Chapter 43
Oh, if someone could just bottle this scent. Shelby breathed in the smell of Ollie’s sweet head, letting the baby’s fragrance calm her. Liddy had arrived a few minutes
ago and the infant was perched on Shelby’s shoulder, checking out the coffee shop’s atmosphere. “He’s becoming so alert.”
Liddy lowered her mug. “He loves sitting up and looking around. The sad thing is, I hardly get to cradle him anymore. And
he’s officially out of newborn size.”
“Say it isn’t so.”
“I know. So sad they have to grow up.” A sparkle entered Liddy’s eyes. “But I have some news you are gonna like—it’s been
killing me to keep it under wraps. You ready?”
“Oh my gosh, yes. I could use some good news.”
“Caleb and I”—Liddy beamed expectantly—“are moving to Grandville!”
“ What? Are you serious?”
“We’ve been talking about it for a few weeks. Then these local landscapes he’s been doing—did you know he’s completed eight
paintings in one week? He said he feels ‘set free.’ He wants to come home, and he’s been speaking confidentially with the
gallery owners around town. Do you know Ben and Sara Freemont?”
“Wait. I’m still in shock over here.” Shelby gave her head a shake. “The Freemonts own Muse and Masterpiece.”
“Right. Well, unsurprisingly, Caleb had multiple offers, but he decided to sign with them.”
Shelby’s breath escaped. “He signed? It’s a done deal?”
“It’s a done deal.”
Shelby grabbed Liddy’s hand and squeezed. “My brother and bestie are moving to town!” She pressed a kiss on Ollie’s cheek,
her eyes stinging with tears. “Oh, Liddy, I can’t tell you how happy this makes me.”
“This is the right move for all of us. I can feel it in my bones. And it’s so great to see Caleb inspired again. He was struggling
a bit even before he got blocked. I haven’t seen him so happy in years.”
“Does my dad know?”
“Caleb told him first thing this morning. He actually cried. Things have been better between them for the past week or so—ever
since they realized your dad was dealing with abandonment issues. Thank you for that, by the way.”
“I’m just glad they’ve sorted things out. It’ll be so wonderful having the family together again.”
“Just think... We can have girl time anytime we want.”
Shelby couldn’t stop the smile that split her face. “And you have a babysitter at your disposal. Two babysitters.”
Liddy’s eyes twinkled. “That definitely weighed in.”
Shelby’s phone buzzed with an incoming call. The screen lit up with Gray’s picture. All previous thoughts washed away at the
sight. “Sorry, I have to get this. It’s Gray.”
“Go ahead.”
Shelby accepted the call. “Hey.”
“Is everything okay?” Gray asked. “I swung by your house and you weren’t there.”
“I’m fine. You don’t have to worry about me. I’m at Latte Da with Liddy. How’d it go at the station?”
“About as well as can be expected, I guess. Thank you for giving your dad and brother a heads-up. I’m not sure I would’ve gotten an audience with Jameson without them.”
“I was afraid you’d be mad about that.”
“Exactly the opposite. It was nice to have people who...”
“Have your back?”
“Yeah, that.”
Her insides clenched. How sad that it was such a rare occurrence for Gray. She’d love to change that. “Do you feel like he’ll
do anything with the information you gave him?”
A pause ensued. “I don’t know,” he said finally. “He said he’d check into it.”
“But...”
“But... he’s up against a brick wall. The Remingtons are a force in this town and I’m sure Chief Jameson likes his job.”
And who was Gray Briggs but an ill-reputed loser who didn’t even live here anymore? Shelby’s stomach dropped. “I hope he has
more integrity than you’re giving him credit for.”
“I hope so too. Is that Ollie I hear?”
Shelby pressed a kiss to the baby’s head. “He says hello.”
“Give him a kiss for me. I’ll let you get back to the snuggles. I’m at the store. Thought I’d work on a newsletter, try to
get people back into the store.”
“That’s a great idea. I’ll swing by when I’m finished.” They said good-bye, then she ended the call.
“That didn’t sound particularly hopeful,” Liddy said.
“Maybe Dad and Caleb will have a different take. Gray’s not exactly used to things going his way around here.”
“True.” Liddy checked her phone, her expression falling. “It’s Caleb. He says the chief promised to investigate it but didn’t
seem all that inspired by the facts presented.”
Shelby’s heart plummeted. “I wish just for once something would work in Gray’s favor.”
An hour later Shelby unlocked the bookshop and slipped inside.
The lights were off but sunlight flooded through the plate-glass window, illuminating the path to the office.
Boxes of books were stacked along the hallway.
Gray had texted that Phoebe’s upcoming release had arrived—and boy had it.
At least fifteen boxes lined the hallway leading to the back door.
Chaucer crept out from behind a box, emitting a loud meow as Shadow approached. Their noses met, twitching as they sniffed.
Shadow’s tail wagged exuberantly and Shelby waited for Chaucer’s hiss. But it never came. The cat simply slunk away as Shadow
turned his affection on Shelby.
“That’s a good boy. It’s great to see you two getting along. Where’s your daddy, huh?” She found him in the office. Gray glanced
up from the computer, his expression softening at the sight of her. Something like relief flared in his eyes.
Gray was worried about her when he should be worried about himself. Someone wanted to chase him out of town badly enough to
bring a gun into the picture. She extended the Americano she’d brought from Latte Da.
“Thanks. I could use some caffeine. Almost as much as I could use a little taste of you. Come here.”
