Chapter 7
Avery
When I came back to Bookish at seven, I expected to find Flint alone behind the register, maybe looking a little lost as he waited for the book club to arrive.
Instead, the store was packed.
Tourists filled the aisles, their voices creating a cheerful hum that I hadn’t heard in months.
A family with three kids gathered in the children’s section while another couple browsed the mystery shelves.
An older man in a fishing vest was flipping through one of the local river maps near the front window.
And Flint was in the middle of it all, helping a young mother find picture books while her toddler clung to his leg like he was a jungle gym.
He didn’t seem to mind. He just kept talking to the mom in that low, patient rumble of his while the kid grabbed fistfuls of his jeans.
The magic Flint had cast on Martha Ellis was starting to pay off. Nothing else could explain the influx of people.
Something warm bloomed in my chest at the sight, but it vanished as soon as I saw what had changed since I’d left.
Right by the front door, where the “Locals Station” used to be, there was now an entirely new display.
Flint had moved bookshelves and done a full reset while I’d gone home to take a nap. The man was made of pure energy somehow, and I didn’t understand where it came from.
A big, hand-painted sign hung above the new section: Tourist Nook.
I stepped closer, my stomach tightening as I studied the display. He’d taken everything from the old Locals Station, rearranged it, and adjusted the marketing.
Local authors were still featured, but now they were positioned as “Hidden Gems of the Ozarks” instead of “Hometown Favorites.” The hiking guides and trail maps had been moved to eye level, and there was a whole shelf dedicated to “Mountain Reads for Mountain Getaways.”
It was smart. Really smart.
And it was working.
And I hated it.
Three different tourists were browsing the display right now, picking up books and actually reading the back covers instead of just glancing and moving on.
I watched them for a long moment, feeling something heavy settle in my chest.
All the changes Flint was making seemed to be working better than I’d ever thought they would. The reading nook, the new displays, the focus on tourists instead of just locals.
But where did that leave me?
I didn’t like change. Routine kept me going. And now the store was evolving into something I didn’t recognize. I wasn’t sure there would be room for me when it finished changing.
“Excuse me?”
I turned to find a woman in hiking boots holding up a copy of my friend Tanner’s oldest photography book, Seasons of the Ozarks.
“Do you have any more books by this photographer?” she asked. “My husband loves wildlife photography, and this one is gorgeous.”
“Let me check.” I moved to the nature section and rustled through the shelves until my fingers found what I was looking for. “Here we go. This is his newest one, and it’s a signed edition.”
I pulled out the last copy of Ghost Pig and handed it to her. The cover showed the famous albino pig that had been spotted around Red Oak Mountain for years, his pale snout lifted toward the camera like he was posing.
“Oh, this is perfect!” The woman’s face lit up. “It’s about that white pig everyone talks about.”
“It chronicles his whole family,” I said, warming to the subject despite my mood. “The author, Tanner, spent three years tracking them through the forest. There’s a whole chapter about the piglets.”
She clutched the book to her chest. “My husband is going to love this. Thank you so much.”
As she headed for the register, the bell over the front door jingled, and Becky walked in.
She stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes locking onto Flint behind the counter.
“Well, hello there.” She sidled up to me, her voice dropping to a whisper. “Who’s the hottie working the register?”
“That’s Flint,” I said, trying to keep my voice neutral. “He’s Marlene’s nephew. He’s running the store while she recovers. And you’re married. Don’t forget that.”
“Marlene’s been holding out on us,” Becky fanned herself dramatically. “And don’t worry, you know I only have eyes for Leland. Are you thinking about snatching that man for yourself?”
Before I could answer, the door chimed again, and Gwen burst through.
“Avery!” She grabbed my arm and grinned, her eyes darting to Flint and then back to me with barely contained glee. “Is that him?”
I felt my cheeks flush. I may have mentioned to Gwen that I had a tiny, insignificant, completely manageable crush on Marlene’s nephew. Just a small one. Barely worth noting.
“Gwen, please,” I hissed.
“He’s even hotter than you described,” she whispered back. “Look at those shoulders. And that beard. Oh, I just came in my panties. Avery, you have to go for him.”
