Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Tanner
The first thing I noticed when I walked into One More Chapter was that the store was downright cozy.
With the welcoming colors and comfy seating scattered throughout, it didn’t feel like a place where you simply came in to buy books, but where you were welcome to stay, to curl up and read, for as long as you wanted.
The second thing I noticed was her.
She was impossible to miss, standing in the middle of the space with all her golden blonde hair hanging down around her shoulders. It was like the sun was shining down on her, spotlighting her beauty.
“Holy shit. I love when I’m right,” another woman whispered, drawing my attention to her for the first time. I hadn’t noticed her sitting in the chair closest to the woman who’d snagged my attention the moment I walked in.
My lips stretched into a smile as the door closed behind me, my focus stolen once more by the ray of sunshine. “Hi.”
Her cheeks flushed and her caramel brown eyes widened.
“Uh . . . h-hello.” She gaped for a second, her mouth opening and closing like she was struggling to find the right words.
The woman in the chair reached up, smacking Sunshine in the stomach lightly like she was trying to snap her out of some sort of daze.
Sunshine blinked before clearing her throat and pasting on a tiny, nervous smile. “Welcome to One More Chapter.”
“Thanks.” I moved closer, taking in the shelves and shelves of books. Then I remembered the coffee cup and pastry bag I was holding from Muffin Top. “Sorry. I’m not sure if you allow outside food—”
She lifted her hand and waved off my concern. Her smile grew a bit wider and brighter, lighting her whole face up and nearly knocking the breath out of my lungs. “Oh, don’t worry about it. Muffin Top will always be the exception to any rule.”
I let out a low chuckle. “Something I’ve just learned.” I took another sip of the best damn coffee I’d ever hard.
“But if you need to free up your hands, I’m happy to keep your stuff behind the front counter while you shop.” She lifted her hands, palms facing outward. “I give you my word it won’t be tampered with.”
Christ, she was cute. “I trust you.” That was something I normally would have to be careful about.
I’d learned the hard way there were opportunists around every corner.
However, I’d also learned to trust my gut over the years, and my gut was telling me I didn’t have anything to worry about where this woman was concerned.
I extended my arms, handing over my coffee and muffin, and watched as she carefully tucked them safely away near the register.
“Thanks, I appreciate it.”
“No problem.” She seemed more comfortable now that she was focusing on professionalism. “If there’s anything else I can help you with, let me know.”
She started to turn away from me, but for some reason, the idea of losing those light brown eyes made my stomach drop.
I’d dated plenty in my life, probably more than plenty, but I’d never had a reaction like this to a woman before, one where I wanted to keep a complete stranger’s attention for as long as possible.
“Actually,” I started before she could fully turn away, “would you mind showing me where you keep your thrillers and murder mysteries?”
“Oh. Yeah, of course.”
“Thanks.” I gave her a practiced smile that had worked on women in the past and extended my hand to her. “I’m Tanner, by the way.”
The apples of her cheeks turned a deep pink and her eyelashes kissed the tops of her cheekbones when she glanced down almost bashfully. And damn if that look didn’t do something to me. “Um, yeah. Not to sound creepy or anything, but I know who you are.”
I figured by the way she’d looked at me when I first walked in. “You’re a hockey fan?”
“Oh, no. Nothing like that.” Her eyes flared wide like she was afraid she’d just insulted me.
“I mean, I don’t not like it. I’ve never really watched it.
” I raised my brows quizzically, and she lifted her shoulder in a shrug before explaining, “It’s a small town, and you were kind of an exciting topic for people last time you were here.
Also, I was at the wedding you attended with my friend Ivy. ”
“Ah. Well, I’m at a massive disadvantage,” One corner of my mouth kicked up in a smirk. “You know about me, but I don’t know anything about you.”
“Oh. Um . . .”
“Jesus, this is painful to watch,” her friend muttered in a whisper that was intentionally loud enough for us to hear.
She pushed to her feet, standing a good three inches shorter than Sunshine, if not more.
