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She had been talking with Ruby Delacey, an acquaintance from high school who, a few months back, found herself back in Oak Valley. It didn’t take long for Ruby to end up with her high school sweetheart, Colton Taylor, or for her to take her New York City publicity experience and turn it into a thriving small-town business. In exchange for cachet and helping save a classic Oak Valley institution, Ruby was helping June. They were still figuring out what big event they could do for rebranding, but in the meantime Ruby gave her stamp of approval on June’s current improvements.
Updated point of sale system, check.
More seating, check.
Coffee, check.
Kid’s Corner, check.
Free shipping on special orders, check.
Reading events and author signings, working on it.
But outside of that, June was stumped. Even Dragan didn’t seem to have much in the way of ideas, which was unusual. He always had ideas for everything.
June looked around, noticing the straightened mirror but no Dragan. She tried to ignore the way her heart sank and instead went to the back room, where his broad shoulders hunched over the desk. The relief that washed over her should have been a warning sign that she couldn’t keep her feelings at bay for much longer, but June was happy to chalk it up to how badly she needed a friend.
Just a friend.
“Thanks for fixing the mirror, D.”
He threw a smile over his shoulder. “Of course. How’s it going today?” He typed something on his laptop and closed the screen, swiveling the chair to face her, resting his hands on his stomach.
His legs were extended, spread wide, muscular thighs straining the denim of his jeans. He didn’t need to be holding a heavy antique mirror for his arms to bulge against the thin cotton of his shirt. Dragan’s dirty blonde hair was due for a haircut, his eyes boring into hers. He saw people for who they were, and while most people found it unnerving, June had always found it comforting. Like she wouldn’t disappear into the woodwork of a limited social life, living with her grandparents, running her dead parents’ failing bookstore. Like she had space to laugh and see that everything always worked out the way it was meant to. That she had space to be herself.
June shrugged, fixing her shirt tucked into her pink A-line skirt. “It’s okay. The Kid’s Corner has helped, but not as much as the coffee. Thanks again for that.”
Dragan stood and leaned back against the desk, crossing his arms over his chest. Even slouched, he towered over her. Heat coursed through June’s body at the sheer primality of her best friend. He was a lion, stalking through the world, waiting for his moment to take charge.
If only he could see himself the way she did.
“Anytime, J.”
The words slipped softly from his lips, carrying the truth they never spoke. She met his gaze, felt all the unspoken words between them. June couldn’t be sure how long she stood in his heat, shuffling her feet while he held his stance, before she cleared her throat.
“I—I have something for you.” Move, she needed to move before she drowned in him. She flitted about the room, begging her brain to work. Where did she put those books? She turned to check the desk, briefly forgetting Dragan was leaning against one of the deep drawers. Playing with the hem of her cardigan, she gulped and walked to his side, avoiding his gaze and giving him ample room to pass. If he touched her, she might burn.
“Sorry, I need to get in… there.”
He took a minute before pushing himself off, but didn’t stray too far. She went to the drawer and started digging. He was close enough to touch and she almost brushed against his arm several times. And still he didn’t move. He was suffocating, intoxicating, his spicy scent infiltrating her nose. June found the ribboned stack, and just a moment before she was ready to throw herself at him for a second of being enveloped in his warmth.
But she took a step back, tucking the books behind her back and ensuring a good three feet stayed between them. June took a deep breath, steeling herself to meet his gaze, and flashed him a smile.
“It’s just a little something.” She held her present out, flinching when his fingers stayed on hers a hair longer than usual.
“June…” Dragan set the package on the desk, unraveling the ribbon and carefully turning the pages of each book.
“The children’s book is one of my favorites, and I think it just won an award. And the paperback is one of my favorite adult lit-fics, and the last one…”
He was already caressing the last book, a children’s book in Polish that she’d been hunting down for months. She remembered when they were teenagers and his dad had pawned or sold anything in the house that had value — including the very personal books Dragan’s mom had brought with her when she moved to the States and had raised her kids with. This book was one Dragan remembered fondly and had planned to pass onto his kids one day, at least before his father had gotten to it first.
They stood in silence. June bit her lower lip, knowing he wouldn’t say anything soon, if at all. Any time he was overcome with emotion, Dragan pulled deeper inside himself.
“You remembered.”
His whisper haunted the room, settling itself in her bones.
“Of course I remembered, I lov— I knew how much it meant to you.”
