Page 14 of Booked on a Feeling

“I think I made the right decision to come here.” She wrapped her arms around his neck for a quick hug, then crossed the street to her car.

He watched her get in and drive away before he let himself into the house. He closed the door behind him and leaned back on it. His heart pounded against his ribs as though it were trying to break free.

The way he saw it, he had three choices here.

One: Maintain the status quo.

He could spend three amazing weeks with his best friend and help her recharge so she could return to her über-successful life… and date über-successful men, all the while pretending that he wasn’t pining for her.

Two: Get over his crush on Lizzy.

He probably saw her best side, since they only got to spend a few days out of the year together. Maybe he would get to see all her annoying sides if he spent nearly every day with her for three weeks.

Three: Make her fall in love with him.

Which was fine and dandy, except he had no idea how. And there was the very real possibility that he just might end up losing his best friend.

Shit.

CHAPTER FOUR

Lizzy locked the cheery red door to her apartment and trotted down the outdoor staircase tucked behind the bookstore building. Her three-week vacation was off to a great start. She giggled remembering Jack’s expression when she’d ambushed him on his jog. She wished she’d taken a picture.

She was both happy and relieved that Jack wanted to spend as much time with her as she with him. She’d packed up and driven to Weldon with vague plans of sleeping in and catching up on her reading. But maybe what she really wanted was to not feel alone, and Jack was the first person she’d thought of… Well, hewasher best friend.

After a quick glance at her watch, she walked along the narrow brick pathway that led to the front of the store. She had fifteen minutes to spare until Jack picked her up for breakfast, so she wanted to check out Sparrow. She’d arrived past nine o’clock the night before, so she hadn’t seen the inside of the store yet. The anticipation of discovering a new bookstore put a spring in her steps.

Sparrow Bookstore stood on the corner of a quiet street abouttwo blocks away from downtown Weldon. The two-story folk Victorian building could easily be mistaken for a residential property if it weren’t for the store name written in flowing cursive on the shop window and the hanging store sign. Its modest size and white exterior with black trimmings gave it a homey, welcoming feel.

But the happy smile on her face fell at seeing theCLOSEDsign on the door. What was she thinking? It wasn’t even nine o’clock yet. Most bookstores didn’t open till ten or eleven. As she turned to leave with a disappointed sigh, she saw a small red car parked in front of the store. Maybe Shannon—which was the owner’s name, according to her Vrbo profile—came in early to prepare for the day. Lizzy didn’t want to intrude, but she should say hello to her landlady, right?

She hesitantly pushed open the door, expecting a little bell to announce her arrival like Hideaway Bookstore, but all she heard was a slight squeaking of the hinges.Wait.She backed out and squinted at the storefront before stepping back in. The inside of the store definitely felt smaller than it looked from the outside. It was like the TARDIS, but flipped the other way around.

Tall, gray bookshelves lined the entire store, creating tight corridors between them. It reminded her of the reference section in a library. As much as she loved books, the sheer volume overwhelmed her. And other than a straight-backed wooden chair near the cashier stand, Lizzy didn’t see a single cozy nook or corner to sit and read in.

“Hello?” she said as she took a tentative step forward. The store looked empty, but any number of people could be hiding behind the mountainous bookshelves. “Hello?”

“Just a minute,” someone called out. It sounded as though the voice was coming from the back of the store.

“Take your time,” Lizzy rushed to reassure. She stayed near the front of the store but craned her neck to peek at the rows of books.

A tall, attractive redhead in her late thirties or early forties walked up to her, wearing a friendly smile. “Hello there.”

“Hi, I’m Lizzy Chung”—she held out her hand—“your tenant for the next three weeks.”

“Sorry. Dusty.” The other woman crinkled her nose and wiped her hands on the front of her jeans before shaking Lizzy’s. “I was organizing some boxes in the back. I’m Shannon. It’s lovely to meet you.”

“Likewise.” She immediately warmed to Shannon, her unaffected personality putting Lizzy at ease. “I got in late last evening, so I didn’t get a chance to say hello. When I saw your car out front—I assumed the red car was yours—I thought I’d pop by and see if you were in.”

“I’m glad you did. And yup, the red car is mine.” Shannon strolled toward the cash register, where a cup of tea sat on the counter. “I usually come in around eight thirty, after I drop my son off at school.”

“Oh, what grade is he in?” Lizzy followed her, her eyes busily taking in more of the store.

“Elliot is in fourth grade.” Her features melted into a tender smile. “He’s ten going on thirty-eight.”

Lizzy laughed. “He sounds like a lot of fun.”

“He is,” she said with obvious pride and took a sip from her cup. “Do you want to take a look around the store?”

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