“Tanner, this stunning vision right here is my sweet, kind-hearted, gorgeous friend, Holiday Bradbury. But we all call her Holly, so feel free to do the same.”
“Naomi!” Sunshine—also known as Holly—hissed, her face growing redder and covered in a look of horror.
Naomi bugged her eyes out at her friend. “What?” she whisper-yelled. “Is anything I just said a lie?”
“Don’t you have a job you need to get back to?”
Naomi flopped back down in the chair, kicking her legs up over the arm and swinging them from side to side. “Oh, not a chance in hell.”
The muscle in Holly’s jaw ticked wildly as she mimicked her friend’s bug-eyed look, and I got the feeling they were having some sort of silent argument.
“Holiday,” I said quietly, breaking into their mental fight. “That’s a beautiful name.” My eyes locked gazes with hers. “It fits.”
Naomi’s jaw dropped for a second before she smiled a Cheshire-cat smile. Meanwhile, Holly looked like she wanted to hide away all of a sudden. And something inside me screamed not to let that happen.
“So, the thriller section?” I reminded her before she could do something like take off running in the opposite direction.
“Right!” Her body jolted back into reality and she gave her head a shake. “I’m so sorry. It’s right this way.”
I followed after her like a magnet being drawn to its polar opposite.
As I trailed behind her, I caught a whiff of her scent, it was like oranges and cloves, warm and sweet with only the slightest hint of spice.
It was a scent that reminded me of sunshine, just like her, and I caught myself inhaling deeply to pull more of that smell into my lungs, holding on to it for as long as I could.
“I think you’ll find everything you’re looking for on these shelves here,” she said with a flick of her delicate wrist before turning to face me and giving me a smile that hit me like a punch to the solar plexus. God, she really was beautiful. “If you need anything else, just holler.”
“Do you read thrillers, Holiday?” I asked, unable to help myself.
“You can call me Holly. And, yeah. I actually read a little of everything. A lot of everything, actually,” she answered, and the way her face lit up as she talked about books told me she had a real passion for them.
“Reading has been my favorite thing to do basically since I learned how. I read anything.”
“I get that. Isn’t it the best way to wind down?”
Her eyes sparkled as she nodded excitedly. “It really is. Add in a glass of wine and a bubble bath and we’re talking heaven.”
A low chuckle rattled my throat. “Oh, that’s the only way I read.” Her giggle sounded like windchimes. “Do you have any recommendations?”
Her hand came up, her fingers dragging through her long golden hair as her eyes traveled to the side in thought.
She hummed as she trailed her fingers across the colorful spines of the books, searching for one she liked.
“This one was really good. The twist near the end caught me by surprise. Oh! And this one. It’s a little spooky if that’s your thing.
I’ll admit, I was reading this one late at night and it kind of creeped me out a bit. I had to sleep with the lights on.”
“I love a good creep out. I’ll take both.
Anything else?” I followed her like an eager puppy as she spoke passionately about books she enjoyed.
In less than ten minutes, I was holding a stack of seven books, and I was fully prepared to buy anything else she liked.
Hell, if she’d recommended the phone book I probably would have bought it.
I tucked away for future use the knowledge that talking about books brought Holly out of her shell and made her shine brighter, because I absolutely planned on using it again later. Anything to make her comfortable enough to go on and on the way she was just then.
“I’m sorry,” she said on a small laugh. “I didn’t mean to talk your ear off. I tend to ramble when it comes to books.”
“Please. Don’t apologize,” I assured her. “I get the same way. The reason I’m here in the first place is because I’ve already read through all the books I brought with me.”
The way she smiled at that made my insides tighten. “It’s always nice to meet a fellow book junkie.”
I would have gladly stood there and listened to her talk until my arms got tired holding all those books. Unfortunately, the bell over the door chimed, alerting her to a new customer, so she left me to browse by myself while she got back to work.
I found another book I’d been meaning to read, as well as a couple more that looked interesting, then headed back to the register a few minutes later.
