10. Kara
CHAPTER 10
KARA
I have no idea what I expect when Ty and I walk into my new bookstore space the next morning, but the sight before me is enough to knock the air from my lungs.
The place is jam packed.
Not just with bookshelves and paint like yesterday, but with people. Friends. Neighbors. Half the town has shown up, buzzing with energy as they finish the painting, move the shelves into place, and assemble more furniture like they are on some kind of mission. My mission. My dream.
I stand frozen in the doorway, completely overwhelmed. It's too much. Sheer kindness, effort, love. I press my fingers to my lips, blinking rapidly to stop the tears that threaten to spill over.
A familiar presence appears at my side, his calloused hand brushing against mine. Ty . His touch grounds me instantly, like an anchor, keeping me steady in a sea of emotions.
"Told you they love you, Bookworm," he says, his voice warm with pride. His lips curl into that signature smirk, but his eyes, those deep, steady eyes, hold something softer, something real.
I turn to him. My heart is a tangled mess of emotions. Though I can only manage a breathless whisper. "How did you do this?"
This is so much more than the help we had yesterday, and I know he's behind it. I just don't know how.
Ty shrugs as if it's nothing, but the way his eyes gleam tells me otherwise. "Made some calls. Twisted some arms. Sold my soul. You know, the usual."
A watery laugh escapes me, and before I can overthink it, I throw my arms around him. "Thank you."
His arms lock around me, holding me close. "Always."
As we walk in, we pass by Hades, who is lying by the front door, soaking up attention from everyone who walks in and out. He seems to be enjoying the sunshine that's out today as well. Kids crouch beside him, running their fingers through his thick fur, giggling when he lazily wags his tail. Someone hands him a biscuit, and he takes it with a slow, satisfied crunch.
The moment is cut short by Emma practically bouncing toward us, clipboard in hand. "Okay, so here's the plan! We're going big with the reopening. We need social media buzz to bring in people from nearby towns, a marketing push, and--oh, I have so many ideas!"
She looks at me and Ty, grinning like she knows something I don't. Maybe she does.
I nod, still dazed. "I don't even know how to thank everyone."
"You already have," Emma says. "This town loves you, Kara. Now let's make this place something unforgettable."
I let Emma pull me away, so I can look over all the marketing material she's drafted up. I approve the last of the design details from Caitlin and sign the orders to move the Wi-Fi from my old store to the new one. We talk about promotional ideas. Book clubs, author signings, cozy reading corners that will draw people in. Each idea feels like a small victory, another step toward making this dream a reality.
As the day goes on, I watch it all unfold. The way Levi and Ty tackle the shelving, how Caitlin coordinates the shelf placement and furniture, and how even the gruffest Mustang Mountain men turn up, ready to work.
Ruby shows up with an entire spread of homemade pastries. I see Caitlin smack Miles' hand when he tries to sneak a third muffin. "For the workers, not the snackers!" she scolds. Though she hands him another one anyway.
I watch Ty pick up a muffin and walk over to where Hades is still standing guard by the front door. He feeds it to him, giving him some attention and some water, too. Then, meeting my gaze, he gives me a smile that makes my belly do flips.
Jackson and Asher arrive a little later, carrying in some wooden crates they salvaged from one of the old ranch barns. "Thought these might make some cool display shelves," Jackson says, setting them down near the front windows. The rustic look is perfect, and my heart swells with gratitude.
More and more people pour in throughout the day, offering extra hands, lending tools, even dropping off plants and little decorative touches that make the space feel warmer. A woman from town shyly hands me a quilt, explaining that it had belonged to her mother, who had been one of the first customers at my old store.
"She loved your shop," she tells me. “She would always read whatever book she picked up from you while sitting under this blanket. I know she'd want this here." I accept it with a tearful smile, folding it carefully over one of the new chairs.
People settle into their roles effortlessly. Levi and Ty build bookshelves as if they've been doing this forever, while Emma snaps photos, capturing the magic of the day to share on social media. Caitlin debates color matches with Ruby, planning where my new cozy reading nooks will go. There's an undeniable sense of purpose in the air. It’s as if we're all building something much more than a bookstore.
At one point, a group of kids races in, eager to see the transformation. I lead them to a corner where a children's section is taking shape. They sit on the floor, flipping through picture books while I read to them for a while, letting myself soak in the moment.
There is a bit of commotion when a new sign goes up on the window of the old store.
Coming soon: Fresh Market
It keeps the gossip going for the rest of the afternoon. But it's Ty who keeps drawing my attention. The way his strong hands steady the wood as Levi drills. The way he wipes his brow with the back of his inked arm. The way he glances at me every so often, as if making sure I'm okay.
And I am.
More than okay.
Because somewhere between the fresh paint, the smell of sawdust, and the sound of my friends laughing, it hits me like a freight train.
I love him.
I love Ty.
The realization settles deep in my chest, warm and undeniable. It isn't just a flicker of something new, it's something that has always been there, waiting for me to notice.
I watch him as he leans against one of the newly built shelves, rolling his shoulders, probably sore from working all morning. As if he feels my gaze, he turns and catches my eyes.
For a moment, the rest of the room fades away. It's just me and Ty. His expression softens, and he tips his head toward me. "You good, Bookworm?"
A slow smile spreads across my lips. "Yeah. Better than good."
His smirk deepens, but there's something mysterious in his expression, something deeper, something unspoken. And I realize with a jolt that maybe, just maybe, he already knows.
And maybe, just maybe, he feels the same way too.