Chapter 41
Jo
The crowd outside All Booked Up was shockingly large.
More than one person had suggested we delay the party, but this felt right to me. I didn’t want to focus on the bad that’d come from this—I wanted to move forward with hope and focusing on the good. Based on the people hovering outside, the support would undoubtedly overwhelm me in the best way.
“I can’t believe this,” I said, voice shaking enough that Adam rubbed my back.
“Nerves are normal, but I can believe it. You’re amazing and people want to support you.” He dropped a kiss to my cheek.
“Thank you. I just hope everyone’s happy…” I always had doubts about whether readers would enjoy my books, but because I only interacted with them online, I never worried about looking someone in the eye and seeing disappointment. Yikes.
“Ready? They’re here…” Jess peeked in through the doorway from the main store into the reading room, then scuttled to me and hugged me. “I’m so freaking proud of you. This is going to be amazing.”
My sweet friend hadn’t been able to wait until too much later to find me after the craziness last night. She’d just said, “You’re really her?” and I’d laughed, tears in my eyes and said, “Yeah. Surprise!”
She’d launched at me, hugging me tightly before giggling in a way I could only describe as maniacally, and then she did a thing I wasn’t sure I ever imagined my badass friend Jess doing—she had jumped around and clapped like a child. “This is so cool! This is so, so cool!” And all those worries that she’d hate me or feel betrayed? She had put those thoroughly to rest.
Since she was in the know, she got to be the guide for the rest of our friends.
“I sure hope so.” Nerves knotted in my stomach, and I was sweating, which I really didn’t want to do. I’d worn a cute navy dress that coordinated with the back cover of my book and strappy sandals to match. My hair was down and wavy, and overall, I felt put together and comfortable in a “Hey, I made an effort!” kind of way.
But this was it. In seconds, my friends would be the first inside for a special few minutes so they could learn the truth before the party official began.
“That’s my cue,” Adam said, then cupped my face. “It’ll be great. I’ll see you in a few.”
And then, he abandoned me to my fate after a soft kiss to my lips.
“Oh, hey, Adam.”
I could hear Catherine’s voice right outside the door. Of course my friends would greet him because they knew him, and they were friendly and they probably hadn’t expected to see him. Because they weren’t expecting to see me.
“Ready, ladies?” Jess asked, a smile audible in her voice.
One of them screeched—Dove, if I had to guess. I exhaled out my nerves and rolled my shoulders back, finally facing a moment I’d been dreaming about more and more lately.
Dove, Elise, Catherine, Nikki, and Winnie all shuffled through the door followed by Jess, who said, “Ladies of the Silver Ridge Romance Readers Club, I give you, Josie Wade.”
“Wait,” Elise said, her eyes flicking around the room.
Nikki and Winnie shared a look while Catherine eyed me.
“What? What?!!” Dove’s exclamation rose.
And then they all broke—Winnie and Catherine were laughing, Nikki beaming, Elise cackling with a full, throaty sound that was pure joy, and sweet Dove was shrieking, “Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! It’s you! You’re her! She’s you!”
I’d never known a moment so full of elation and love and excitement and relief as this one. They all ran to hug me, their words coming from all angles.
“I can’t believe it!”
“I can toootally believe it!”
“This is amazing.”
“This is the best day ever!”
I swiped at my eyes and Dove dabbed at hers, too. Winnie sniffled a little, but everyone else seemed to have held it together. We found our usual Romance Reader Club seats and Dove burst out first.
“Okay, tell us everything. I need to know how it started and how it’s going and what Adam thinks.” She wiggled her brows like this was salacious.
I chuckled, but Jess cut in. “Of course we want all the details, but the signing starts in five minutes.”
Dove clapped but Elise grumped. “Ugh. Fine. But we will expect a comprehensive report on all things Josie Wade, and you will buy us guacamole as your formal but entirely unnecessary apology for keeping this from us.”
My heart swooped low. “I really am sorry I didn’t tell you. You have no idea how much I wanted to. But between the letters I was getting and some other things, I just…”
“You don’t need to apologize. You made the best decision based on what was right for you, and we can’t fault you for that.” Winnie understood a little something about hiding things since she’d kept the convenience part of her marriage to Tristan out of our discussions when we’d all met her. But it’d been right for her then, and we’d understood.
Of course they were forgiving, or even, absolving, of me now.
“It’s true. I would love to have known all this time, but I’m so glad to know now. I’m sorry you had to keep it from us, and I’m so, so sorry for the problems you’ve had.” Catherine reached for my hands and squeezed.
Jess had told them Josie Wade had a stalker and that was why she didn’t tend to do signings, but they didn’t really connect with the fact that it was me until right now.
Stricken, Dove’s eyes widened. “Oh my gosh. Josie Wade has a stalker so you do… Are you okay? What can we do? Can Jess find him?”
Jess grinned and I stood and hugged her. “That is a story I will tell you after tonight, but for now, I promise he’s not a concern.”
“It’s time,” my dad said, leaning into the room. “Come get in line, girls.”
