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4
AARON
Aaron opened the door for The Oyster Bookstore, breathing in the scent of paper and fresh greenery.
Mm.
A few giggles drew his attention to the back. He walked through the rows and rows of books, past the plants and striking sculpture made entirely from folded book pages, towards the rainbow rug where story time was held every week.
Brynn’s soft voice lifted over the children’s laughter as she acted out the different voices while reading from a book. Three kids sitting on the floor around her feet lapped up the attention while two adults in the corner scrolled through their phones.
“And they all lived happily ever after. The end.” Brynn closed the book and gave the children an actual smile. It was the first time he’d witnessed the full action on her face, and he almost stumbled back a step. She was gorgeous. She tried to hide it, wearing plain baggy clothes, as if trying to draw the least amount of attention to herself. Her shoulders perpetually hunched in like she was always trying to disappear, but that goddamned smile lit up the whole room.
“Can you read another one?” a young boy asked.
“Oh.” Her gaze flicked over to Aaron before her eyes widened. She turned back to the boy. “Sorry, guys. My shift is over. I’ve got to get home. But we can read one next time you come in.” She stood as the kids opened the book she just read and huddled around it.
“Can we talk for a few minutes?” Aaron asked.
She nodded and led him towards the side of the store. Aaron paused next to the new addition to the shop, and motioned towards the shelf. “Brynn?”
She turned around. “Yes?”
“How about in here?” He pulled the copy of Beauty and the Beast forward. The secret door behind the shelf opened with a click, so he pulled it wider and ushered her through.
“Troy’s at the front desk, but I shouldn’t be long,” Brynn reminded him.
They walked into the space. Twinkling lights hung above by the punched tin ceiling. Every wall was also covered with built-in bookshelves, and one of those ladders that moved along them. Brynn walked past the hanging chairs and over to the window seat. Sunlight shone over her, casting her in a halo. She was beautiful.
He stepped forward as she nervously tucked her short brown hair behind her ear, her eyes darting between him and the door.
He dropped down to his knee and reached into his pocket for the box there.
Brynn’s eyes widened as he opened the blue velvet box with the gold trident shining on it.
“What are you doing?” she asked, resting her hand over her heart. Was it beating as wild as his?
“Just because it isn’t real, doesn’t mean you don’t deserve an authentic proposal and a ring.” Aaron offered the jewelry to her.
Color rose to Brynn’s cheeks as she looked to him and then to the ring and back again. “I-I don’t know what to say.”
“Do you like it?”
Her gaze zeroed in on the rose cut emerald ring set in a delicate gold band. “It’s beautiful. Too beautiful. I can’t accept this.”
He slipped the ring from the box and held out his hand for hers. “Do you know why I chose an emerald?”
She shook her head.
His hand remained open, patiently waiting for hers as he explained. “According to legend, emerald was one of the stones given to King Solomon with the belief the stone held power to help him rule over all of creation. Other cultures believed using the green stone would help someone see their future, protect them from evil spirits, and more importantly, give the person wearing it the ability to reveal the truth or falseness of their lover’s vows.”
She inhaled a quick breath. Like everything else with this woman, even her gasps were muted.
He offered her what he hoped was his most charming smile. “I picked it out because it reminded me of your eyes.”
She swallowed, emotion filling her gaze as she lifted a trembling hand to his. The moment her palm slid into his, energy buzzed, spreading down his arm like liquid fire.
Brynn flinched, her eyes growing wide, her attention darting back to him, as if she had felt it, too, and wanted an explanation.
