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The next morning, after breakfast, Grace and Sam left for Spring River Bend – separately. She’d hadn’t asked, but she assumed his plan was to quickly check the bookshop accounts for her – if her boss Jasper allowed it – and then depart for Seattle.
She was working a full day in the bookshop, and didn’t expect to get home until after five, so it made sense they took their own cars – or so she told herself.
Her relief about the arrangement was nothing to do with how she felt about Sam – not at all.
Sam parked behind her near the bookshop as this early in the morning there was plenty of parking in the town square.
She got out of her yellow compact car, and took a deep breath. She could do this. After all, she’d been with Sam all day yesterday – they’d practically been glued at the hip – and she hadn’t lost it. She hadn’t blurted out her feelings for him, or done anything inappropriate. And she wouldn’t today. That mini-moment in the cabin last night had been nothing. She’d just let her imagination run away with her for a few seconds.
The shop door jangled as Grace and Sam walked inside. Overflowing bookshelves crammed with books greeted them. There were tables in the center of the shop filled with paperbacks, and pretty bookmarks lined the counter next to the cash register. Grace had been surprised at how much profit the store made just by selling the tasseled bookmarks.
When she bought the store – if she could arrange the finance – she was going to look into acquiring attractive fabric book bags that customers could buy to hold their purchases.
“Morning, Grace.” Jasper looked up from the cash register. In his late forties, he had bushy eyebrows, a craggy face, and a liking for plaid shirts.
“Hi, Jasper.” Grace set her purse down behind the counter.
“Hi, I’m Sam Hartwell.” Sam held his hand out to Jasper. “I’m Grace’s ex-boss.”
Grace watched the two men shake hands. Her ex-boss. Sam was right. That was all he was – and could ever be.
“Grace told me she was interested in buying the store.” Sam’s gaze flickered around the small shop.
“That’s right.” Jasper smiled. “I’m just waiting for Grace to arrange finance.”
“Why are you selling?” Sam inquired.
Jasper looked a bit taken aback. “Well, as I said to Grace, my wife and I want to move to California, where it’s warmer. And my in-laws are getting on in years—”
“So you’re not selling because you think physical bookshops will go out of business in the near future?”
“Sam!” Grace hissed, her cheeks burning.
“Not at all,” Jasper returned. “I’ll probably look into opening a bookstore in California – there are still plenty of people who like buying paperbacks.”
“Hmm.” Sam didn’t look convinced. “I told Grace I’d check the store accounts for her, make sure everything’s solid.”
“Will that be okay, Jasper?” Grace asked. “I know I’ve already seen the books, but Sam—”
“I’m sure it won’t be a problem, Grace. Will it, Jasper?” Sam turned his attention to Jasper.
“Sure.” Jasper shrugged. “It’s all on the computer.” He gestured to a shelf behind the counter. “As long as Grace is with you when you use the laptop.” He looked around the store. “As we’re not busy, I can spare Grace now.”
“Thanks, Jasper.” Grace smiled at her current boss. She picked up the laptop and gestured to Sam to follow her to a little alcove at the back of the store. A small wooden table and two matching chairs were perfect for their purposes.
Once they sat down, Sam pulled out an item from his jacket pocket. A checkbook.
“Got a pen?” He looked around the store as if expecting one to magically pop up.
“Why?” She frowned.
“So I can write you a check for five thousand dollars.” His tone implied it was the most obvious thing in the world.
“No!” She attempted to lower her voice. “Visiting Emmett yesterday wasn’t work. I enjoyed seeing him. I already told you that. Besides, I thought you wanted to look over the store accounts for me as a way of saying thank you.” She craned her neck but Jasper seemed oblivious to their conversation as he swiped his phone screen.
“I do.” He opened the laptop and turned it on. “But it doesn’t seem enough. If you want to buy this business, then you’ll need some capital.”
“I know that.” She sat back in her chair. In Seattle, she’d been tongue-tied and shy around Sam. But today, she wasn’t. Maybe it was because they were in her domain – at least, she thought of the bookshop as that, even though she didn’t own it – yet.
Yesterday, she’d been bashful at times with him, but she’d known how to handle Emmett, whereas Sam obviously didn’t. That had given her some much-needed confidence. Had it carried through to today?
