Chapter 11 #2
“I’m wearing jeans and sneakers.” A spike of anxiety pierced her at the realization. If he had told her this was a business meeting, she would have dressed differently. Something more professional. Something that made her look like an actual grown-up.
“Hey,” Hawk said, his voice breaking through her rising panic.
The tone wasn’t its usual sharp irritation. If it had been, she would have snapped back. He was still in control, still calm, and to her surprise it helped her calm down.
“This is nothing formal. Just two business owners talking shop. Emily is really down to earth. She’ll love you.”
“You really think that?”
He offered a small smile. “Well, she loves fantasy novels and books. So of course she’ll love you.”
She’d heard her share of fake pleasantries before and had always brushed them off. But somehow, Hawk’s words sent a different kind of warmth through her. This time, it wasn’t anger.
“Thank you.” It was the only thing she could think to say. “You really didn’t have to do this.”
He shrugged. “I figured it was a good opportunity for you to ask about pricing. What works for them? I know a used bookstore isn’t the same as one that sells new releases, but it doesn’t hurt to make friends with local sellers. Right?”
“Right.”
His brows dipped in concern. “Lilian, are you all right?”
“Yeah.” She shook her head, trying to clear the fog of shock still hanging over her. She scrambled for a reasonable excuse. “It… it was a really good idea. I feel kind of dumb for not thinking of it myself.”
“Don’t.” His tone was firm but not unkind. “You’re still new to the bookselling business, and I’m not afraid to call the right people and ask questions. I know not everyone’s comfortable doing that, but if it helps my clients, I’ll do what it takes.”
Clients. Only moments ago, she’d thought of them as business partners.
That word felt wrong. Heavier. Was that what she was to him?
Another client? No, it didn’t feel right.
She wasn’t paying Hawk to help her. She hadn’t asked him to do this, any of it.
She’d only asked for his advice. This was above and beyond.
This was one of the nicest things anyone had done for her in recent years. God, that was embarrassing. And she would never admit it out loud.
“Thank you,” she said again.
“You’re welcome.”
“It would have been nice to have a heads up, though. I would’ve dressed up if I knew we were doing this.”
Hawk’s eyes roamed over her, quickly taking in the light cardigan and the tank top underneath. “You look fine. Besides, is there a professional wardrobe that booksellers hold themselves to that I don’t know about?”
“No,” Lilian said, trying very hard not to dwell on his fine. “I guess you have a point.”
“Of course I do.” He cut the engine of his truck and jutted his chin to the door. “Come on. Let’s socialize.”
“Why are you so chipper?” Lilian couldn’t help but ask, throwing herself out of the truck before the cool air of the air conditioner evaporated.
“Because, for once, we’re operating in my sphere of influence.”
“You told me you don’t know how to run a bookstore.”
“I don’t. But I know business and numbers.” He rubbed his hands together like a kid in a candy shop. “I have some questions of my own to ask.”
Despite the plain outside appearance, The Pretty Pages had a sleek, clean feel to it.
The floor was a kaleidoscope of yellow and white tiles that blended nicely with the painted black bookshelves.
The space was large enough for floor-to-ceiling shelves on either side of the room and display tables on the main floor.
A woman behind the counter smiled at their entrance. “Welcome to The Pretty Pages, how can I help you?”
“We’re here to meet Emily.” Hawk flashed her a polite smile, one that was reserved for business partners.
She brightened. Not in a swoony kind of way, but in a way that showed genuine excitement.
“Ah, you must be Hawk and Lilian. I’m Emily.
” She stepped out from behind the counter and shook their hands.
She was a tall woman, with shoulder-length hair that had streaks of gray highlighted among the mousy brown.
She wore a stylish polka dot maxi dress that looked perfect for the summer weather and a pair of bright red glasses that matched the outfit perfectly.
Once again, a sense of self-consciousness engulfed Lilian. This woman was so put together.
Emily shook both their hands with an air of confidence that Lilian was instantly jealous of.
After the pleasantries and introductions, Hawk’s hand fell against her shoulder, where it settled with a reassuring squeeze. “I’ll let you two talk.”
Lilian turned to him. “I thought you said you had questions as well.”
He leaned close, voice dipping low in a whisper. “This is the time for you to make connections. I’ll chat up her salesclerk and get everything I need.”
His breath tickled the shell of her ear, sending a delicious shiver through her. This close, she could smell his cologne. An intoxicating scent of sandalwood with a hint of spice. She liked it. A lot.
“Why don’t we go to the back? My coworker can watch the shop while we talk. Weekday mornings are pretty slow around here.” Emily’s eyes darted between the two of them, clearly trying to assess their relationship.
Lilian took an involuntary step back, hopefully making clear her feelings about the man next to her.
They walked to the back of the shop, where a door led to a storage room that doubled as an office space.
A standing desk was positioned between two shelves and boxes of books.
