Page 129 of Stolen Vows

My lips twist to the side. “Is this another Graham observation?”

Margot chuckles as she leans back against the counter, glancing between me and her sister. “I’m just saying. If you and Graham were a trope, it’d be that one.”

A laugh bubbles out of me. I only really met Margot at Carter family dinner a few weeks ago, but since then, she’s stopped in several times with her sisters.

“I’m going to the back,” their youngest sister, Vivienne, says.

“Just one today, yeah?” Eloise calls out. Vivienne just holds up her hand like a signal that she heard her oldest sister.

I shake my head in amusement as I watch Vivienne disappear into the stacks. She’s the quietest of the three sisters, but there’s a determined set to her shoulders that tells me she’s on a mission.

Margot leans in conspiratorially. “She’s been on a fantasy kick lately. I think she’s trying to read her way through the entire genre.”

I grin. “More power to her. There’s some incredible fantasy out there right now.”

Eloise hums in agreement as she sets the warlord book on the counter, apparently having made her decision. “I think she’s read every middle grade fantasy book she can get her hands on.”

“I’ll try to order some more for her to try.”

“Thank you. She’d like that, I’m sure. My wallet? Not so much,” Eloise says with a chuckle.

I wave her off. “Please, it’s my job to enable book addictions. Besides, I’m always happy to help a fellow fantasy lover expand her horizons.”

Margot grins, nudging my shoulder with hers. “Careful, she’ll never leave if you keep being so accommodating. We’ll have to start paying you rent.”

I laugh, shaking my head. “I would never complain about that. Surrounding myself with books and the people who love them is pretty much my dream come true.”

Eloise’s expression softens. “I’m really glad you’re here.”

Something warm and genuine blooms in my chest at Eloise’s words. “That means a lot, Eloise. Truly. This store, this town, all of you . . . it already feels more like home than anywhere else ever has.”

Margot’s smile turns knowing as she leans in slightly. “And a certain brooding, tattooed husband of yours has nothing to do with that, I’m sure.”

I duck my head, but I can’t quite suppress the grin tugging at my lips or the faint blush heating my cheeks. “He may have something to do with it, yes,” I admit.

Eloise laughs, the sound bright and warm. “I knew it! You two are disgustingly cute together, you know that? Like, romance novel level swoon-worthy.”

My phone vibrates on the counter beside me, cutting through the conversation. I glance at the screen, and my stomach drops when I see the caller.

Florence.

I hesitate for a moment before picking up the phone, my thumb hovering over the screen. It’s been weeks since I last saw Florence, since she showed up in Graham’s bed in a twisted attempt to drive a wedge between us. I told her then to call me when she was ready to be my sister, not our mother’s pawn.

Maybe this is it. Maybe she’s finally ready to have a real relationship, free from our parents’ influence and expectations. Or maybe it’s just another ploy, another game in the never-ending chess match that is the Ashburn family.

There’s only one way to find out.

“I’m sorry. I have to take this.” I gesture to my phone, an apologetic frown on tipping down my mouth.

“No problem. We’ll go help Vivie pick out her books,” Eloise says with a grin.

“Speak for yourself. I’m going to find a new book. I’m thinking lumberjacks,” Margot says, waggling her brows.

I give her a grateful smile before stepping into the back room and swiping to accept the video call. The second the video feed flickers to life, my breath catches.

“Florence?”

Her usually perfect makeup is smudged, mascara streaking down her cheeks in dark lines. Her eyes are red-rimmed and swollen like she’s been crying for hours.

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