Spring Booking (Seasons in Colorado: Spring #1)

Chapter 1

Elijah Miller marked a few books on a clipboard that he wanted to get restocked in the store. The computer gave him the stats, but he liked to look around at what people were browsing before ordering more.

It had been a pretty slow day at his family’s bookstore, Storyville’s Stories, but that didn’t stop him from trying to keep himself busy. Most of the traffic that came into the bookstore these days was for the cafe.

Eli’s eyes moved to the counter where his sister, Katie, was training the new employee, Molly.

Eli had sat in on the interview and immediately liked her.

Aside from her beauty, she was intelligent, which was one of his greatest turn-ons.

She was timid, but he suspected she would come out of her shell… or so he hoped.

Right now she barely made eye contact with him. But despite wanting to talk to her, he knew it was for the best for the benefit of the cafe. The last thing he wanted to do was spook her.

He forced himself away from staring and turned the corner, nearly colliding with a short brunette woman with glasses that had bright blue, cat-eye-shaped frames. She looked up at him with wide brown eyes.

“Jesus,” he muttered.

“Oh, sorry, Eli. I didn’t see you there.”

He forced a smile and refrained from rolling his eyes. Lauren Payne. Somehow he always ran into her… literally. He hadn’t even realized she was in the store, but she always magically appeared during the day. The woman had flirted mercilessly with him since the day he met her.

“It’s all right.” He moved to step past her, but she stepped at the same time, blocking his path.

“Oops,” she said.

She blocked the next three steps he took. He suppressed a sigh and held an arm out. “After you.”

She giggled and smiled up at him. “Such a gentleman.” Then she winked before disappearing around a shelf.

He took a deep breath and mentally counted to three before continuing to browse the shelves.

Eli didn’t have to look to know he was being watched.

He could feel her eyes on him, and it took everything in him not to turn and look.

But he had made that mistake in the past, and it only encouraged more of Lauren’s behavior.

He stepped around another corner and caught the eye of his youngest sister, Michelle, standing at the open office door. She pressed her lips together to hide a smile as her eyes darted past him. He scowled.

His family got way too much joy out of him being followed around by a lovesick woman. He made his way over to her and followed her into the office at the back of the store before shutting the door behind them. Their brother, Cole, sat at a computer in the corner.

Michelle giggled. “I’m telling you, she’s got a thing for you.”

Eli rolled his eyes. “I’m pretty sure everyone in town knows.”

Cole spun around in his chair to face them. “Who are we talking about?” Then his eyes scanned Eli’s face. “Ah. Lauren.”

“I’m so thankful she wasn’t hired,” Eli said.

When Katie and Eli had been doing interviews for the position in the cafe, Lauren applied.

The interview had been weird, to say the least. The entire time she stared at Eli as if she had stars in her eyes.

She could barely answer questions without turning around and asking Eli a personal question in return or making a suggestive comment.

He would ask how she handled customer conflicts. She would answer and then immediately ask Eli what his favorite food was.

If Katie asked her a question, she would stare at Eli as she answered, never once giving Katie any attention before following up again with another personal question for Eli.

It was the weirdest interview he had ever conducted.

Michelle giggled again and shrugged. “No kidding. She would never have gotten work done. She’d just ogle you all day.”

Cole snorted.

“This isn’t some sort of prank, is it?” Eli asked. His eyes darted between his siblings.

Michelle laughed. “No, but I wish I had thought of it.”

Cole smiled. “Same. That would have been epic.”

Eli pulled a chair away from the desk and took a seat. “I’m going to hang out here for a bit until she leaves. Michelle, can you handle the register?”

“Sure.”

She left the office and pulled the door shut behind her.

Eli sighed loudly and scrubbed a hand through his hair.

It was getting long, and he knew he needed to take care of it soon.

The more frustrated he got, the more he ran his hands through it.

The longer it was, the wilder it looked by the end of the day.

“So, hear me out,” Cole said.

Eli stared at him, deadpan. “I swear if you tell me to go on a date with her, we’re no longer speaking.”

Cole barked out a laugh and spun around in his chair to face the computer. “You spoil all my fun.”

Eli pulled out his inventory list and made a few more notes on it before passing it to Cole to place the order. Cole worked as the accountant for their bookstore, handling all the bookkeeping, taxes, and ordering inventory.

Their parents used to run the store, but had since passed it on to the kids.

They each took a different role. Eli runs the store overall.

He oversaw the operations and the book side of things.

Megan ran the cafe, which had been her idea to put in.

Michelle ran the events to keep people coming into the store, but also helped wherever else she was needed.

Their sister, Kelly, used to run the events but had met her boyfriend while on a trip in Montana. She decided she belonged there and moved. Michelle had been especially excited since she really wanted to take over the job.

Michelle walked into the office and smiled. “She’s gone. You’re welcome.”

Eli stood and kissed Michelle’s cheek as he passed. “You’re a lifesaver. Thank you.”

He stepped out of the office and looked around.

The day was winding down as the customers dwindled.

Katie and Molly were cleaning the cafe while there was a reprieve.

Eli walked around and organized shelves while keeping an eye on the register in case someone needed help.

By the time he was done, the last of the customers had left, and he locked the front door.

He walked over to where Katie and Molly were still cleaning up. “Can I help with anything?”

Katie smiled gratefully. “Would you mind stacking the rest of the chairs? I want to mop the floors tonight.”

“Of course.” Eli walked around the cafe and put each of the chairs on top of a table. Molly started on one end and swept the floor after him. He smiled over at her, but she only smiled briefly before her face flamed, and she looked down at the task at hand.

She was slender. Her dark red hair was pulled up into a ponytail, and the blue overalls she wore gave her a younger look, making him wonder how old she really was.

It wasn’t something he could legally ask in an interview, and he avoided ever bringing the topic up.

He made a mental note to ask Katie if she knew later.

Michelle and Cole stepped out of the office a few minutes later and waved before leaving the store. Eli normally would have left with them, but he kept himself busy while Katie and Molly finished up.

By the time Katie said they were leaving, it was dark outside. Eli walked with them to their cars in the small lot beside the store.

“Bye, Molly. Thanks for today. You did great!” Katie said.

Molly blushed and smiled. “Goodnight.” Then she got into her car and drove away.

Katie turned to Eli. “Thanks for the help closing up. We were behind today since I was showing Molly everything.”

“How did it all go?”

“It went well. She’s a quick learner, and I feel like there’s a break in my future.” Katie laughed lightly.

“Good. You deserve to take time off,” Eli said. “We all do. But, baby steps.”

“That’s the truth,” Katie said. She sighed and pulled open her car door. “Right now, my bed is calling my name.”

Eli frowned. “It’s only seven.”

“Yep. But we’ve got to do it all again tomorrow.” She slid into her car and started it before waving and backing out of her parking space.

Eli waved in return before getting into his own car and driving the short distance to his house.