Lilian quickly took note of the space: the dry-erase board with scribbled to-do lists, the metal racks of books still in boxes, waiting to be put on the shelf.
“First of all, thank you for taking the time to talk to me today. I really appreciate it,” she blurted out, sounding like a nervous kid on their first job interview.
“Of course, we booksellers have to stick together.” Emily winked. “Everyone said I was crazy for quitting my old job to do this. But I don’t have any regrets.”
“You opened a few years ago, right?”
“That’s right.” Emily beamed. “Have you been here before?”
“Of course. I always try to stop by when I’m in town.”
“Thank you, that means a lot.” Emily draped her long body into a rolling chair and waved an arm at the empty armchair. “And what about your bookstore?”
“Mine?” She almost asked which one, but she wasn’t here to talk about Bodice and Brawn, no matter how much she loved her little shop at the faire. “It’s an old used bookshop my mom bought for a steal. And when I say old, I mean it.”
“Oh.” Emily’s eyes danced behind her glasses. “Like archival pieces?”
“More like dime-store paperbacks no one has ever heard of or wants to buy.”
“Ah, that is a problem.” Emily cocked her head in consideration. “Used bookstores do well when there is a flow in their stock. Things come in, but they need to sell quickly.”
“Right. Unfortunately, the books have sat around for too long. The majority of our stock is too old.”
“Well, it sounds like you know the first problem you have to fix. Inventory is everything.”
“Yeah.” Lilian nodded. “Which brings me to my first question. What do you use to keep track of it all? We’ve been struggling to establish a good inventory system.”
She prepared herself for the look of judgment. But Emily only nodded in understanding. Her gaze flicked from the stack of inventory, then to the computer and back again. She smiled. “How about I show you?”
The flow of conversation came naturally after that.
One question led to another, then another, until they were trading stories and commiserating over shared experiences.
The longer they talked, the lighter Lilian felt.
The invisible weight that had been on her shoulders eased as she realized she wasn’t alone in the struggle.
Together, she and Emily sketched out the biggest steps Lilian needed to tackle. As Lilian scribbled down her final notes, she caught sight of the clock. “Oh, man, it’s been almost two hours. You probably need to get back to the store.”
“Probably,” Emily agreed. “But this is so fun. I love talking to fellow bookshop owners.”
“I do, too,” Lilian realized, her newfound camaraderie with Emily warming her chest. This was what she needed. Someone who understood the struggle and could help her develop ideas.
“Here.” Emily reached behind her and plucked up a card. “Reach out if you have any other questions.”
Ah. Business cards. She remembered Russ had given her his when they’d first met. Weeks had passed, and she still hadn’t procured her own. Another thing to add to the list.
Hawk was standing in front of a bookshelf when they came out, an autobiography under his arm and a single coffee in hand. Guilt washed over her at the sight of him. “Have you been waiting long? I’m sorry, we were talking and time got away.”
She braced herself, ready for a cutting reprimand. What she got instead was an easy shrug.
“Don’t worry about it. I talked to Gabby for a while here, and since you guys were still chatting, I went and got that coffee I promised.” He handed it to her, and Lilian was shocked to find the cup was still warm.
“And you found a book, I see.” Emily smiled.
“Always happy to help a small business.” Hawk raised the book. “Do you want one?”
Lilian’s eyes jerked up from her coffee. Had she heard him right? “You are not offering to buy me a book.”
Amusement flickered across his face. “I am.”
It was too much. She wanted to scream, "Why would you offer to do that for me?" What came out of her mouth instead was a dumbstruck, “You got me coffee.”
“And now I’m offering to get you a book as well. I’m not hurting for cash. Besides, I want to thank Emily for taking the time to talk to you.”
“No thanks needed,” Emily assured. “But I won’t object to you spending money here.”
“Go,” Hawk whispered to her, his body giving her a reassuring bump toward the bookshelves. “Sip your coffee, pick a book. Just try not to take all afternoon.”
“I won’t.” Lilian bit down on a grin as she made a beeline for the romance section. It took her no time to find a new release she’d been dying to try. Hawk almost looked impressed by her efficiency when it came to selecting the book.
She tried not to think about how her stomach tightened at his offer to buy her a book, or how it seemed to become a habit now for them to get each other coffee. Or that this entire day felt like a Date with a capital D.
It’s not. It can’t be. This is a business trip.
But even that excuse didn’t have the same ease it once carried.
Especially when a vicious stab of jealousy shot through her when the sales associate, Gabby, couldn’t take her eyes off him.
She couldn’t really remember the reason he’d given her for helping.
There was absolutely no way Hawk was doing all this out of the goodness of his heart… right?
The question burned through her as they walked back to his truck. As she snapped the seat belt into place, Hawk turned the country music station back on. She knew she should ask him why he was doing all this work for her and her little bookstore.
But she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Why ruin what turned out to be a fun day?