One-Click Christmas (Chestnut Lane Bookstore #1)

Chapter One

Lana

Chestnut Lane Bookstore… my home away from home, the cutest little place to ever exist. And this time of year, I fall even more in love with the floor to ceiling pinewood shelves, twinkling front windows, and hand-cut snowflakes dangling from the ceiling.

Heck, even Bookmark, the tabby cat that loves curling up in open books, is donning a festive red bow.

I swear I’ll be here until they shutter the windows, lift me up, and set me out onto the sidewalk. Trouble is, that day might be coming sooner rather than later.

I lift a heavy cardboard box up onto the counter with a grunt as my boss Marley steps into the shop with my favorite co-worker, Holly.

They’re both dressed to the nines as usual.

Marley in her long tweed coat, cute red pencil skirt, and flowy white top.

She even hand-selects a pretty Christmas pin every morning to add to her collar.

Holly isn’t as fancy, but even in a pair of jeans and a Christmas sweater, she looks effortlessly cool.

She flashes me a grin as she walks in, settling her canvas tote under the counter before shuffling toward me as though she has gossip she’s ready to unload.

I’m guessing it’s about Marley because she waits for her to disappear into her office before officially saying hello to me.

“Oh my God,” she squeals, tugging her hand down over her long brown ponytail. “Marley has some kind of news she wouldn’t tell me, but she was super excited this morning. It sounds huge.”

“Yeah?” I grin, pulling open drawers to look for the box cutters. “You think this is real news or another fake out? Remember last month when she told us all about this new section she was adding to the bookstore, and it was a single shelf with three copies of The Art of Mushroom Foraging?”

Holly laughs and shrugs, straightening her reindeer sweater. “Maybe, but I think it has something to do with saving the store. The whole ride in she was talking about this surprise guest thing. I think it’s someone important.”

I narrow my brows, still searching for anything to open this damn box with.

“Like who? I mean, we’re a tiny little bookstore in the middle of some mountain town no one has heard of.

Plus, I think there’s a snowstorm on its way.

Who in their right mind would want to come out and get stuck in that mess? ”

“You okay this morning?” Holly nudges my shoulders before searching through drawers with me. “You seem on edge.”

“Yeah,” I sigh, finally giving up the search.

“Lots going on at home, and I’m a little worried about the shop.

I mean, I love the idea of this surprise guest stuff, but I don’t know how that’s going to save us.

I think we need some kind of recurring club or a loyalty program or something.

Any idea that sets us apart. There’s this shop in the Springs that prides itself on having all these first-edition books.

Maybe we need something like that. Something that’ll continuously draw people in, ya know? ”

She nods and pulls out a pad of paper and a pen.

“These are good ideas. I’ll pass them around and see if maybe we can all come up with something different to try.

Can’t hurt. I can search online for estate sales and stuff.

People are always getting rid of things they don’t realize are valuable.

Maybe I can find some gems on the cheap and start a whole vintage resale section. People like stuff like that, right?”

I nod, feeling guilty for being so pessimistic. “Or maybe this surprise Marley’s got will change everything. Who knows? Plus, you’ve got a million things on your plate with your car in the shop and Christmas coming.”

She scrunches her nose and nods, a short smile on her face.

“I think my car is permanently in the shop. I’m never going to be able to afford the bill to pick it up.

Also, I have no idea how I’m going to afford gifts for Kade this year.

He’s two. Christmas magic is at an all-time high. I can’t let him down.”

“Let me help! It’s the least I can do. You helped me out with my mom so many times last year.”

“Not the same.” She pulls open another drawer. “I appreciate it, but you know how I am. I’ll figure things out. I was just venting. I’m done now.” She smiles widely. “You finish the new Hunter Black book last night?”

“Ugh, I was sad it ended. You?”

“Yeah, I’m obsessed! I’m going to read it again tonight, catch all the nuances I missed the first time.

I mean, if I don’t find love like Brick and Eliza’s, I don’t think I want love at all.

It was perfect, and that epilogue!” She makes this little sigh that tells me we’re in the same place. “That man can write a book!”

“I know. I’m obsessed… literally. I spend way too much time stalking him online.”

She laughs. “Okay, I haven’t gone that far. I mean, I know he’s hot from that picture in the back of the book, but I don’t follow him online.”

“My God, that pic in his book doesn’t do him justice. He’s like six and a half feet tall, covered in tattoos, dark featured, and he’s always got this look on his face like he wants to devour me whole.”

“You specifically?” she laughs. “I think you might need an intervention.”

“Probably, but it’s like… how do I not be obsessed with a man that writes the things he writes and looks the way he looks?”

“Do you think he’s really that freaky or is it just an imagination thing? I mean, these authors make bank on crafted fiction.”

I shrug. “I’m going with that freaky. The man wears red suspenders. I don’t think a person would wear red suspenders unless they were totally, insanely freaky.”

She grips my hand with playful comfort. “Oh no. It’s for sure now. You’ve lost it.”

“Probably. It’s been way too long since I’ve felt any kind of sexual energy outside of the pages in a book. I mean, sure Troy and I were together for a while, but he was… well, you know Troy.”

Her eyes widen. “I did know Troy. He was nice.”

“Nice and boring.” My eyes roll. “He was in bed every night by nine, and I had to continuously give a TED talk about how sex could be more than a quick fuck. Even then, he seemed annoyed at the prospect of foreplay.”

“Yeah, that’s a problem.” She laughs and takes a sip from her water bottle. “Kade’s dad was similar. His idea of foreplay was cheating on me with the neighbor, who bragged about how short she is like it’s a personality trait.”

I sigh. “That’s why women need romance novels and big, sexy, emotionally mature men like Hunter Black.”

