small-town coastal tourists. But he somehow convinced the Council.
After the rush had left I picked up an Advanced Reader Copy one of the book publicists in New York had sent us. I loved this mystery author and decided to snatch the book before my aunt even realized it had arrived. I was about to call her when Deek Kerr came in the front door, his laptop case over his shoulder. Today his blond cornrows were dyed green. He set down his stuff at a table near the wall where he could plug in his computer and then strolled behind the bar. “What are you doing here?”
He filled a large mug with coffee and then sprinkled some cinnamon on top. He glanced at the clock before answering me. “For the next three hours I am writing and hope to get this chapter done. I so hate the middle. I know everyone told me it would be the pits, but did I listen? No. I did not.”
I glanced at the schedule we had sitting by the cash register. Deek wasn’t working until tomorrow, when he took over for me, unless he’d taken Aunt Jackie’s shift. “After you pen your opus, what then?”
“Then I try to fill your aunt’s shoes. Do you know she listed off all the things I needed to do on ‘her shift’ and made me repeat them after her? When she tried a second time I politely reminded her that she was asking me for a favor. She shut up after that. Although I think her new hubby hung up the phone, not her. She was ready to give me the what’s for.” Deek grinned as he walked back to his table. “I like your new uncle. He’s got moxie.”
“Okay then.” I wished my aunt had called me to deal with this but, typical Jackie, she had to handle everything on her own. Even setting up coverage for her shift when her vacation went long.
“She doesn’t like to bother you. It makes her feel weak,” Deek said without looking up from his laptop.
“Stop reading my thoughts. I may have some X-rated things up there I don’t want you to know.” I filled a travel mug with ice and poured tea over the top. Then I chose a cookie for the walk home. I could stop at Diamond Lille’s for lunch, but without Amy to chat with, I’d rather go home and cuddle with Emma.
“I don’t read minds, I read auras. Besides, you’re too much of an open book. Even if I tried, I wouldn’t be able to stop. You throw up these billboard-size messages.” He glanced up from the screen. “Besides, if the two of you would just talk, I wouldn’t have to act like Apollo and transport messages.”
I paused by his spot on the way out the door. I’d already said goodbye to Toby. He was stocking the dessert case. The group from the meeting had cleaned out the treats to take home for afternoon snacks. Which was another reason I let the group meet at my place. It increased sales once a month. The worse the news from the City Council on fees and zoning issues, the better my sales went that day.
“Well, I’m just glad you’re here to translate. With you, Greg, and Harrold as buffers, I may never have to talk to her again.” I glanced at the screen. “Page 205? I thought you were on page 250 yesterday?”
“I threw away a scene. My professor didn’t like where it was going.” Deek slumped in his seat. “I can’t believe books get written when there’s so many opinions involved in every step.”
“Want a piece of advice I heard along the way?”
He nodded. “Sure. Your advice is usually just what I need to hear. I’m thinking you’re the author whisperer.”
“Heaven help me. That would be awful.” I shook the idea off me like it was a sticky cobweb. “Anyway, what I heard was you never let anyone read the first draft until you’re done.”
“That won’t work. Professor Hogan makes us turn in pages every week.” Deek leaned back his head. “Paper copies that he gives back with red ink all over them.”
“That doesn’t seem helpful.” I thought about the lectures I’d heard from a lot of authors doing tour talks. “Okay, this one is better. Don’t throw away anything. Keep it separate. You realize that once you get your grade on the class, you’re going to have to be the one to take a risk and find