded and glanced past her to the stage. “So, uh, I want you to know it was great. You, I mean. With me. It was…you helped me out a lot. I appreciate it.”
“You helped me a lot, too.” She swallowed past a sudden constriction in her throat. “I heard you might be leaving Bliss Cove soon.”
He returned his gaze to hers and nodded. “I’m hoping to.”
“Boo!” yelled the crowd.
Brooke smiled faintly. “Sounds like they don’t want you to go.”