“Let’s see if this business is solvent.” His tone implied that he didn’t think it would be.
Thirty minutes later, he looked up from the screen.
“It’s a better proposition than I thought,” he admitted, leaning back in the chair.
“I told you the accounts were okay.” Satisfaction stole through her that she’d been right.
“But you won’t get rich from this store.”
“There are other things in the world besides money,” she informed him, feeling a little hypocritical. When she and her sisters had first moved to the ranch, they’d needed money to pay the mortgage their great aunt and uncle had taken out on the place.
And when her sister Tess had married Garth, he’d made sure that they didn’t lack for anything, and had bought a new SUV for Harriet and Grace to use, although Grace still preferred driving her compact car.
But there was a difference between appreciating what money could do and being avaricious about it.
And she did not want Sam’s money.
He sighed. “If you’re determined to go ahead with this purchase, then I can’t stop you.”
“That’s right,” she said quietly. “This bookstore is perfect for me.”
“What about your B & B business?” He turned off the laptop.
“Harriet and Tess will be able to handle it. Harriet works fewer hours at the café than I do here, and Tess doesn’t have a job outside the ranch.”
She and her sisters hadn’t actually talked about Grace’s role in their accommodation business if she bought the bookshop. She could help out on the weekends and make the guests breakfast in the mornings, although Harriet usually did that, but would buying the bookshop mean her sisters would be able to manage perfectly well without her? She couldn’t expect to receive a share of the profits if she wasn’t assisting with the guests.
“Sam!” An attractive male voice filled the room. “Are you in here?”
Grace and Sam stared at each other.
“Parker! What are you doing here?” Sam stood to greet his brother.
Almost as tall as Sam, Parker Hartwell had light brown hair, a rangy frame, and an easy charm. He clapped his elder brother on the back. “I went to Grace’s ranch but her sister told me you were both here.” He grinned at her. “Hi, Grace. You look great.” He seemed sincere in his compliment.
“Thanks, Parker.” Her cheeks warmed – she could only hope it wasn’t obvious. Parker was attractive – maybe not quite as much as his brother, although she was biased – but she wasn’t interested in anyone – apart from Sam.
“What are you doing here?” Sam’s voice was low. “Is there a problem with the gallery?”
“No.” Parker shook his head. “Apart from Emmett. Have you talked to him yet? Maybe I should go and see him. It’s not that far from here, is it?”
“No,” Grace and Sam said together.
“No, you’re not going to see him,” Sam clarified, his voice firm. “Grace and I visited him yesterday in Wyoming and the problem is resolved. You should be receiving the painting before the exhibition.”
“Grace worked her magic again, did she?” Parker grinned. “The gallery just hasn’t been the same without you, Grace. Every new assistant I hire gets upset at the slightest thing and walks out. I think they assumed they’d be the ones to meet and greet the wealthy clients – instead of dealing with the artists.”
And picking up your lunch and dry cleaning.
Most of the time, those duties hadn’t bothered Grace. The job paid decently and the fact that every day was different kept her interest, as well as meeting remarkable artists.
“You’re not interested in coming back to the gallery, are you?” He looked hopeful. “I’ll double your salary.”
She stared at Parker, wondering if he was joking. But even the prospect of a great salary wasn’t tempting.
“Can’t you see she’s happy here?” Sam interjected before Grace could refuse the offer.
“You are?” Parker’s gaze flickered around the small shop as if he didn’t believe his sibling. “Here?”
“She’s going to buy this store,” Sam informed his brother.
“Yes.” Grace found her voice. “I was showing Sam the accounts.”
“You’ve already got an assistant, haven’t you?” Sam continued. “She is minding the gallery while you’re here?”
“Of course,” Parker said hastily.
“So what were you going to do with her if you re-hired Grace?”
“Well ...” Unease flickered across Parker’s face. “I’ve got the feeling she might quit when I return to Seattle.”
Sam muttered something under his breath – Grace didn’t want to know what it was.
“There goes assistant number four,” he ground out.
“Hey.” Parker held up his hands. “I didn’t do anything – I swear. I haven’t even asked her out for a drink.”
Warmth hit her cheeks.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Sam’s voice was dangerously low.