“I’m not going for anything,” I muttered, “and don’t forget you’re already spoken for.”
She was already dragging me toward the back room where we held the book club.
Courtney, Jane, and Pearl arrived next, filing in with their usual chatter and bags of snacks. I started setting up the folding chairs and arranging the books we’d be discussing tonight while they settled in.
Then I peeked my head out into the main store just in time to see Annie Bishop walk through the door.
My heart clenched.
Annie was beautiful in that effortless way that made other women feel inadequate. She was chubby like me, but taller, with dark hair that fell in perfect waves past her shoulders. She had a personality that bubbled like champagne.
She was very, very single.
And she was looking at my Flint with obvious interest.
I watched as she walked over to the register, leaning against the counter in a way that showed off her cleavage. Flint said something to her, and she laughed, touching his arm lightly.
He seemed friendly. Open. Not pulling away like he did with the other women this morning.
Something cold twisted in my stomach as I remembered Sawyer.
That’s when I realized I was delusional.
I’d thought Sawyer was falling in love with me when, actually, he was just hooking up. And Flint would be the same way. I was already thinking we had a connection, but he wouldn’t be talking to her like that if it were true, right? Right?
I turned away as my heart dropped to my toes and focused on arranging the chairs with more force than necessary.
“Avery!” Pearl called out. “Is that man out there single? Because my friend would just love him.”
“I don’t know his relationship status,” I said tightly.
“Well, find out!” Jane chimed in. “For research purposes.”
Jane was the biggest gossip in town after Martha Ellis. I’d tell her nothing about Flint.
“Speaking of research,” Becky said, settling into her chair with a knowing look, “are mountain men allowed back in now? Because if so—”
“Absolutely not,” I hissed as I straightened a stack of books on the backstock shelf with sharp movements. “Banned for life. I’ll never forget what happened that night.”
“Forget what happened?” Flint’s voice rumbled right behind me, and I nearly jumped out of my skin.
He was standing in the doorway, his broad shoulders filling the frame.
All the ladies burst into laughter.
“Oh, you have to tell him!” Gwen clapped her hands together. “This is too good.”
“Avery swore off mountain men,” Becky announced helpfully. “After the Sawyer incident. But maybe you’ll be able to change her mind.”
“Becky!” I felt my face flush bright pink. “That has nothing to do with the book club ruckus!”
“What?” she shrugged, “He asked.”
Flint’s hazel eyes hadn’t left my face. “The Sawyer incident? Book Club Ruckus?”
Becky said, “Some of the men around here decided to invade the Mountain Man Book Club one Valentine’s Day. They gave us all a little strip tease until Avery here chased them out of the store.”
Amusement settled on his face. “And the Sawyer Incident?”
“I’ll tell you later,” I squeaked out.
He didn’t push. But his eyes lingered on me for a moment longer, warm and steady.
Then his lips quirked up into a rare smile, his lips parting as the whole world disappeared around us.
My pulse kicked up, and I was suddenly very aware of how close he was standing, and more importantly, how the other women had gone quiet, watching us with knowing smiles.
Then he nodded once and turned to head back to the front of the store.
The second he was gone, everyone started talking at once.
“Where did he come from?” Courtney demanded.
“Are you two dating?” Pearl leaned forward eagerly.
“Did you see the way he looked at her?” Gwen grabbed my arm. “Avery, that man is interested.”
“He’s not interested,” I protested weakly. “He’s just being friendly.”
“Honey, that was not a friendly look.” Becky snorted. “That was an I-want-to-take-you-home-and-do-unspeakable-things-to-you face. I know that look. You’re going to be booking a date at my place soon.”
Becky ran the local wedding chapel, and she was always working to drum up business.
I flushed hot pink as I glanced toward the doorway, my heart still racing.
Flint had been setting me on fire for days. But I hadn’t known if it was all in my head or not. My friends had just given me confirmation that it wasn’t just me.
Flint was being a big old flirt in his gruff, quiet way.
Then I noticed Annie sitting quietly in her chair, her expression carefully neutral. She looked let down.
And despite all my fears and walls, I felt a tiny spark of hope flicker to life inside me.
Had Flint just chosen me over her? It was almost impossible to imagine.