Page 21 of By the Book

Pumpkin scone in one hand, cinnamon maple latte in the other, Ivy is the picture of joy. It settles me, seeing her like this. It’s proof that she’s okay.

“Do you think you’re ready? Or do you want to make another stop first? I can think of something fun,” I offer. I don’t want this mood of hers to disappear again so soon, and there’s a good chance it will once we head to her shop.

She turns to me as we stand on the corner in front of the café. “We should go to the store, but I’m curious about what else you had in mind.”

Starting down the street, I rub my hand along my jaw and smile. “I guess that depends on what kind of fun you’re in the mood for.”

I hear it, the insinuation, as soon as the words leave my mouth. Damn it. Turning to peer down at Ivy, I’m relieved to see that she doesn’t seem offended. In fact, there’s a whisper of a smile on her lips.

A block from the store, she pulls me to a stop. “Before I get in there and forget about this again,” she starts. “Last night, I found?—”

“Hey,” Hayden calls, approaching from up the street. “Looks like I have good timing.”

“Good timing for what?”

He stops in front of the bookstore and jabs a thumb towards the door. “For the cleanup crew.”

We move quickly to close the distance and see what he’s talking about. Through the window, I spy the three women that crashed our night last night along with the Taylor family, all huddled together in the center of the room.

“What…” Ivy starts, looking up at me.

“This is news to me too,” I confirm.

Hayden pulls open the door for us and grins. “Wes called, said you two were coming back this morning. We’re here to help.”

We left the place untouched last night—porcelain, glass, wood, and books strewn about in chaos. But with this small army, we’ll get through it in no time. I nod appreciatively at my friend as we step inside.

“Careful,” I murmur, wrapping my arm around Ivy and helping her over the toppled table that is blocking her path.

“We didn’t want to start until we got the okay from you, Sheriff,” Howard explains.

“Thank you, sir. I went over everything I needed to last night,” I say, my focus on the glass below Ivy’s feet. The sooner we get this fixed, the better.

“Good, good. And I got pictures in the daylight today for the insurance. So let us begin.” Howard turns to his cleanup crew and begins dolling out instructions.

I use the moment to pull Ivy to the side. “How are you doing, being back here?”

“I’m okay, I think. Is that weird?” she asks, fidgeting with the sleeve of her coat. “It is, it’s weird. I should be more?—”

“Ivy.” I hook my finger under her chin and lift until she’s looking up at me. Her breath hitches audibly with the motion, and she bats her eyes at me.

“It’s not weird. You are allowed to feel however you want to feel. If you’re okay now and change your mind, you tell me. Andwe leave. If you feel fine the whole time, that’s great. I don’t want this to be hard for you. But if it is, tell me, please?”

“Okay.” Her voice is breathy, her lips parted.

I have the sudden urge to kiss those lips and show her how serious I am. I swallow hard and drop my arm back to my side. I really need to go back to keeping my hands to myself with this woman.

We turn back to face the others that have gotten started. “It doesn’t look as bad today,” she says.

“Nothing’s ever as bad in the morning light.”

With an audible huff and visible eye roll, Poppy leaves her task and crosses the room to approach us. A scowl forming on her face, she says, “Howard paired me up with Hayden. Tripp, can you please take him? I’ll help Ivy.”

I let out a laugh. Howard must be as clueless as Ivy says, because everyone knows those two can’t be around one another. It’s a testament to their love for Ivy that they lasted working together for this long today.

“Alright, just give me one more second and then she’s all yours,” I tell the fuming woman.

“Fine, I’ll help Stevie and Ruth in the meantime.”

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