Christmas in Angel Harbor - Jeannie Moon Page 0,57

your books since I was a teenager.”

“Not that long, then?” His charm just oozed, and Lindsey giggled like a twelve-year-old.

“Oh, wow. Longer than you’d think.” The woman blushed. She was a mother of three and an accomplished professional, and the man made her weak at the knees. Thinking about it, Jane could relate.

“So, you’ve been writing here?” Lindsey asked. “What are you working on? Can you share? Oh, I bet it’s a secret. Still, could you tell me?”

“Do you always talk so fast?” he joked, extracting his hand without her realizing it.

“Oh, gosh. I’m sorry. Yes. I have three kids and I teach third grade. I’m always working at double speed.”

“No wonder.” He smiled and Jane waited to see how he answered her questions. She wondered when he would be ready to share information about his book. He hadn’t even told her very much. “I can tell you it’s different from anything I’ve done before, but that’s it.”

Lindsey folded her arms and tried to be cool. She was still vibrating with excitement, but she did make a good effort. “That’s so exciting. I can’t wait.”

“When I’m ready to reveal the details, I hope Jane will let me do something here. I think it would be fun to have a discussion with readers, don’t you?”

This was the first Jane was hearing about his plan. Would she let him do something here, at her bookstore? Was he kidding? The publicity would be insane, and her store would be packed.

“It’s a great idea.” Jane replied. “We’ll have to talk about it.”

“I think that’s amazing,” Lindsey gushed. “I will be in the front row. Wow. Does that make me sound like a stalker? I mean, I’m not, but I would be here.” She took a breath. “I’ll stop talking now.”

Danny laughed out loud at her babbling. “Lindsey, it was a pleasure. I’m going to steal Jane for a bit, if that’s okay?”

“No problem. Jane, I’m going to round up the kids. Thanks for all this—you rock. We’ll be back for story time later.”

Jane waved as Lindsey trotted off to find her offspring. “Well, you sure impressed her.”

Danny grabbed her hand and leaned in for a quick kiss. “She’s a kinetic wave, but it seems her life requires it.”

“She is, but she’s great. A wonderful mom and the kids in her class love her.”

“I bet. Do you have a second?” His eyes appeared a deeper blue today. Dark, almost stormy.

“I do. Where are the kids you’re supposedly in charge of?”

“I think they were taken by fairies.” With what felt like the whole world watching, he pulled her into her office and closed the door. His mouth came down on hers without even a moment’s pause. “I’ve missed you,” he said after stealing her breath with a long, teasing kiss.

“I saw you yesterday.” Jane grazed her fingers across his cheek, so touched by his need to see her. “Seriously, where are the kids?”

“They’re with your mom. She’s helping them pick out gifts for their parents.”

“I thought you were doing that?” Taking advantage of their closeness, Jane slipped her arms around his waist.

“What? I have no clue how to pick out presents. I’m just paying. Kathleen will do a much better job than I would.”

“I’m sure you’d do fine.” He loved his family, and whatever he chose would come from the heart.

“I love that you have so much faith in me. Even about the little things.”

Joy bubbled up, filling Jane with a bottomless happiness as she rested her head on his broad chest. When his arms came around her, she felt peace. This was what she’d been waiting for, this bone-deep contentment. She’d missed him without even knowing it.

“Hey,” Danny said pulling her close. “Is everything okay?”

“Perfect,” Jane responded. “Everything is perfect.”

*

Once the kids were back with Mel and Peter, Dan’s original plan was to go back to the cottage to work a little more, but instead he spent some time browsing through the different stores in Angel Harbor. He was amazed to find he was feeling the Christmas spirit for the first time in a long while. He attributed it to a sweet, brainy woman who had changed the way he saw life.

Just as he got into his car, his phone buzzed in his pocket. On the screen he saw it was his business manager. He’d made the call yesterday, not expecting to hear from him so soon. Zach Gordon was a shark of an attorney who had a lot of high-profile clients. He took care