Page 6 of Love Under Review

Leaving the box next to the shelf, he walked over to the register. A line had already formed behind Sharon Crestview. The woman could be overbearing, but Liam had found that if he kept the conversation polite and short, he didn’t have to worry about being on her blacklist.

He came in halfway through the conversation and usually tried to keep to himself, but the conversation intrigued him.

“I’ll still never forget Danielle coming out of the bathroom during the Founder’s Day Festival dinner with toilet paper trailing behind—”

“I think that’s quite enough, Sharon.”

Liam looked up to see the muscle in Mrs. Holloway’s jaw flexing, her eyes narrowed in on the woman at the front of the line.

Sharon giggled and waved her hand. “Oh, she was young.”

Liam wondered what response Mrs. Holloway would give, when Danielle stepped up from behind her mother. “I seem to remember the Fourth of July celebration a few years ago when you decided to wear white pants—”

“That’s enough.” Sharon’s face drained of color as she turned, pushing two books toward Liam. “I’ll take these, please.”

Focusing on ringing up the books helped Liam fight the smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. He didn’t look the woman in the face until he handed her the receipt and said, “Have a nice day.” With his gaze raised, he caught sight of Danielle behind two other women, her lips pursed as she watched the woman walk out the door. She definitely had spunk.

He worked through the next two customers and was surprised by the stack of books Danielle placed on the counter.

Liam glanced down to her books and asked, “All these for you?” As he looked at the titles of each of the books, he realized how many of them were cozy mysteries. A few were romance novels, but it intrigued him.

“Yep. I like to read.” She shrugged and pulled out her wallet as Liam started scanning the barcodes of the ten books in front of him.

“And then she leaves the books on all my shelves at home while she travels around the world.” Mrs. Holloway tried to glare at her daughter, but the smile gave her away. Standing next to each other, the two women looked like they could be sisters more than mother and daughter. But of the little he knew from Danielle over the last hour, it seemed her personality had more spice to it compared to the sweetness of her mother.

“Cozy mysteries, I take it. What do you think of MK Malone after your discussion with the older ladies?” He focused on scanning the last barcode before he glanced up to see her reaction.

“I’m not that far in yet. But the key to a good cozy is if you can’t spot the killer within the first five chapters.” She gave him a mischievous smile, and Liam turned to the computer, totaling the purchase.

“I’ll keep that in mind.” He told her the total and waited as she searched for a card in her wallet. “Are you part of the big wedding going on this weekend? I doubt you’ll finish reading all these before the weekend is over.” Liam tried to make it sound casual, but from her narrowed eyes, she wasn’t buying it.

“I’m extending my stay a few more weeks, but I could probably read all this in one weekend—if I didn’t have other obligations, that is.” She raised her honey-colored eyes to his and raised one eyebrow. “What about you? What do you like to read?”

“I can read just about anything, except the straight romance stuff. Those are a little hard to get through for me.” He motioned to one of the books he’d placed in a monogrammed cloth bag for her and looked up to see Danielle’s wide grin. Something about it made him wish he didn’t have a line of women ready to buy books just so he could talk to her a bit more.

“I can understand that. Mysteries and thrillers are my favorite right now, but I thought I’d give a few of the quick romance reads a try.”

Liam’s fingers brushed hers as she handed him a card, causing warmth to rush through his hand.

He turned and swiped the card, trying not to focus on the little tingles still in his fingers. He handed her the receipt after the payment was finalized. “Thanks for shopping at Just One More Chapter.” He handed the bag to her, and she nodded, stepping to the side as her mother placed several books on the counter.

Once the two of them were out the door, he looked up to find a long line waiting for him. He picked up the pace, knowing these ladies were going to give him a piece of their mind or get suspicious as to his curiosity about the woman who’d just walked out the door.

Chapter 4

Danielle was twenty pages into one of the cozy mysteries she’d purchased earlier that day, reading as she waited for Becca to show up. They’d agreed to meet up at Sage Creek Diner for a bite to eat before they went through all the finalization for the reception plans. She’d ordered fries and a shake, not sure whether there would be time to eat later.

She’d read the same paragraph several times, but she kept picturing one of the main characters with the face of the guy from the bookstore, his light blue eyes etched into her memory.

Something about him signaled that owning a bookstore wasn’t his first career, but she still couldn’t figure out exactly what that sign was. Whatever the mystery was, it intrigued her.

When he’d asked if she’d read her own book, her heart skipped a beat, surprised by the sincerity in his expression. With his blond hair, broad shoulders, and a love of books, the guy was checking all her boxes. But she couldn’t even think about anything happening between them. She’d be gone soon enough, and life was easier if she didn’t have to recover from a broken heart or her mother’s dashed hopes that she might settle down in Sage Creek.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” Becca’s voice came from behind her.

Danielle stood, stepping into the hug Becca offered. After the week she’d had, she needed some support, even if the people around her didn’t understand what was going on in her life. She’d tell them when she found the right opportunity, but she had to make it through the wedding first.

They both dropped into the booth, Becca leaning over and stealing one of Danielle’s fries.

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