Bookshop by the Sea - Denise Hunter Page 0,29
wasn’t planning to open the shop until mid-June, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity for so much exposure. By the time the party’s over, every reader in a hundred-mile radius will know about Bookshop by the Sea.”
“Talk about an influx of capital.”
She needed it too. The cost of a website designer and renovation materials had drained her savings. Not to mention the fees associated with registering her business and getting her permits.
“So you see why I have to open on time. I had the renovation scheduled out to the day, and because of the storm I’m already behind.”
“You should be able to start tomorrow afternoon, though. The storm’s supposed to let up in the late morning.”
“I’ll be fine as long as I don’t encounter unexpected problems. The shelves have to go in over the weekend, so the walls and floors need to be finished by then.”
“Is your apartment ready for occupancy?” He pushed the popper, then scowled when he had to pass his turn again.
“Not quite but that’ll have to wait until next week.” She stroked Pippa’s back. “We’ll be quite cozy up there, won’t we, girl? And we’ll have our pick of books to curl up with at night.”
“You always did have your nose in a book.” His tone held a hint of affection.
“What about you? I always thought maybe you’d be a reader when you got older—spy novels or true crime, maybe?”
He arched a brow. “Sorry to disappoint.”
“Not at all? Not even when you’re super bored or stuck at the doctor’s office?”
“Do magazines and newspapers count?” Aiden’s phone buzzed with an incoming text. He checked the phone, then set it down without responding.
Sophie moved her piece. “Is that your girlfriend?”
His eyes met hers across the coffee table, then darted away. “Yeah.”
“You can answer if you want to.”
“It’s nothing that can’t wait.”
Sophie was curious about the woman. What did she look like? What did she do for a living? Did Aiden tremble when he touched her the way he had when he’d touched Sophie?
She shook the thought away. “How’d the two of you meet?”
He took a sip of his iced tea, then took another turn, finally getting the right number. “She’s a pilot at the airstrip we use for jumps.”
“A pilot.” Looked as if Aiden had paired up with a fellow adrenaline junkie. She flew the plane and he jumped out of it. There must be camaraderie in that. “So you work together.”
“Sometimes. There are several pilots. Tiffany also handles paperwork in the office, so she doesn’t fly as much as some of the others.”
Tiffany. “That’s nice.”
“What about you? Boyfriend?”
She shot him a wry grin. “When would I have had time for that?”
“I guess you’ve put your life on hold to some degree. But surely you’ve dated.”
“Very little.” She could count them on two fingers, actually, but she wasn’t owning up to that. “And with no one who interested me.”
She felt his perusal and wondered what he was thinking. Heat bloomed in her cheeks as she stroked Pippa’s head.
“You deserve someone special, Sophie. Maybe now that you have a new beginning you’ll find him.”
His blue eyes were mere shadows in the flickering candlelight. “Maybe I will.” Their gazes held for a long, poignant moment. Years ago she’d thought he was her special someone. She would’ve staked her life on it. Her heart felt as if it might pound right out of her chest.
He still affected her like no other man. When he’d arrived at the house she only wanted to avoid him. But now, only one day later, she dreaded his leaving. What in the world? If she wasn’t careful she’d lose her heart before the storm even passed. Maybe she’d lost a bit of it already.
She jerked her eyes back to the game board and rolled the dice, getting the number she needed to send her final piece home.
She glanced triumphantly at Aiden as she took care of business with a flair. “I’m so sorry. I’m afraid you’ve lost.”
“You’re not one bit sorry. Best two out of three.”
She glanced at her watch. It wasn’t that late, but this—the darkness, the candlelight, the conversation—was too intimate. Too dangerous.
“It’s getting late.” She swigged the last of her drink and rose to her feet. “I think I’ll turn in while we’re even.”
After she helped him put away the games, he knelt down and gave Pippa some love. When he straightened, his expression was an enigma in the flickering shadows.
“Here, take a flashlight. Good night, Sophie. Sleep well.”
“Night, Aiden.” She scooped