AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m not going to have her talking to you any kind of way.” He growls. “You deserve better than that. She’s always been funny about you. It’s time she gets over it.”
“Did you tell her about… us?”
“No. I wouldn’t do that to you.”
I glance down and clear my throat. I won’t feel grateful to New for that. “You’ve got a line forming behind you, Raglin. Are you going to order or just chat?”
His lips quirk up. “One cinnamon roll.” He pauses. “And a conversation.”
“Isn’t that what we’re having now?” I grab a cinnamon roll with the tongs.
“Away from here.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, New.”
“I was serious about not being at odds anymore.” I offer him the dessert, and he takes it, brushing his fingertips against mine. I snatch my hand back as if I’m burned. My core temperature spikes. A man clears his throat behind him. “Meet me to go over your new vision for Pages. If you buy, I won’t let anyone else work on that project.”
It’s a cheap shot hitting me where it hurts most. “Fine.”
“Tomorrow at the shop after hours, say nine?”
“Just say yes, so we can get our food,” the man behind him says.
Heat floods my cheeks. “Fine. I’ll see you there, extortionist.”
Smiling, he winks and moves to the register. My stomach isn’t flipping for him, and I won’t let my heart soften.
* * *
New
“Buddy, Mimi and I want to talk to you.” I look over at my mom, who nods.
“About what?” He places the book beside him and sits in the bean bag in the corner of the children’s area.
“Pages.”
He stiffens, and I feel the sweat break out on my forehead.
“What about it?” he asks softly.
“Mimi is getting older, and the day-to-day running of the shop is wearing on her. She’s been thinking about retiring for a while.”
“Then you’ll be home more, and we can hang out and go places?” Brax asks.
Mom laughs. “Yes. That’s part of why I’m ready to step away. I want more time for my family.”
“Well, that’s not bad.” He frowns. “Who’ll run the shop?”
“That’s the thing, Bud. Mom wants to sell it.”
“You can’t.” I flinch, and mom sighs. Brax jumps up. “It belongs to the family, right? I don’t want it to close.”
Rising, I place both hands on his shoulders, capturing his gaze. “It won’t. Mimi found someone who wants to update it but keep it as a used bookstore. Daphne loves this place just as much as we do, and I’ll be helping her update the store.”
“Y- you will?” He whispers.
I nod. “We’re going to have a meeting about expectations tonight. Change can be hard, but it’s also necessary. Nothing stays the same forever.”
