Chapter 5
Dax
“This is Libby…”
Kai introduces me to her along with a spiel of other words, something about her running the shop and being a pain in the ass.
But I don’t hear most of it. I can’t process pretty much any of it.
Because what are the odds that Libby, the girl from the date I never knew I was going on, the date I wasn’t even supposed to go on would be the owner of the bookstore my colleague talked me into buying out?
“I’m sorry,” her soft, familiar voice breaks into my thoughts and I have to blink. Her voice isn’t always that soft. Or that quiet. I mentally kick myself in the nuts to get rid of the memory of literally anything from last night.
“For what?” I ask.
“Calling you Jax.”
I feel heat rise to my face and hope that it isn’t visible. Kai is giving me an odd look, and I realize I need to shape up fast. Even if we didn’t hook up last night, I can’t have my business partner and closest friend thinking I’m into his younger sister.
“Common mistake,” I say gruffly. “Happens all the time.”
There is a hint of hurt in her eyes and I hate myself immediately. But Libby lifts her chin and just like that, all the emotion is gone. She knows the game we have to play too.
“So now that we are all acquainted, we can talk logistics,” Kai starts in. “Most of the inventory will probably be tossed unless we rebrand. Dax, I’m sure you know the best way to go about that.”
“Hold on,” Libby cuts in. “You’re going to throw away my books?”
“Not throw away per say,” Kai explains. “But let’s be honest. Most of the inventory is sparse.”
Libby’s eyes sweep the room before landing back on us. “My shelves are full.”
“Your shelves are niche,” Kai goes on and Libby’s gaze slides over to me.
As much as I have grown close with this guy over the last few years (he knows how to make money and has an excellent eye for opportunity), the way he is springing it on her kind of pisses me off.
It’s not ideal in any transaction to come at the owners blindly.
And if I am being honest, seeing Libby upset doesn’t sit too well with me.
“What your brother is trying to say is that Hemingway books have a very specific inventory they must carry. All of the stores need to be identical–”
“Like clones. Impersonal. Dishonest…” she cuts in and it’s a stab I don’t think I deserved. After all, I didn’t know who she was when I rescued her from her date-gone-ghosted.
“We aren’t dishonest,” I say. “We are exactly what we advertise.”
“Until you start pulling strings, changing the agenda.”
“There was never an agenda. Not one that wasn’t made clear from the beginning,” Kai says, not realizing that we are having two different conversations. “Also, Libby, I don’t care if you are on board. We have talked for years about how this shop is going to get stagnant if we leave it as is–”
“You mean the way dad intended it to be?” she asks.
Jesus Christ.
“Look around you, Libby,” Kai says, motioning his arms in a circle. “Do you see mom or dad anywhere?”
Libby’s face reddens and at first, I think she is going to cry. But then I realize…she’s pissed.
“I see them everywhere. And if you had any heart at all, you would too.”
Kai opens his mouth to say something when his phone starts to ring. “I gotta take this, it’s the bank. Dax, for the love of God, help a brother out. Talk some sense into her, will ya?”
He walks out of the shop, leaving Libby and I together. I don’t know where the other booksellers disappeared to, but we are alone. The air between us is heated, awkward, and thick. So, I start talking.
“I didn’t know,” I say.
“Of course you didn’t. Although it would be convenient for you, wouldn’t it?” she spits out, and I narrow my eyes.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Oh, I don’t know. I’m not exactly a celebrity but people in the area do typically recognize me as the quirky bookstore owner from down the street.
The one that laughs too loud, reads the Gruffalo better than any school librarian ever could, and will probably be eternally single because she gives Miss Frizzle vibes. ”
I almost laugh at that. Now that I am seeing her in her element, she does give Miss Frizzle energy.
Goddamnit, Daxton. Focus. And stop imagining her in panties with stars and planets on them…
“What does that have to do with anything?” I bark out.
“You don’t see the irony of wining and dining a business prospect before the transaction is final? You’re not the only one who’s put in a bid for my store, you know.”
I snort at that. “Please. Who could bid higher than Hemingway?”
As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I realize how stupid they are. I press my palms together and take in a breath.
“What I mean is, I didn't know who you were when we went out. I also didn’t know that my business partner is your brother, though I’m surprised you didn’t.”
“Kai and I aren’t close,” she says, and something flashes in her eyes momentarily before disappearing.
“Even though you lost your parents?” I ask.
“Even more so. As you can see, I am trying to live out what they would have wanted. Kai hides his feelings in his wallet.”
I nod, suddenly realizing I am standing on a battle ground that is dangerously close to the heart. It means I am going to have to be tactful, but also, unattached.
“I’m not backing out,” I tell her flatly, holding face as I do. “It would be stupid on a business level to pass up on this real estate. And I’ve already put bids on the neighboring buildings for expansion."
“Well, I’m not backing down,” Libby says, her eyes meeting mine with the same stubbornness as last night. And despite the fact she is at a huge disadvantage, I know she means it. She’s going to fight us tooth and nail, even if it means she’s driving herself straight into the ground.
Kai suddenly reappears again, shoving his phone in his pocket.
“Things are looking good. You kids getting along yet?”
I look at Libby whose eyes are locked on me hard. I don’t know whether to be annoyed or turned on. Honestly, it’s a little bit of both.
“Something like that,” she says.
“Cool,” Kai claps his hands together. “Listen, Libs. I know you love the store the way dad built it. But times change. Demands change. So, trust me when I say we are doing you a favor. Selling the family bookstore to a man like Dax here guarantees us success. No more crunching numbers. No more coming up with our own marketing and promotions. And there will be an in-house coffee shop! You won’t even have to leave the building for your caramel latte or whatever it is you like. Trust me, it’s going to be good.
I am about to add to that, to let her know the mechanics of how it will all actually work, when my phone buzzes. It’s a text I need to respond to or I’m going to be kicking myself later.
“I have to take this,” I say, making my way out. “But we will be in touch.”
As I head towards my car, I debate just calling instead of texting but suddenly, I hear footsteps behind me, hot on my heels.
“Dax, wait.”
I stop abruptly and Libby almost runs into me.
“Libby listen…”
“No, you listen. We have a new set of rules. Nonnegotiable. One, last night, never happened. We don’t talk about it, we don’t mention it, and sure as hell never act on it. Two, my brother can never know.”
“Isn’t that kind of implied with rule number one?” I ask and her eyes literally set ablaze.
“I mean he will kill you if he even sees you flirting with me.”
For some reason that I am unsure of, the statement makes me laugh. “Don’t worry, I wasn’t planning on flirting with you.”
Immediately, I regret the way it comes out because Libby flinches ever so slightly.
“What I mean is, it was a one and done. Working together doesn’t change that,” I explain.
“Obviously. A lot of things haven’t changed it seems. A lot of things aren't what they seem at all. But you hear me– this shop might not be able to compete with a Hemingway. And it might mean nothing to my brother without a big name on the door. But it is everything to me. It was my father’s dream and now it is mine.
And you can wave your fat wallet all you want, but if the ship is going down, I’m going down with it. ”