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The next hour was a blur. Daniel filled out paperwork, answered all the questions and asked a few of his own. He didn’t know what had prompted Megan to think of him when she applied for this opportunity, but it made him love her even more. They really could be a good team when they wanted to be.
The day got away from him and by the time things slowed down enough to rationalize an early close, he was already halfway across the street to her shop. The front door hadn’t been locked yet and he was able to slip right inside.
For once, he found Megan at the book checkout counter. She glanced up and grinned at him. “Hello, there. How was your day?”
“It was incredible.” Daniel wasted no time in sweeping her into his arms and bestowing the deepest kiss they’d shared on her lips. She made a surprised sound and her eyes flew open. Megan pulled back a little, placing her hands on his chest. “What was that for?”
“That was for what you did for me today.”
It was the confusion that threw him off at first. It shouldn’t have been a surprise what she’d done. But then, maybe she hadn’t seen them. It was also a possibility that they hadn’t notified her of their plans to stop by today.
He swallowed down his apprehension. “That book tour thing. They stopped by today.” Daniel hadn’t thought her eyes could get any wider.
“What?” She gasped. “They were here? Were they asking you about me?”
He took a step back, now realizing there had to be something wrong. “No… they stopped by to offer me the gig… I thought…” His eyes narrowed.
Megan’s expression turned to stone. “They did what?”
“Didn’t you…” Daniel scratched his head than ran a hand through his mussed hair. “I thought that you sent in a request to have them come to the coffee shop.”
“Why would I do that?” Her voice matched the coldness in her eyes. “I poured my heart into that little essay they wanted. I told them how much it would mean for them to pick a bookstore rather than a coffee shop like they’d done time and time again. I…” Her eyes narrowed and she crossed her arms. “Did you apply too?” The accusation in her voice was like a slap in the face.
His head reared back. “What? Of course not.”
“Really? I find that hard to believe. They came right for you.”
“You know I wouldn’t do that.” He swallowed hard. Except he’d almost done that exact thing and there was a chance she’d realized that.
Megan put additional distance between them. She shook her head and her voice lowered. “I didn’t tell them anything about you. I said I was a bookstore with a café, and we had wonderful options for coffee and tea.” Her eyes darted up to meet his and he was thrown back by the venom he read there. “What exactly did they say?”
He searched his memory for the conversation he’d had with Alexander. “He said he came to see me because of the bookstore across the street. I had assumed that meant you had sent in something for me.”
“I didn’t, Daniel. And you should have known better than to think that.”
His defenses shot up. “Well, I didn’t do it.”
“But you agreed to host, didn’t you?” The accusation was there. It was in her eyes, her posture, and even in the hard lines around her mouth. “Please tell me you didn’t agree to do it.” This time she sounded more heartsick.
“I can’t,” he murmured.
“Daniel! This was supposed to be my thing.”
“And they askedme. What did you expect me to do?”
She threw her hands into the air. “I thought you would support my dream. This bookstore is my life—it’s the only thing that matters to me.”
It was hard not to take offense at that statement. He almost wanted to ask her point blank if that meant she didn’t care about him anymore, but he held his tongue, letting her rant.
Megan spun to face him. “You have to tell them you changed your mind. You have to tell them to ask me.”
He shook his head. “I can’t do that.”
“What? Why not? This is important. It’s going to be the thing that will secure my future.”
“My shop is important too,” he blurted. “I’ve been supporting you in every way I possibly can. I’m letting you use one of my machines for heaven’s sake.”
“Take it back,” she spit out.
