AllFreeNovel
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Not like anyone really would, but still. Being caught in public with Chris would be gossip fodder in this town, and I didn’t want to feed the drama-filled masses. Just one wrong set of eyes on us and we’d be on the wedding announcement page in the Carswell Times by tomorrow.
We carried everything to the table, spreading out our food. I opened my notebook, placing it on the hardwood surface. Chris pulled a laptop out of the backpack I hadn’t noticed. My attention was focused on his hard chest and freshly groomed beard.
There was nothing hotter than a man who was adequately groomed. Chris was almost always clean and put together. His clothes always looked fresh and crisp unless he was sweaty from work or exercise.
He opened his computer and signed in. While his home screen loaded, he bit into his sandwich. I followed his lead, taking a bite and then sipping on the iced chai he’d brought me.
I moaned at the taste. “Sooo good.”
He paused and slowly turned to face me, a stunned look on his face.
“What?”
Chris shook his head and took a deep breath, then focused his attention on his computer again.“All right. Let’s get started.” He rubbed his hands together. “What’s your vision for the renovated bookstore? You gave some details yesterday, but I need more. What’s the color scheme? What’s the vibe you want? Take me into your brain so I can make your dreams a reality.”
I snorted, deciding to be snarky. “Well, my dream would be to keep the store and not sell the second half to you.”
He quirked an eyebrow. “I’m going to need your dreams to be slightly more realistic than that. Your grandpa needs the capital.”
“A wealthy investor who loves old books comes along and throws money at us so we don’t have to sell the second floor?”
He sighed. I knew I was being difficult, but it was hard to help.
“Fine.” I sipped my chai. “I want Sparks Bookstore to have a comeback. I want this to be a place where readersandwriters can connect. Since we’re limiting our inventory, every single item in the store should be a guaranteed sale, so we’ll have to spend more time advertising that we have certain books in the first place.”
Chris nodded, typing notes. “I’m with you. What else?”
I tapped my finger against my lip, thinking hard about what I wanted Sparks Bookstore to be. I zoned out for a second, staring at the table.
When I glanced at Chris, I caught his gaze locked on my mouth. I pulled my hand away and anxiously licked my lips.
His throat bobbed as he swallowed, and his dark eyes lifted to meet mine briefly before he turned back to his computer. I shook off the heat growing between us. It had to be in my imagination.
“What about appearance? You gave me some vague ideas, but how do you want it to look?”
“I want it to be inviting,” I said. “Maybe lights hanging from the ceiling near the coffee bar will give the place a friendly, chill vibe. The bookshelves could have brighter lighting for people browsing, but I want a clear distinction of the mood for each area.”
He kept typing. “Great idea. Do you have any examples of what you want?”
“Yep.” I pulled my phone out of my cardigan pocket and opened Instagram. I navigated to one of my favorite bookstores and showed him their profile. He put his laptop down on the table and scooted closer. Our thighs touched as we leaned into each other.
“Wow, that looks amazing,” he said. “I’m not much of a book-type, but a place like that seems inviting enough.”
I smiled. “That’s how I feel. Let me show you some more.”
I showed him a few other profiles that were similar to my requests. They followed modern themes for reader aesthetics. He pointed out specific elements, claiming something similar would work for our space.
“I’m not much of an interior designer, but I can try to get you started,” he said.
“I appreciate it.”
I twisted to face him as he turned in my direction. Our faces were close, reminding me of the moment on his couch all those years ago. He had long, thick eyelashes that most women would have murdered for. His lips were soft and supple, and I thought back to the kiss we shared.
His lips had felt so good against mine. So right.
He seemed as entranced as I was, staring at me without speaking. I let out a soft laugh. His eyes crinkled at the edges.
“What?” he asked.
