Page 38 of The One With the Mountain Man

"Okay, you've got me curious. What are you doing?" Willow eyed the variety of books in my arms.

"Research. If it's a problem, I'll put them back."

"No! Keep doing what you're doing. I might even put them all on a display together when you're done. What do they all have in common?"

I shrugged, feeling sheepish or embarrassed. Something close to vulnerable, but without the fear. "I like them all."

"A customer recommendation table," she said with a firm nod. "No one needs to know it all came from one customer."

My cheeks flamed. "I like to read."

"I can tell," she laughed. "I'll clear the table at the front of the store. When you're done with them, just set them there and I'll make it look pretty."

"Do you want me to make a sign?" The girl who'd come in the first time I stopped at the TBR Pile was back on the couch with her laptop.

Willow nodded. "That would be great, Christine! You're much better at art than I am!"

"No problem. I need to take a break anyway."

"What are you working on today?" Willow asked as she gathered supplies from behind the wooden counter.

"Calculus," Christine groaned. "I'd rather write a ten-page paper than finish this math class."

"Christine is taking online college classes," Willow explained. "She does her homework here because it's quiet and I have reliable internet."

Christine rolled her eyes. "That and because you're better company than my mom who always interrupts to ask me to do chores. She has zero concept of class time." Her gaze strayed to the windows. "Plus, I have work in an hour. I can just walk across the street when it's time."

"What's your major?" I asked out of genuine curiosity. I liked both these women and the supportive space they were creating. I wanted to be part of it.

"Education. I'd like to teach elementary school one day."

"I think teaching is an amazing and honorable profession."

She blushed. "Thanks. If I survive this math class, I'll be done with math forever. I think I can get through the rest of college no problem."

"You're doing great," Willow assured her. "Unleash some creativity on this sign."

Christine followed Willow to the front of the store while I returned to my table of ideas. There was a reason I loved each of these books. It was a combination of the characters and plots, but most importantly, they all had some secret sauce that piqued my curiosity and gave me a satisfying conclusion. Somewhere in here was an idea I needed for my own secret sauce and a banger ending.

I began furiously writing notes about the scenes popping up in my head. We needed a shocking discovery or some blast from the past to kickstart the action...

"Well good afternoon, ladies!"

My head shot up as a loud male voice filled the store. I stopped myself from shrinking into the shadows to hide. I was in the back room and whoever this man was, he was not my stalker, even if he did surprise me. Cristobal was tall and thin, with dark shoulder-length hair and an angular face.

This man was even taller. He was broad and muscular like a lumberjack. His hair was short and blond or light brown. He in no way resembled Cristobal and yet, all it took was a male voice I didn't expect to set me off all over again.

"Travis!" Willow exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"

I relaxed a little bit more. Was this Jackson's Travis or were there two Travis's in Lost Creek?

"Realized I haven't looked around in a while. Figured today was the day for a new book. Any recommendations?"

Willow had a surprised look on her face. The kind you got when a friend suddenly develops a new habit out of thin air. I was guessing Travis wasn't much of a reader.

"Uh, well, what do you like to read? Science-fiction? Mystery? Thriller?"

I watched with fascination as the man tossed smiles and winks around like candy. It was all clearly an act, but it was so natural that I had to wonder if he'd been doing it so long, he forgot it was fake.

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