“Nothing.” Parker seemed to realize he’d said more than he should have. “Just that Grace and I went out for drinks a couple of times. That’s all.”
“You did?” Sam narrowed his eyes.
“As co-workers,” Grace said quickly. She’d thought at the time that Parker might have been interested in more but when she hadn’t given him an unspoken green light, he’d remained a gentleman.
“You really don’t want to come back to Seattle, Grace?” Parker tried again.
“No.” She shook her head. “But thank you for the offer.” A year ago she might have been seriously tempted – on a doubled salary she could send money to her sisters to help pay the ranch’s mortgage, and back then she might have still been hopeful that one day Sam would see her in a different light – a womanly light – and ask her out.
But, she realized with a start, Sam was correct. She was happy here apart from her annoying, unrequited crush on him.
“It looks like you better get back to Seattle ASAP,” Sam told his brother.
“But I only just got here,” Parker protested.
“The painting should be arriving any day, and you’ll need to frame it and find the perfect spot in the gallery to hang it,” Sam continued.
“All under control.”
Grace had to admit that as well as handling the gallery’s clients, Parker was also good at finding the right setting for each painting.
“Grace!” A girl around Grace’s age with curly brown hair hurried over to her.
“Hi, Tanya.” Grace smiled. Tanya worked with Harriet at the coffee shop and they occasionally visited the local wine bar together. Sometimes Grace joined them.
“Is my book here?” Tanya’s eyes sparkled. “Oh!” She seemed to notice Sam and Parker. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“No problem.” Sam nodded at Tanya.
“Hi, I’m Parker.” Parker held out his hand, interest flickering across his face.
“Hi.” Tanya smiled at him as she shook his hand. The two of them remained like that until Sam cleared his throat.
“I’ll just check if your book came in,” Grace told her friend. “I had a day off yesterday.”
“Thanks.” Tanya followed Grace to the front of the store, casting a backward glance at the two men. “Who is he? He’s so cute!”
“Sam?” Grace slid behind the counter and checked the shelves where special orders were stored.
“No, Parker.” Tanya giggled. “Sam – if that’s the other guy – looks a bit scary.”
Grace scrunched up her nose. “You really think he’s scary?”
“Yeah, don’t you? He looks quite stern.”
A smile touched Grace’s lips. “He’s not like that.”
“Really?” Tanya didn’t look convinced. “But who’s Parker?”
“Sam’s brother. He – they – run an art gallery in Seattle.”
“That sounds cool.” Tanya leaned over the counter as Grace reached up and plucked a paperback off the shelf. “Is that the book?”
“Yes.” Grace laid it on the counter so the other girl could see. “Lethal Latte by Jinty James.”
“Harriet said this was really good.” Tanya picked up the book and read the description on the back. “It sounds exactly like the type of book I love to read, a paranormal cozy.” She flicked through the pages. “And the font isn’t teeny tiny either!”
As Grace rang up the sale, she asked Tanya, “Do have an e-reader?”
“No.” Tanya made a face. “I’m saving up for one, though. But I think I’ll still read paperbacks and hardcovers, even when I get an e-reader.”
“That’s good to know,” Grace replied, thinking about Sam’s comment that he thought people preferred e-books these days. She had to admit that she read both – digital and physical books – but there was just something about the experience of holding a paperback or hardcover in her hands and turning the pages that she didn’t think she’d ever want to give up.
She put Tanya’s purchase into a brown paper bag and handed it to her. “I hope you enjoy it.”
“Thanks.” Tanya grinned. “Harriet says there’s a sequel out, so I might be back here to buy that one!”
She looked toward the rear of the shop, where Sam and Parker were having a conversation.
“Is he going to be in Spring River Bend for long?” Tanya asked.
“I don’t know,” Grace replied, her answer the same for whichever brother Tanya meant, although she was sensed the other girl was talking about Parker.
“Maybe I should offer to show him around,” Tanya said, her gaze still locked on Parker.
Grace didn’t think there was much to see besides the town square, but didn’t want to discourage her friend. However ... Parker was a bit of a playboy, and she didn’t want Tanya to get hurt.
“I think he might be a bit older than you,” Grace murmured.