Holly had just finished checking out her other customer as I stepped up to the counter and set down my purchases to be rung up.
“Wow.” Holly’s friend, Naomi, came up beside me, propping her hip against the front of the checkout counter. “That’s quite the haul you have there, hockey boy.”
My brows rose up on my forehead. “Hockey boy?” I asked, humor laced through my voice.
She shrugged casually. “Don’t know you well enough to get more creative just yet.”
I could appreciate that. From what I remembered of the people I met the last time I was here, the town was full of quirky characters who only enhanced the charm of the town.
Clearly, this woman rated high among them.
“I can appreciate that. And as for the books, I’m a huge reader. These probably won’t last me a month.”
“Huh.” She hummed thoughtfully. “What a coincidence. Our Holly here is also a huge reader.”
I turned to the woman in question, my lips curving upward again. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d smiled this damn much in such a short period of time.
Holly glanced up from the book she was ringing up and offered me another bashful smile as her cheeks pinkened once more.
“So she said.” Under my attention, her blush rose higher on her cheekbones. “Which makes this the perfect place for me. I’m sure I’ll be in here a lot while I’m in town.”
“You hear that, Holls? He’ll be in here a lot.”
Holly cast her friend a threatening look before switching her attention back to me. “You’re welcome any time. And I hope you enjoy these books. You’ll have to let me know what you think.”
“I have no doubt I will.” I usually liked to get to know a woman a little better before I asked her on a date, but something about this one had my instincts screaming to act fast. She’d said that last part as a one-off, but I jumped on the opportunity it created.
“I’d love to give you my thoughts, say, over dinner tomorrow night? ”
Holly’s lips parted and her eyes widened in shock, like she couldn’t believe I was asking her out.
I studied her features. Her delicate nose that turned upward ever so slightly, her perfect rosebud lips, and the rosy apples of her cheeks.
I didn’t see a hint of dishonesty in her eyes, which led me to believe this woman truly didn’t realize what a knockout she was.
“Oh. Uh . . .” Holly seemed almost nervous, while I could practically feel the energy buzzing off her friend beside me.
“She’d love to!” Naomi chirped excitedly, earning herself a murderous glare from Holly that made my stomach drop to my feet. I didn’t get turned down often, but it didn’t take a genius to see that was the direction she was headed.
“Please ignore my friend. She has this condition where she speaks without thinking.” She licked her lips and cleared her throat before continuing. “That’s really sweet, but I’m afraid I have to decline.”
I knew I failed at keeping the disappointment I suddenly felt off my face. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. If you’re seeing someone—”
“Oh, no. I’m single.” And with those two words, the spark of hope came back to life. “It’s just that I’m not really dating right now.”
“Honey, don’t be ridiculous,” her friend Naomi butted in. “Of course you’re dating,” she declared before shifting her gaze to me. “Of course she’s dating. And tomorrow is perfect.”
“Naomi,” Holly said in warning, but there wasn’t a lot of heat behind it. Not that it mattered much to the tiny dynamo at my side. She didn’t bother to glance at her friend as she tore a scrap of paper from the receipt machine and started scrawling something on it.
“Here. This is her number. Give her a call later to finalize the details. I promise, she’s going to be so excited come tomorrow.”
A part of me questioned if the tiny woman beside me was a little crazy, but another part of me really wanted Holly’s number.
There was no way in hell I’d force a date on her if she didn’t want it, but at least this way, I could keep in contact without having to show up at her job day after day.
And hopefully, after exchanging some texts, she’d warm up to the idea of a date.
Taking the slip of paper, I carefully folded it up and put it in my pocket. I gave Naomi a polite nod, but hit Holly with the most charming smile I could muster. “Ladies, it was nice meeting you both.” Then I said specifically to Holly, “I really hope to see you again soon, Sunshine.”
I managed to keep the victorious smirk off my face at her sharp intake of breath as I gathered up my things and headed back into the cold. I was going to have to give some real thought to how I was going to play this, because everything inside me was screaming to see that woman again.