More from Kim Nash
MORE FROM KIM NASH
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I knew I should have been paying more attention to the box I was carrying, rather than staring at the amazing sunrise over the sandy golden beach of Driftwood Bay. The box felt so much lighter when I left home than it did when I got to the harbour front on my way to Books In The Bay. And when it wobbled precariously, because I was too busy looking at the sun which had just peeked its head out, the thud, thud, thud of the books hitting the ground along with the ‘ooomph’ noise which came from the person I’d walked into was the only sign that I wasn’t alone.
I yelled out my apology. ‘I’m so sorry! I wasn’t looking where I was going.’
‘Clearly! You could have knocked me over.’ An abrupt deep male voice literally talked down to me. I grabbed at the books that were scattered around me on the floor. This was brand-new stock and I couldn’t afford for it to be ruined. That was the last thing I needed. Every penny in the till counted when you had your own business.
I looked up, still annoyed with myself, but even though I knew it was probably mostly my fault, surely I couldn’t take all the blame.
‘Well, you must have seen me coming. Couldn’t you have stepped out of my way?’ Luckily there were a number of benches around the harbour so I started to pile the books onto the nearest one.
‘You’re right and I’m sorry too. I was too busy looking at the sunrise. It’s an absolute cracker this morning. Here, let me help.’
Ah, a kindred spirit. Someone else who appreciated Mother Nature’s handiwork. Maybe I should forgive them for that alone. I straightened myself up, stretching my spine out, and moved my head from left to right as I looked at a mop of messy dark brown hair, and an arm reaching for a book that was teetering dangerously close to the edge.
‘There you go, last one. At least none of them ended up in the water.’
He popped the final book onto the top of the pile and straightened up. Blimey. If I wasn’t mistaken, the most handsome man I’d ever met was standing before me. He looked like a Hollywood movie star and was dressed like one too in a pair of dark denim jeans, a crisp white open-necked shirt and a pair of Ray-Bans perched on the top of his head. I’d say they were the real McCoy too, not some dodgy knock-off ones that you’re sold by a lucky-lucky man on the beach in Spain. Typical that on that very morning I had made a decision to chuck a fleece over my leggings and vest top and head down to my bookshop, before even washing my face, combing my hair and brushing my teeth. It was so early, I wasn’t planning to bump into anyone. Let alone literally.
I tilted my head at him. He looked familiar but I couldn’t quite place him. I didn’t think I’d seen him around before. I’m sure I would have noticed. Obviously.
‘Have you got far to go? Do you need a hand?’
I waved my arm behind me towards the shop.
‘Only there, it’s fine, thank you. I can make a couple of journeys.’
‘Come on, I’ll help, it’s the least I can do as our little collision was probably half my fault. And it’ll save you another trip or two. You grab that pile and I’ll grab this one.’
‘Thank you. That’s very kind.’
‘No problem. I’m waiting for my nan to get up. I’ve popped down to visit but it’s a bit early. I anticipated more traffic on the roads. What time does that bistro over there open? Do you know? I’m gagging for a coffee. And to be honest, I could do with the loo too.’
‘Ah not till eight.’ I glanced at my watch. ‘Most of the people in Driftwood Bay will still be asleep. I thought it was only me that got up at the crack of a sparrow’s fart to see the sunrise.’
We said the next sentence at the exact same time.
‘My favourite time of the day.’
We both laughed.
Gosh! He had a gorgeous laugh and I couldn’t help but notice that his eyes crinkled up when he smiled. It wasn’t every day that you bumped into someone who got you in a bit of tizzy first thing in the morning. Maybe today was going to be a good day.
The handsome stranger followed me to the shop and I put the pile of books on the step as I turned the key in the lock and pushed the door, propping it open with the cute little doorstopper that my friend Meredith had made me in the shape of a pile of books, before picking the pile of books up again. He followed me in and copied me as I placed the books on the wooden counter. It felt strange having someone come into the shop with me. This was normally my sacred time. The realisation of my dream come true.
Never being the most spontaneous of people, I don’t know what made me do it but the next words came out of my mouth before I’d even really thought about it.
‘I don’t suppose you… oh never mind.’
‘No, go on…’ He raised an eyebrow in anticipation.
‘Well, I was going to make myself a coffee. I don’t suppose you’d like to join me, would you?’ I could have kicked myself. Why on earth did I just invite him to join me? What was wrong with me?
‘That’s very kind of you. Do you normally offer random strangers drinks in the morning?’
‘Only on a Wednesday.’
He grinned back at me. ‘Well in that case, I’d better make the most of the day and I’d love to accept and perhaps if I tell you that my name is Dennis, and my nan is Vi, then I won’t be so much of a stranger.’