Tanya shrugged. “He’s the only interesting looking guy I’ve met in a while, Grace. And he looks practically the same age as me.” She made a moue. “His brother Sam looks a lot older.”
“No, he doesn’t.” Grace surprised herself by automatically defending her ex-boss. “Well, he is older.”
“So how old is Parker?” Tanya persisted.
“Twenty-seven.”
“Oh, Grace, that’s only three years older than me.” Tanya tsked. “That’s nothing.” Her gaze flickered to Parker again. “And he looks like he might know how to treat a girl right.” She swung her gaze back to Grace. “You don’t have dibs on him, do you?”
“What?” Grace’s mouth parted in surprise. “No. Of course not.”
“Good.” Tanya smiled. “I might invite him for a cup of coffee.”
But before she could do so, Parker made his way to the counter, followed by Sam.
“You wouldn’t know where to get a decent cup of coffee around here, would you, Tanya?” Parker’s eyes gleamed with interest.
“It just so happens I do.” Tanya smiled up at him. “The café has the best coffee around, especially when Harriet’s on, and she’s working there today.”
“Then let’s go.”
Their gazes met and held, making Grace feel superfluous. Perhaps Sam felt the same way because he cleared his throat.
“Don’t forget you need to be back in Seattle tomorrow morning. The exhibition needs to go ahead as planned, now that the artist has assured me—” he swung his gaze to Grace “—us – that it will be ready in time.”
“No problem.” Parker winked at his brother before turning his attention back to Tanya. “I’m booked on a flight tonight.”
“See that you’re on it,” Sam said gruffly.
Parker nodded, then held out his arm to Tanya. She took it, her face lighting up as she waved to Grace on the way out of the bookshop.
“I think he’s made a conquest there.” Sam frowned at his brother and Tanya heading toward the café.
“Perhaps Tanya’s made one,” Grace returned.
“You think so?”
She shrugged. “I have no idea, but Tanya seems to be interested.”
“Let’s hope it lasts – for once.” His frown deepened. “What was all that about you going out for drinks with Parker?”
“It happened a long time ago. We were just co-workers having a cocktail together. It was nothing.”
“Good.” Relief flickered across his face. “I love my brother, but he’s not the steadiest guy around – not so far, anyway.”
“And you are?” She couldn’t believe she was asking him that.
“Yes.” His warm brown gaze held hers for a long beat.
She inhaled shakily at the thought of being a couple with Sam. It would never happen of course, but for just one second, she indulged herself in the possibility. The way he looked at her, who could blame her? The banked heat in his eyes made her feel as if he saw her as a desirable woman – for once.
The spell was broken as Jasper came in from the storeroom at the rear of the shop.
“Can you mind the store while I take a break?” he asked Grace.
“No problem,” she replied, grateful for the excuse to tear her gaze from Sam. Because she didn’t need to deal with a pounding heart right now.
She watched her boss leave the shop, the glass door making a little jangly bang as he departed.
“Does he do that a lot?” Sam asked.
“Leave the store?”
“Yes.”
“Sometimes,” she admitted. “We cover each other for lunch, anyway, so it’s no big deal. And it’s been good practice for me.”
When he continued to look at her, she added, “For when I take over.”
“Do you have any plans for this place?” he asked.
“A few,” she replied, feeling a little exposed. She hadn’t told anyone about the ideas she’d had to increase revenue, and wasn’t sure if she wanted to share them with Sam.
“Tell me,” he invited, gesturing to a small table with two chairs near the register. The furniture was a way of making customers feel that they weren’t rushed in the book buying process.
There weren’t any customers in the store as she sat down opposite Sam. Trade would probably pick up at lunchtime and later that afternoon – she hoped so, anyway.
“I want to buy more knick-knacks to place next to the register,” she began shyly. “Gorgeous pens, more of those bookmarks—” she gestured to the tasseled creations on the counter “—pretty fabric bags customers can buy to carry their books and that they can use for other things as well, little angel brooches—”
“It sounds like you’ve put a lot of thought into it.” His gaze rested warmly on her.
“I have,” she admitted. “I just have to find the money to buy this place. Jasper said he’ll wait ‘til the end of the month, and then he’ll advertise the business for sale.”
“What about a bank loan?” he asked.
She stifled a laugh.
