Page 13 of Touch My Shelves

“Why don’t you move in with me? We had a good time when you came up for visits and I miss you.”

Naudi remembers things differently from the way I remember them. We practically lived on top of each other in her small apartment during those visits. I even stored my shoes in the bottom drawer of the oven. But, yeah, we did have a good time, just not a comfortable time.

“Naudi, I really like it here. I wish you’d come visit. I know you’d like it too.”

“And what am I going to do there, Pop? I don’t remember reading about any fashion houses on the island.”

There isn’t, but I know she’d love the charming town and maybe start her own line. “I don’t know, but I know you hate working for Dane.”

Then she asks the one question I don’t have an answer for. “What are you planning to do? About the bookstore, I mean.”

My eyes sting. I still get choked up remembering my store in flames as my hopes and dreams went up in smoke. “I guess it all depends on the town. If they rebuild and I get enough insurance money, then maybe I can reopen. For now, I’m going to be the best nanny there is for the next three months.”

I can’t believe how much Brax is paying me. I’ll have a nice nest egg at the end of the three months. I could start over somewhere else, but I want to stay on the island. It’s home now.

“I’m really proud of you, Pop. You didn’t let anyone stand in your way when you decided to move away from home and you’ve been happier since your move than you have been since I’ve known you. Whatever you decide to do, I’m behind you, hun.”

It was hard leaving everything familiar behind. “It’s been good for me. It’s like I’ve been on a journey of rediscovery, and living in a castle and getting to hang with a cool kid is just another path to go down. I don’t know what the future holds, but I’m good for now. You should see my bedroom. There is an honest-to-goodness four-poster bed draped in tapestry.”

“It sounds decadent,” she oohs, and then ruins the moment by adding, “I just hope you aren’t murdered in your sleep, wrapped up in that tapestry, and dumped in the moat!”

Chuckling, I slide off the bed and head to the window. The garden below is breathtakingly beautiful and I can’t wait to curl up with a book on one of the benches I see scattered throughout. “There is no moat. I’m fine, Naudi. Honestly, don’t worry about me. I’m just sorry your inventory and all my beautiful clothes you made for me burned.”

“Don’t worry about that. You know lingerie is just a hobby. I’ve already started on new outfits for you and I’ll ship them as soon as I can. What does this Theo slash Brax do that he can’t raise his own kid?”

I shrug and sit on the thick stone casing around the window. “I’m not sure, but he has a deadline to meet and that’s where I come in. He made it clear that I’m only with Freeya from nine til five. That doesn’t sound like a father who’s using the nanny to raise his child. It sounds like a dad who loves his daughter and wants to spend time with her.”

“Will there be more groping?” she asks blatantly.

“No,” I answer definitively, but I wish there was going to be.

“Methinks you answered too quickly. You want to grope and be felt up by the hot dad.”

I groan. “Fine. I do, but it’s not going to happen. It was just a fluke that it did before. Once. By accident. I’m not going to go there again. I’m keeping it professional.”

No matter how needy his blue eyes make me.

Last night when he was talking to me in the school room, after Freeya left, I could have stumbled right into his arms and begged him to kiss me. From the look he gave me, I’m not certain I’d have to beg.

“You’re going to be working for him for three months. Are you sure you can keep your hands off?”

“Yes, of course,” I snap, frustrated with the constant questioning. “He’ll be busy with his work thing, and I’ll be busy with Freeya. There won’t be time for anything else. Besides, I told you, I’m not his type. He’s very distinguished and looks like he would go out with famous, waif-like women. Actresses or models are more his style, not a struggling, wannabe author with no obvious way to support myself other than to take a temporary nanny gig.”

“I don’t want to hear it, Pop. You are a good writer. How’s the book coming along? You haven’t mentioned it in months.”

“Don’t, Naudi. I’ve been busy.” Lately, I’ve been thinking about just packing it all in and admitting it’s never going to be finished. But then I get an idea or a bit of dialogue that would work perfectly and I have to get it down.

“That’s just it, Poppy. Writing is a part of you. You can’t turn it off without consequences.”

“That’s what the bookstore is for.” At least that’s what I’m telling myself.

“I hope it’s that easy for you, hun.”

We talk a bit more before ending the call. I’ve just disconnected when a movement at my door has my heart racing. I know who it is without looking.

“Poppy, I hope you slept well?” Brax says and steps into the room, setting a large suitcase down near the bed.

He’s wearing jeans and a button-up blue shirt that makes his eyes even bluer and he looks devilishly handsome.

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