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“Of course.” Mandy laughed, stepping through the door. “I completely agree with their policies about there being a place for malls, hotels, and unobstructed views of our country’s natural beauty.” She glanced at her wristwatch. “Goodness, I have to run.” She looked at Mike. “It was good to see you again, Mike, and I’ll wait to hear from you. I’ll let Nicky know you’ll get back to us in the next few days.”
“Does Nicky know about your joint ownership idea?” Mike asked.
“No.” Mandy shook her head. “I came up with that when I told you about it.” She gave him a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry. I’ll talk to Nicky about it when we meet for lunch today, and I’m positive she’ll like the idea.”
“Thank you, Mandy.” Mike waved her off as she walked toward her car parked on the curb in front of the bookstore.
As he closed and locked the door, Mike’s eyes dropped to the business card. A feeling of excitement coursed through him at the idea of jointly owning the bookstore with Nicky. Not only would it keep the bookstore in his family, but he’d get to work with her and see her often. While he could deny it all he wanted to Harry, Mike knew the truth was that he’d been in love with Nicky Scott since they were in high school.
Mike insisted on spending summer vacation with his uncle so he could work in the bookstore, knowing that Nicky was there nearly every day. When she wasn’t in the store, he knew he could probably find her sitting in her favorite spot on the beach in front of the Scott family’s home and hotel. Which was conveniently just up the road from the store and Mike’s uncle’s cottage. Mike had never been shy around women and didn’t have a problem dating until it came to Nicky—he could never pluck up the courage to ask her out.
Mike stood staring out the double glass doors at the ocean beyond them, idly tapping the business card in his hand. A smile spread across his face, and lifted the card. His heart skipped a beat as he pulled out his phone. Mike didn’t need two days to decide about Mandy’s idea. Why put off for two days what he already knew he would do.
Mike typed Mandy’s number into his phone and hit the dial button. She answered after the fourth ring.
“Mike?” Mandy sounded surprised. “Have you come to a decision already?”
“I have,” Mike told her and frowned. “How did you know it was me?”
“I have your number programmed into my phone from the for sale sign in the bookstore’s window,” Mandy told him. “What did you decide?” She asked. “Am I delivering bad or potentially good news to Nicky at lunchtime?”
“If Nicky is willing to become a joint owner for a couple of months, I’ll certainly be more willing to sell the bookstore to her after three months.” Mike watched the sparkling blue ocean meander lazily past the shore.
“Great!” Mandy said. “I’ll speak to Nicky and get back to you. If she agrees, we can all sit down together and go over the details.”
“Thank you, Mandy,” Mike told her with a smile splitting his face as his heart and soul felt lighter. “I think this will make it much easier for me to finally sell the store.”
“You’re going ahead with the sale?” Harry’s voice came from behind Mike, making him spin around in fright.
“Geez, Mike, don’t sneak up on me like that!” Mike moaned.
“I didn’t sneak up on you.” Harry frowned. “I called when I walked into the store, but you were on the phone.”
“I was speaking to Mandy Oliver,” Mike told him.
“You’ve given her the listing?” Harry’s brow furrowed tighter.
“Sort of!” Mike said, scrunching up his face.
“What does sort of mean when it comes to selling the bookstore?” Harry persisted.
“Mandy came to see me to assess the shop for Nicky,” Mike explained. “She noticed that I was reluctant to sell the store, and she came up with a great plan.”
“Okay!” Harry looked at him questioningly.
“She suggested that I let Nicky buy into the store as a partner for three months,” Mike told Harry about the plan. “Nicky and I run the store together and return it to a fully operational business. Then I can decide after three months if I want to sell it to Nicky or continue our partnership.”
“And Nicky’s on board with this idea?” Harry looked skeptical. “Because the offer she gave you the other day seemed like she wanted to buy the store outright.”
“Mandy’s going to pitch the idea to Nicky today over lunch.” Mike slipped Mandy’s business card into a drawer behind the sales counter.
“That sounds like a great idea for you,” Harry pointed out. “But don’t be too disappointed if Nicky doesn’t go for it.”
“I won’t,” Mike lied and glanced around the store. “You were right the other day.” He sighed. “I’m not ready to let go of this place. It holds too many memories of Uncle Sully, my childhood with my brother, and it’s also part of Jade’s legacy.”
“And if Nicky goes for the idea, it’ll become only part of yours and Jade’s legacy,” Harry told him.
“I’m fine with that,” Mike assured Harry.