Her brows narrow. “Sorry, but I think all the emotionally mature men were abducted and returned to their home planet. Hunter Black is probably just a hologram beamed in from whatever galaxy specializes in six-pack abs and emotional cognizance.”

I shake my head, grinning with narrowed brows. “I refuse to believe it.”

“Hey ladies!” The scent of pumpkin spice follows Marley as she makes her way back out into the main part of the shop. She’s carrying the box cutters I’d been looking for. “Saw these in the back room, figured you needed them.”

“Thanks!” I say as Bookmark hops up onto the counter and purrs, rubbing up against my arm for pets. “Holly says you have news!”

A wide grin lifts her cheeks as she leans into the counter.

“I do, but first, I wanted to say how much I love you girls and how thankful I am that you work so hard to keep my grandpa’s dream alive.

This bookstore is everything to me, and this Christmas I’m going to pull out all the stops to save it. ”

“The suspense is killing me!”

“Okay,” Marley grins wider. “Well, as you know, we have a very special guest on the way. They’re set to arrive tomorrow for a reading of their book and a signing.” She nods toward me. “You’ve been in charge of preparations, and we have a rather large preorder count for this event.”

“It’s crazy, especially since these people don’t even know who the author is.”

“People like surprises. Have you seen those blind date book boxes? They fly off the shelves.”

She’s holding back. I swear she loves toying with us.

“Yeah, they’re super cool… so who’s the guest?” My tone is sarcastically playful.

“I don’t know if I want to tell you. Maybe you guys want to be surprised too. I mean, you’ve come this far.”

I narrow my eyes and lean into the counter. “You’re enjoying this way too much.”

“Maybe,” Marley grins, twisting a pen between her fingers, “or maybe I’m really good at building suspense, like a certain author I know.”

Holly huffs. “So… romantic suspense author. How many books have they written?”

“Sixty-two,” Marley offers as though she’s being generous with her clues. “Their newest book comes out in January,” she slows her speech, emphasizing each word, “but we have first edition copies in that box right there.”

My heart pounds as I reach for the box cutters and slice into the tape layered on top. I only know one author that’s releasing a book in January, granted I don’t follow many authors, but there’s no way in hell New York Times Best-Selling author Hunter Black is going to be at this little bookstore.

I peel back the cardboard flaps, and the smell of fresh ink and crisp pages hits me like a warm hug. I’ve always loved this aroma, ever since I was a kid. Holly leans in beside me as I pull back the bubble wrap.

I blink. “What? No way!”

Marley’s smile is smug now. “Way. He’ll be here tomorrow at eight in the morning. I’m hoping you can show him around the store, maybe entertain him with some breakfast. His agent said he’s pretty private, so I’m thinking I’ll have the bakery drop some specialties off early tomorrow.”

My head spins, and I wonder if maybe this is some kind of sick dream. Maybe I fell asleep in the chair after finishing his book last night. Maybe I got run over by a reindeer and this is the coma hallucination I’m having before I check out for good.

I stare back at the stack, then toward Holly, who looks just about as shocked as I do, before finally making eyes with Marley. “Are you sure? This is insane. I mean, how did you get someone that huge?”

Marley grins. “I have my ways.”

“No, seriously. How? I love this store, it’s my whole life, but… Hunter Black? He’s the biggest thing in romance.”

“Apparently,” Marley says, tilting her head to the side, “he’s a bit of a grump.

Hates people, hates signings, hates the cities they send him to.

His publishing company requires he do at least three events a year, so he chooses small-town stores to get away from the crowds.

” She shrugs. “I pitched the store back in April. The secret has been killing me!”

I glance at the box of first editions and then back at Marley.

“So, you’re not kidding? This isn’t like a cardboard cutout of Hunter Black?

The real, breathing human will be here, in our shop, tomorrow morning?

” I pick up a book and flip to the back cover where his too hot for life photo is printed.

“This man, right here, he’s coming to the store tomorrow, and I’m in charge of having breakfast with him? ”

Marley nods, laughing. “Merry Christmas! Help yourself to a book, too. Both of you. I expect them to go quickly tomorrow.”

I cradle the book like it might fly away as I stare blankly ahead. How am I going to finish the day? I need a new outfit, a new haircut, a new personality, a new face, a new everything. “This is insane. I mean, what do you even say to someone whose work you’ve admired for years?”

“Is it his work you’re admiring?” Holly laughs. “Just be yourself, or a slightly less obsessive version of yourself.”

“Ha. Ha. Ha. You know that’s impossible. I mean, do I talk about his books or—”

“If this goes well,” Marley interjects as though she’s second-guessing her choice, “we could have him here every year, which could mean big things for the bookstore. Think of all the people we’ll draw in.

He’s already a mountain guy, so it wouldn’t be a stretch to think he’d want to come back if we treat him right. ”

Hunter Black, here in our store… every year. We’d be friends. He might even write about me in a book.

Oh God! I need to calm down and get a grip. I can’t be the reason he’s freaked out and never wants to come back again.

“For sure,” I manage. “I’ll be very professional.”

Holly raises an eyebrow, unconvinced. “Professional with a side of crazy, or just professional?”

“You don’t know me.” I bite back a giddy laugh. “I’m great at multi-tasking. Plus, it’s a positive that I know so much about him. I mean, who else has read every article, listened to every podcast, and studied every obscure blog post?”

She laughs. “You’re going to freak him out.”

“I’m going to charm him,” I correct her dramatically, “with my literary insight and hosting skills.”

Marley smirks. “I know you will. Just remember he’s a quiet guy who isn’t into a lot of drama. So, keep it low-key. We’ll save the shrines for next year.”

Low-key… right. I’ll totally keep it low-key.