“What’s so funny?” He looked at her curiously.
“My brother-in-law owns a bank in Billings,” she explained.
“Then finance shouldn’t be a problem.”
She shook her head. “I want to do this on my own. That means being treated like everyone else. And Garth has been generous enough already to me and Harriet. We don’t want to take advantage of him.”
“Getting a loan and paying interest on it doesn’t sound like you’re taking advantage of him – or his bank.”
“I’ve already looked into getting a loan from a few different banks in Billings,” she told him. “And I don’t qualify. I only work part-time, I don’t have much in savings, and while I know I could make a living from this shop, the banks don’t seem as confident. Garth says banks are tightening up on their lending restrictions.”
“Thirty thousand isn’t that much for a viable business.” He looked thoughtful.
“Maybe not to you,” she said ruefully. “One bank said I could have the loan if I used the ranch as collateral – no way am I doing that.”
After their struggle to pay the mortgage when they moved to the ranch, Grace didn’t want to have to go through that kind of insecurity again. If something went wrong, she’d know her brother-in-law would bail her out, because he loved the ranch as much as she and her sisters did, but she wanted to be able to manage her finances herself. And until now, she’d done a pretty good job with the amount of money she had.
Sam got out his checkbook and flipped it open. Looking around for a pen, he said, “If you sold those fancy pens now, I’d buy one from you.”
“What are you doing?”
“Writing you a check for thirty thousand. I’ll be your silent partner.” He looked at her as if expecting her to conjure up a pen.
“You will not.” She leaned back in the wooden chair, the hardness of the wood digging into her spine.
“You can do whatever you want with this place.” He gazed around the book-laden space. “Just send me a copy of the accounts every month. You can pay me back by one hundred dollars per month – after you pay yourself a decent salary and take care of all the outgoings.”
Grace stared at him. He appeared serious. Hope fluttered inside her, which she quickly tamped down.
“No. Thank you.” She’d never get over him if she was in contact with him every month, even if it was just sending the accounts via email. Even if it was totally businesslike between them.
“Why not?” He seemed nonplussed.
“It doesn’t seem like a good deal for you,” she pointed out.
“That’s because I hadn’t finished,” he replied. “One hundred dollars per month for as long as you own the store.”
That could be years and years. There was no way she’d be able to get over him at that rate.
“No.” She shook her head, her honey blonde hair swinging around her face.
There was silence. Sam looked disappointed – and something else she couldn’t quite put her finger on. Then again, she hadn’t had much experience with men. A couple of boyfriends in college – one serious – who hadn’t seemed to mind her curvy figure but hadn’t seemed to be in love with it either, but after that – nothing. And then she’d met Sam and she hadn’t wanted anyone else.
But since she’d seemed invisible to him, other than being his brother’s assistant, it meant she’d spent a lot of Saturday nights alone – unless she hung out with her sisters.
“I want to do this on my own,” she reminded him when he didn’t say anything.
He leaned back in his chair, loosened his tie slightly, and sighed.
“Okay, let me think.” He closed his eyes for a second, massaging the bridge of his nose.
Grateful for the opportunity to look at him unobserved, she noted his long black eyelashes – it wasn’t fair that somehow even they seemed manly and sexy – and the way his nose looked so straight and firm. He really was the total package.
“Vendor finance.” He opened his eyes and straightened up in the chair.
“Vendor finance,” she repeated.
“Yeah. It might work. If your boss isn’t in a rush to get all the money at once, and if you could give him a down payment, he might be amenable to working out a payment plan. You’d probably have to pay interest though.”
“No problem.” Grace smiled slowly, excitement flickering through her. She’d been prepared to pay interest if she’d gotten a bank loan – it was only fair to pay interest to her boss if he agreed to vendor finance.
“When your boss comes back, we’ll put it to him.”
“Yes.” She almost jumped up from the table, her enthusiasm growing. “Thank you, Sam.”
“Thank you for getting Emmett to finish his painting on time.” He also rose from the table. They were only two steps away from each other. What would happen if she took a step toward him and he took a step toward her? Would he take her in his arms and kiss her, just as she’d fantasized about for so long?
Before she could gather her courage to make a move, the bell over the door jangled as her boss came in.
