Page 17 of Love Around the Corner

“Yeah?” Carter’s smile faded. “I’ve got a… a friend a bit like that. He reads a lot, too.”

Face heating, Leo looked away. Was Carter was talking about LLB—abouthim? “I guess it’s easy to lose yourself in a book,” Leo said quietly, “when the real world doesn’t feel so friendly.”

He sensed, rather than saw, Carter’s nod of acknowledgment. “But, hey,” he said after a pause, “you came along tonight. I hope you enjoyed it? Even if you did get lumbered with a shopping trip.”

“I did enjoy it.” Leo turned to look at him again, ventured a smile. “And I don’t mind about the shopping trip. I should, uh, probably get some decorations for the bookstore too.”

Carter raised his eyebrows. “Yeah, it’s like a week before Christmas. You should definitely get some decorations.”

They were approaching the corner of Main Street and Maplewood, where Bayside Books was located, and Leo grimaced at the sight of its dark window. “Oh God,” he said softly, seeing it now through Carter’s eyes—and probably the rest of the town’s. “It’s the Scrooge and Marley of New Milton, isn’t it?”

Carter didn’t deny it. “Well… consider me your Ghost of Christmas Present. We’ll get you some lights and a tree, brighten the place right up.”

“I’ve been…preoccupied,” Leo said, flushing because he’d been preoccupied by Camaro89 and the escape he presented from reality. “I guess owning the store hasn’t exactly been the walk in the park I was expecting.”

“Running a business never is,” Carter said. “I’m only in my third year running things without my dad, and it’s tough.”

“But you enjoy it?”

He made an equivocal face. “You don’t have to enjoy something for it to be enjoyable,” he said. “If that makes sense?”

“Not exactly, but I get your point. Hard work has its own rewards.”

“‘One does not love a place the less for having suffered in it,’” Carter said. “That’s from—”

“Persuasion. Yes, I know the quote.” He met Carter’s widening eyes and smiled. “It’s one of my favorite books.”

“You’re kidding?” Carter grinned. “Mine too. I love Austen. I know I don’t look the type”—he held up a hand to forestall objection—“but I think she’s a genius.”

“Hey, who says there’s a type? Austen’s for everyone. Her books were popular with the troops in World War One. Did you know that?”

“I did.” Carter was still smiling, his eyes merry and bright and Leo’s heart did a strange little double-take—this wasAlfie Cartertalking about Jane Austen? “And I can totally get why. Her books are so…real, I guess. Her characters…” He laughed, waving his own words away. “Well, you know, right?”

Fascinated, Leo watched the light in Carter’s dark eyes and heard himself say, “Ah, listen, would you recommend an audiobook ofPersuasion? Maybe a couple of others, too?” He offered a rueful smile. “Maybe I’m missing out on a good thing.”

“You definitely are,” Carter said, but he was nodding too. “I’ll check out my collection and let you know.”

“Great.”

“Cool.”

And then they were just standing there outside Bayside Books, smiling at each other.

“Well,” Carter said, clearing his throat. “I guess I’ll swing by and pick you up at six tomorrow evening, then?”

“Sounds good.” Leo was still smiling as he watched Carter stroll away, lifting his hand to wave as he disappeared around the corner.

For a long time, he stayed there in the cold, considering the events of the evening. If he didn’t know better, he’d say that he and Carter had…connected. What that meant for LLB and Camaro89, he didn’t know, but he could hear Dee’s warning voice loud and clear in the back of his mind.

Tell him. Tell him the truth.

And he would. He just needed to wait for the right moment.

Chapter Six

“You’re in a good mood,” Dani said the next afternoon as Alfie was—finally—closing up for the day.

“Why not?” He pulled down the shutter over the service bay door. “It’s Christmas.”

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