AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The stack was growing big enough to be a tripping hazard, which I didn’t mind so much, except it made me exceedingly nervous to be holding on to books that technically already belonged to the customer. (It just wasn’t a good business practice.)
But no matter how many times I tried calling this mysterious patron, they didn’t come in. The only identifier they left with the order was “Mr. Ferryman,” and the phone number. Even the internet wasn’t a help with so little information to go on.
I checked the spot under the desk where we were storing the mystery customer’s order. He’d purchased books on short swords, modern fashion, daggers, and a donut cookbook that I had peeked at with jealousy when it had first come in.
It looks like he bought a book about housecats this time. He’s certainly interested in a wide variety of topics.
Still, it upset me that we were failing to give this customer their order and kept taking their money. Besides, Ms. Booker—the owner of Book Nookery—did not abide with disorder, and while this wasn’t causing disorder in the store per se, it caused disorder in the accounting books!
“I left a note for the day shift that they shouldn’t take any more orders for Mr. Ferryman until they come in and get their books, didn’t they see it?” I grumbled.
I fortified myself with a swig of the deliciousness that was my amaretto steamer—which was even tastier now that it didn’t scald my mouth—when the doorbell jingled again.
Struggling to swallow, I glanced at the new customer, and almost spat out my drink.
Shiloh, a pretty blond whom I knew had a thing for lawncare, entered Book Nookery, a smile blooming on her face when she saw me.
“Chloe! Hello!”
I attempted to force my customer service smile, but my nerves were so rattled I’m pretty sure my expression was closer to a twisted grimace. “Shiloh! Hello!”
Shiloh happened to be the neighbor of Noctus—whom I was maybe still pining over even though we’d been forced to face the reality that our priorities in life meant we couldn’t be together. I’d met her while staying at his home, and she’d pushed me to date Noctus, whotoldher we were as a cover story to explain my constant presence.
I knew that was going to bite me in the butt someday…
“What brings you to Book Nookery?” I set my hands on the desk to stabilize myself. “Or, as I should say, can I help you with anything?”
“I do need a book, but I’m really here to see you,” Shiloh said. “It took me a while to figure out that you work the night shift, or I would have been here sooner. And when Ididrealize it, I had really bad luck and visited twice when you happened to have off.” She made a face that still managed to look cute with her button-like features.
“Well, here I am,” I lamely said. I started to pick up my steamer, then realized my hand was shaking so badly I was going to slosh the drink, so I set it back down.
“Yes!” Shiloh turned in a circle, peering through the doors and hallways that split off from the main entrance where the desk and I were stationed. “I can see why you’d like working here! I mean, a bookstore would be a fun place to work no matter what, but magic feels extra potent here.”
I blinked in surprise.
Shiloh was human, and humans were typically ignorant to the presence of magic. Magic could be tricky even for supernaturals to process. Vampires couldn’t sense it at all, and while magic caused sensations in me—fae magic tickled my elbow, whereas the presence of werewolves was more of a furry feeling—I couldn’t do more than sense its presence.
Shiloh did pick me out as a supernatural the minute I met her as a human, though. She even figured out Noctus is a supernatural—though with his looks I guess it would be weirder if he wasn’t. Some humans are extra perceptive. Shiloh must be one of those.
“The Book Nookery is a very rewarding and fun place to work,” I slowly said. “I’m very lucky to be able to embrace the supernatural as part of my job, since Book Nookery does specialize in books on the magical, in addition to offering popular fiction and nonfiction.”
“Got any books about cheese?” Shiloh asked with a teasing smile.
I laughed—I’d become acquainted with Shiloh’s love of cheese while living at Calor Villa. “Actually, we do. Though they’re recipe books. Is that what you’re looking for, or were you thinking of something more informational?”
“While I’d love to say I’d take a recipe book, I have no idea when I’d find the time to make any cheese,” Shiloh sighed.
“Busy as usual, are you?” I asked.
“Yeah.” Shiloh rubbed her eyes, and for a moment I saw beyond her sunny disposition to the tiredness she hid with her bright smiles. “Things will slow down now that I won’t have to mow and weed, but I need to get sidewalk salt and see if the snowblower needs a tune up.”
Both of Shiloh’s parents had died, leaving her a very young homeowner while she attended the local community college.
The sheer hours she spent maintaining her house had me grateful I just rented a studio apartment.
“Actually, instead of a cheese book, I don’t suppose you have a copy ofHow to Win Friends and Influence People?” Shiloh asked.
I froze.