She eased onto Gray’s lap, careful of his coffee, and pressed a kiss to his lips. “How’s that?”
“Ah, much better. I don’t like you being out of my sight right now.”
“You’re the one with a target on your back.”
“But whoever it is knows I care about you. That puts you in danger too, Shel.”
“Do you think whoever did it meant you physical harm? Or were they just trying to scare you off?”
“The chief seems to think it’s the latter. That might be true, but we really have no way of knowing—and I’d just as soon err
on the side of caution.”
She didn’t want to talk about this right now. The implications of their situation stirred up a cauldron of dread. “Guess what—Caleb and Liddy are moving to Grandville.”
“Hey, that’s great. I know you were wishing they would.”
She filled him in on Caleb’s representation at the gallery.
“How were Liddy and Ollie doing? I feel like last night must’ve traumatized everyone.”
“They’re fine. How’s your shoulder?”
“I can hardly feel a thing.”
He was probably downplaying the injury. She stroked the planes of his face, her fingers meeting uncharacteristic stubble at
his jawline.
“Forgot my razor at the house.”
“Are you staying at the hotel again tonight?”
Something flickered in his eyes before he averted his gaze. “Uh, no. Did you get hold of Phoebe?”
“Yeah, she’s actually in town today so she’s going to pop over and sign the books for us. That way we can start packaging
them.”
He lifted a brow. “For the record, I’m not here.”
Upon Phoebe’s arrival Gray slipped from the office to greet the woman (whose face lit up like a Christmas tree at the sight
of him). The flush that crept up his neck tickled Shelby to no end.
But he handled the older woman’s flirtation well, even teasing her about getting hand cramps from the autographs.
By the time Shelby locked up behind the author, it was suppertime and her spirits were higher. The presale orders would go
a long way toward alleviating the loss of revenue from the apparent boycott. As long as it didn’t go on much longer.
Please, God.
She headed down to the office, Shadow on her heels. As she approached the door she caught sight of Gray hunched over the keyboard, brows pulled low over his beautiful eyes. He’d been working so hard for her. For this store. He’d put aside his job and his life to be here for her.
“Have I told you how grateful I am for your help?”
His attention turned to her, his eyes turning to a liquid blue pool. “You would’ve been just fine without me. You’ve got everything
you need to turn this store around, Shel.” His words bolstered her, but something in his expression begged for a change in
subject.
“Thanks. You must be hungry. Wanna come over for supper? I have a pizza in the freezer with your name on it.”
He pushed his chair back from the desk, his eyes piercing hers. “Come here, honey.”
A nervous chuckle escaped. “Tired of pizza? I can grab takeout. The Savory Spoon’s still open.”
He held out his arms. “Come here.”
His somber tone and knowing eyes made her want to run the other way. “I don’t like that look.” But she approached anyway.
Sank onto his lap and curled into him.
He grasped her, holding eye contact for a long, torturous moment. “We have to talk about this. My presence is putting you
at risk, putting your business at risk. This can’t go on. It’s not safe.”
“It’s not fair. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“That doesn’t matter at this point. All that matters to me is you. Last night proved it’s not safe for anyone to be around
me. Your nephew could’ve died. Any of us could’ve died—and the simplest solution is for me to—”
“Don’t say it.” She tightened her arms and buried her face in his neck. “Don’t say it.” She wanted to just hide here until
this was all over. But how would it ever be over? If the police let this go as Gray feared, what hope was there? The violence
could escalate. Something terrible could happen to Gray. Something far worse than his leaving town. Tears stung her eyes.
She didn’t want it to be true, but it was.
His hands roved over her back in slow, comforting strokes. His breath fell on her neck, where he placed a tender kiss.
Darn him for making her face the thing she’d avoided since last night. If this person was serious enough to fire a gun, Gray’s
life was in danger and staying here would be foolhardy.
She made a decision. Pulled back, making eye contact. “If you’re leaving, I’m going too.”
“Shelby...”
“I mean it. If this town won’t have you, I won’t have it.”
He thumbed away a tear. “You can’t leave your grandma’s store, honey.”
“I can .”
He regarded her silently as memories of Gram washed over her. Memories of her pulling herself up after her husband’s death
and opening this shop. Her second story. She hadn’t wanted another man. No one could replace her husband of forty-six years.
She just wanted to pull the community together and use her passion for books to accomplish it. And she’d done just that.
Until Richard Remington had interfered.
Selling the store would be impossible given their current financial situation. If Shelby left now, she’d have to close it.
She’d have to empty these beloved shelves, sell off what was left, and turn the sign to Closed for the last time. Her heart
gave a loud, sharp crack at the thought.
She buried her face in his neck again. Breathed in that familiar smell of him. Threaded her fingers into the dark hair at
his nape. Tasted the salt of her own tears. “I don’t want you to leave.”
“And I don’t want to leave you. But I would’ve been going in a few weeks anyway.” He gave her a squeeze. “You always believed
in me, Shel. You’ll never know how much that means to me.”
“Stop it. This is not good-bye.” She clung to him as if she could hold him there. But he was right. He wasn’t safe here. That
was the important thing. “When are you leaving?”
“Now.”
She jerked back. “Now?”
A sheen of tears covered those beautiful eyes. “I already packed up my things.”
This was hard for him. Nothing about his whole life had been easy. She wasn’t going to make this hard for him too. She pressed
a kiss to his lips. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”