Page 54 of Touch My Shelves

Naudi crosses her arms, not fooled in the least. “I have a feeling the flight might have already taken off and no matter how many times you tell yourself differently, you are going to be hurt when he leaves.”

I hear my friend and I know she’s only looking out for me, but she’s way off base. She has to be. I’ve fought my whole life against the feelings that I need someone to complete me. I’m finished as is. I need to stop thinking about when Brax leaves.

* * *

“Another flower delivery, where do you want these?” Kimberly asks, hidden behind an arrangement of tall purple and orange flowers. They’re beautiful, but I have no clue what they are. I glance over the packed store to find a spot that isn’t taken up by any of the other dozen or more congratulations gifts.

“How about on the table of the window display? I think the colors will work there. Who are they from?” I ask and Kimberly hands me the card as she hurries off. My heart swells as I survey the showroom.

I opened the store this morning and if it weren’t for good friends stopping in, seeing how overrun we were, and ending up staying to help out, I don’t know what I would have done. The other store opening was nothing like this one. I haven’t had a moment to even take a deep breath.

Sales have been phenomenal. I think every resident and visitor on the island has been by today. I know most of the traffic is due to the opening of the Buccaneer Days festival. Today’s event is a street fair and marketplace. I wanted to check out all the booths, but there hasn’t been a free second. Maybe after we close. I almost whine thinking about the cleanup and restocking. If I have anything left to restock with.

I glance up at the sound of Alec’s laugh near the cookbooks. He’s helping a woman I don’t recognize select a book. I snort. What does the man know about cooking? He’s exhibited no cooking abilities since he got here.

Eli comes out of the back room with an armful of books to restock the shelves. Books have been moving out all day long. This could seriously be my best sales day ever. Jack is over by the refreshment table, pulling more cider from beneath to refill. It was Hannah’s idea to serve a special treat to visitors today. She offered and I let her run with it. I can’t believe her generosity.

Naudi is running the register while Freeya bags the purchases. Even Brax is helping where needed. I spot him in the kids’ section having a debate with a young teen boy. If I had to guess, I’d say it was over a book. I grin at his disguise today. He looks like he walked right in from surfing. His dark hair is covered by a shoulder-length, beach blonde wig and he’s wearing makeup to darken his tan. There’s a scruff on his face where he didn’t shave today. My thighs clench as I remember the rough scratch of that beard between my legs earlier.

Since I needed to leave for work early, I’d taken a tote bag to Brax’s room last night with the things I’d need for dressing this morning. That reduced the chance of being caught sneaking back into my room.

I was putting on my makeup, getting ready for the day, when he walked into the bathroom, took one look at me in a new set of lingerie from Naudi, and that had been that. My chest fills with emotion. I prop my chin on my hand and sigh.

“Have you told him?” I blink and turn to see Hannah Murphy beside me. The look on her face is one of tenderness.

“Told who what?” I ask, completely confused with her question.

She places her hand on my arm and smiles. “Have you told Brax that you love him?”

All the blood drains from my face. I whip my head around and focus on Brax and the young man still talking. Naudi is still at the register and everything in the store appears the same, but it’s not. A steady hum grows louder in my ears.

I don’t even realize Hannah is taking me in tow and leading me down the hallway to my office. She helps me into a chair and pushes my head down between my legs.

“Now take a few deep breaths for me, dear,” she coaxes my still buzzing mind.

I do as she asks and slowly come back to myself. When I cautiously rise, she holds out a bottle of water. I twist off the top and guzzle down half of it.

Finally I open my mouth to deny her accusation. “I…”

But I can’t say it. Tears sting the backs of my eyes. How did I let this happen? I can’t lo… I can’t even think it.

“Fight it all you want, my dear, but it isn’t going to change the fact that you love that man. He loves you too. I can tell. I have the nose for that type of thing.”

No, he doesn’t.

Shaking my head from side to side, I want to tell her she’s wrong. “I’ve ruined everything. I can’t lo…” I almost choke on the word.

“What’s so horrible about finding love? Brax is a good man and I’ve seen how much you love his daughter. She needs you in her life. It’s a happy thing when you find the right one.”

“I do love Freeya.” Strange. I don’t have trouble saying the word when it’s connected to Freeya.

There’s a knock on the office door. “Poppy are you in there? We need you at the register.”

It’s Freeya. I scrub my face of any misplaced tears and take a breath, pushing everything down deep inside. This isn’t the time or place for a meltdown. I need to get back to work.

Hannah takes my hand and smiles. “I’m always near if you need to talk.”

I nod, but that’s about all I’m capable of.

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