I spun around. ‘Oh, so you’re Dennis. Vi’s grandson. She talks about you all the time. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Nancy.’
‘So I gathered. Nan has talked about a bookshop coming to the village non-stop for weeks now. Invited me along to a launch day.’
‘Bless her. And yes, the more the merrier. I’ll just go and get some mugs and get that coffee machine on the go. The loo is that door over there.’
Heading into the kitchen, and swilling the mugs that I’d used the day before, I wondered what on earth had made me just invite someone I’d never met before to join me for a coffee. I didn’t do things like that. Not my style at all. But then, he wasn’t really a stranger if he was a relative of someone I knew. And Vi too. One of the loveliest people who has ever lived in Driftwood Bay. Most of the village would describe her as a real character, even if she called herself a daft old bag most of the time.
As I came out of the back room, he was back in the main area browsing the non-fiction shelves and I smiled when I saw him reaching out and touching the spines.
‘Ah, so you’re a book toucher, are you, Dennis?’
‘Caught red-handed. Though, I suppose, better than a book sniffer.’
‘Absolutely nothing wrong with a person who loves the smell of a good book I’ll have you know.’
‘Ah, so you’re a book sniffer then, Nancy?’
‘I couldn’t possibly confirm or deny.’ We both grinned at each other as I handed him a plate with one of my sacred almond croissants. ‘Coffee won’t be long.’
‘Thanks. So what do people around here do for fun? It’s always seemed like a little sleepy village with not much life in it.’
Insulted on behalf of Driftwood Bay, I was a little surprised at the turn of mood.
‘I can’t speak for everyone but I’m all for doing everything I can to save the environment.’
I couldn’t be one hundred per cent sure, but he may have started to roll his eyes at me and then stopped himself.
‘Yet you sell books, which are made from paper, and paper is damaging to the environment. Interesting!’ I knew that Vi didn’t mince her words. Maybe her grandson had inherited her traits. A smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes got me wondering about him blowing hot and cold. ‘So tell me about your little shop, Nancy. Nice little earner for you, is it? I always wonder how businesses survive in Driftwood Bay. I don’t get down here very often these days but there never seems to be loads of people around.’
Sure that my eyebrows were reflecting my quizzical thoughts, I thought about what a bizarre question it was and how out of the blue. One minute we were talking books and the next, this insult about my beliefs followed quickly by a personal intrusion asking about money. It was almost as if he knew finances was my weak spot, something that I hadn’t admitted to anyone.
He could see that I was a little flummoxed by his questioning and I was a little lost for words. I never was very good at hiding my thoughts, my inner feelings written all over my face, and right then I wasn’t sure if he was being passive-aggressive or just downright nosy.
‘Gosh, that’s quite a personal question when we’ve only just met.’
What I really wanted to say was that it was none of his business, but my parents had always brought me up to not be rude.
‘I’m a business analyst and I can’t help myself. Always worrying about the money side of things of a business.’
This was clearly an explanation and not an apology, and it was getting my hackles right up. Particularly because I had no explanation on the paper front.
‘Regarding the income I earn from the shop, I’m a huge believer in what will be will be, so try not to worry about such things.’
This time his expression showed me what was going on in his head.
‘Good luck with that,’ he mumbled as he took the mug of coffee I’d offered him. There was a little bit of me that was wondering whether I’d done the right thing by showing kindness to him. ‘Honestly, I visit so many people who have set up a business and have absolutely no idea about how they need to run it. They get these airy-fairy ideas and romanticise that running a business is easy. Did you know that most start-ups fail? It’s mainly because the owners live with their heads in the clouds.’
‘Thanks for the motivational words. I’ll bear them in mind. Have you ever considered doing a TED Talk? You’d be a knockout. Think of all the business owners dreams you could kill in a whole fifteen-minute speech.’
I glared at him, now absolutely wishing I hadn’t bothered to invite him in.
Dennis bit the inside of his lip and had the good grace to look a little sheepish.
‘Sorry, Nancy, I’m tired and grumpy and have a lot on my mind right now, but it’s no excuse. I shouldn’t have voiced my opinions out loud.’ His brow furrowed. ‘All you’ve done is show me kindness and I’ve not repaid that.’ He took a big swig from his mug, put it down on the counter, and turned towards the door. ‘Thank you for the coffee. See you around. And I promise to keep my views to myself if I do.’ He walked out, mumbling away to himself incoherently.
As I put my mug up to my lips, to sip at my drink, I wondered what on earth had just happened. Who was this opinionated man who had waltzed into my life on this Wednesday morning, making the wonderful effects of that gorgeous sunrise, which normally put me in a great mood for the day ahead, a distant memory? He knew nothing about me and he had no right to cast aspersions on me or my bookshop. However good looking he was.