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“So what if you do? Call for Reid or someone else if they ask you something you don’t know. And if they take offence fuck ‘em, I’d be damned amazed if you meant to offend, so any insult perceived is on their heads, got me?” I nodded and took a couple of deep breaths.
Reid suddenly appeared.
“Those assholes Sin met at school and college messed with her head, made Sin feel inadequate and awkward about being a prodigy. Screw them, Sin, as Jett said, and revel in what you’ve accomplished in Dad’s memory. Told you I won’t leave you alone, Sin. I meant it,” Reid declared from the bookshelves. “Jett, I’ll leave her in your hands. You got Sin handled.” I watched as Reid walked away and bit my lip and looked back to Jett and saw his gaze on my mouth.
“Honey, let’s go get some customers. How about I tell Drake I’m spending the day here and be by your side?”
“You’d do that?” I asked Jett with hope in my voice. I don’t know what it was about Jett. He was as sexy as hell, and I wanted to lick him from head to toe. But at the same time, I felt safe and comfortable despite Jett’s innate sexiness.
“Sure. Will be fun, being your bodyguard.” Jett grinned and hauled me to my feet. Okay then, I’d gained a huge, muscle-bound guard!
Thanks to Jett and Reid, the morning didn’t go as bad as I’d initially expected. I didn’t panic, nor did I make a fool of myself or say the wrong thing. Jett escorted me back out of the bookshelves. I found the people from Rage standing around, drinking coffee, and eating Penny’s goods.
“Are you okay?” a gentle voice asked. I looked at a pretty blonde woman. I thought her name was Silvie.
“Yes, minor meltdown. Seriously, I don’t handle situations like this well,” I replied with a shy smile.
“Meltdowns are not fun! If you need me, I’ll be in the historical romance section,” Silvie said with a cheeky grin. Jett gave a low groan. I guessed romance wasn’t high on his reading lists.
“There’s a queue,” Zoe yelled excitedly, dashing past me to gape out of the Charles Dickens window. Phoenix joined her to peer outside.
“Zoe!” I hissed as Reid and Jett chuckled. Zoe flung a smug glance over her shoulder.
“There are loads of people queueing. Oh, wow, look!”
I rolled my eyes at Reid, silently telling him to deal with the over-excited sales assistant.
“Zoe, my dove, come here,” Reid said.
Zoe’s eyes grew enormous, and she stopped peering out of the window and watched him.
“Yes, Reid?” Zoe stammered.
“Sweet girl. See if Penny has enough prepared to feed everyone. Those people look hungry.”
“Penny has been cooking since five this morning. Of course Penny has a load of food!” Zoe said grumpily.
Drake chuckled, and Zoe glanced up, and her jaw dropped open.
“Oh, boy,” I muttered. “Everywhere that girl looks is a hot guy. Zoe’s in heaven.”
Jett snorted as his gaze shifted to Zoe.
“Like wow.” Zoe grinned at Drake.
I stared at Reid, silently telling him to do something.
“Hey, that door will be open in five minutes. Sure you’re ready for the stampede about to hit this place hard?” Jett said. Finally, someone stepped in and saved my sanity.
“I’ll check!” Zoe chirped, turning large blue eyes on Jett. I could swear I saw her drool. Then it was my turn to drool when Jett turned that devastating smile on me. Jett’s grin grew more prominent as I stared at his mouth. Okay! Enough of that.
“Love your outfit,” Jett murmured, leaning towards me, making me blush, “I’d deliver anything you demanded.” Damn, Jett! I blushed even harder. I heard a snicker and saw Phoenix and Silvie looking in my direction. Both old ladies had knowing looks on their faces.
“Ready?” Reid called in a loud voice, giving me an out. I hurried towards the kitchen, intending to hide, when I was hauled firmly against a man’s side, and Jett’s arm pinned me there. I wondered whether to sulk or gloat as I looked at Jett, and he grinned again and whatever I was planning to say disappeared in the face of that.
Reid unlocked the door and stepped back as the first customers entered. Within half an hour, the shop was rammed, and Slick was handling the doors (which was really kind), letting new consumers in as happy ones left. Celine had a queue at her register, as people were buying books, lots of them! Zoe had been sent to operate Penny’s register as Penny was in the kitchen, baking more stuff.
Andy had taken root upstairs, showing a heck of a lot of students what the Reading Nook could offer them. Reid disappeared downstairs in the basement with several potential buyers showing what we had in the Vault. I appeared to have been given the main floor, with Jett firmly attached to my side.