We moved into the store, and my heart threatened to beat out of my chest with pride and joy and excitement, and yes, still nervous energy. The store looked fantastic and had been slightly rearranged so my signing table would be right in front of the romance archway. Two rolling shelves had been brought in and filled with my books—I’d told my dad it was likely overkill because so often people brought their own books, but he’d refused to listen and had rushed shipping.
Adam waited by the door, and I noticed at least six other Saint Security employees scattered out front, and Tristan was tucked back behind me. Though they had no concerns about Lester anymore, Adam had mentioned they were all coming to support me.
Evidently by support, he meant create an imposing security presence.
Although honestly, given that my books were about hot veterans defending their women, I couldn’t be mad at the preponderance of capable, muscular men peppering the area.
My dad opened one door, and Adam pulled open the other. Dad stood in front of the store before anyone entered. “Thank you all for coming! Since the store is small, we’ll ask you to stay in line and enjoy the summer evening until we invite you in. Thank you for coming to celebrate Josie Wade’s book release!”
Cheers rose and I giggled, red in the face, until I’d signed each of my friends’ books. The line kept moving, and Dad and two other store employees were running checkout and helping with the lines while Jess jumped in and took photos for people.
I hadn’t seen Elizabeth yet since my dad and Jane had kept her busy meeting her stepsiblings, but I had called my mom this morning. She hadn’t seemed upset, though she hadn’t been ecstatic like my dad had been. That was okay. Even if she didn’t like the path I’d chosen, I felt better being honest with her. Now there were no secrets.
Elizabeth knew the truth, but I wanted her buy-in. I wanted her on my team for this, and nothing had drilled that home more than the relief and amazement when I’d seen her last night.
The sheer number of familiar faces coming through the line floored me. There were the expected ones—Jane and Sarah Saint, Calla and Wyatt, Sadie and Warrick—but they had to come, didn’t they? Jane would’ve strong-armed them into it, though I suspected, based on the way this family showed up for one another, she didn’t need to.
The Morrisons all showed up, too, and though I didn’t know all of them personally, I recognized them and so did nearly everyone else in town because they were Silverton Royalty. Liam and Wells Morrison, Danny and Mia Morrison, and Leo Morrison and Jonas Bauer, but then came Jamie and Bel Morris, whom I and everyone else in the world knew thanks to Jamie’s rock-star status. Dahlia had brought a huge bouquet for me, and John squeezed me tight. Kieran, the Irish pirate as we’d come to know him thanks to Kenny, came by and gave me a quick peck on the cheek after getting his copy signed. Adorable.
Some people had come from Salt Lake and others from Brigham City. Someone had driven all the way from Las Vegas, which was amazing because we’d only advertised the signing since last night when Dad asked what I thought, and in a show of freedom I hadn’t experienced since I’d first read the turn in Lester’s letters, I’d said yes.
The line slowed eventually, and then each of the Saint staff came through. By now, my friends had all pulled up seats and were chatting happily around me, my own little entourage. Bruce came by and bought a copy even though Nikki clearly already had one. Kiley had already come through with a group of friends.
Ethan swung by and gave me a huge hug. “You’re quite the entrepreneur, Jo. But I’ll admit, coffee and books—perfect combo.”
I beamed at him. “Absolutely. I’m so grateful to be your partner with Joe. You’re doing an amazing job.”
He swallowed hard, like he’d needed to hear that. The store was doing great, and he seemed to have a knack for it, but I hugged him again. “Thanks for coming.”
Tristan brought his collection—yes, he had all of my books—and added the newest release to the top of the pile. “Proud of you, Jo,” he said, and his quiet comment was one I’d treasure because he was both an actual reader, and an actual soldier, and my friend’s husband.
Beast’s arrival was a genuine surprise.
“Oh, wow. I didn’t expect you to want a copy.”
He blinked at me. “Why not?”
I laughed. “Uh, fair point. I don’t know. And, thank you again for yesterday and these last few weeks.” I couldn’t imagine standing outside the bookstore was fun, but he’d done it faithfully, back and forth with Cookie.
“My honor,” he said, then his gaze flicked to Jess’s, then away.
Naturally, mine did, too, and her thunderous glare wasn’t a shock, but it still surprised me. Beast held the book up in farewell, and I smiled at him.
“Oh, hi,” Elise said, her voice having an odd, breathy quality that hardly sounded like her and drew my attention.
“Hey.” Cookie’s response came with a soft smile for her and ohhh. As though he had to pry them away from my friend, his eyes found me as he shifted down the table. “Mind if I get your autograph?”
I laughed and my friends snickered. “Of course not. And thank you for all your help.”
“Anytime. Though I do hope there’s no need from now on.” His smile was so charming and friendly. I’d never really looked at the man but goodness, he was handsome.
“Slide along, soldier. I need to hug my sister.” Elizabeth stepped in front of me at the table, and I bolted from my chair and around the table so I could hug her.
“Thank you for coming.” My throat was tight around the words, but I refused to cry.
She pulled back and held my shoulders.
“I wouldn’t miss this.” Her smile was huge and genuine and hiding nothing from me. No mask for this moment—just her. Just Lizzy. “I’m so proud of you. I can’t believe you kept this from me all this time, but I’m so happy you found something that makes you happy.”
“Really?” I said, voice watery.
Her brow furrowed. “Of course. It’s amazing. I wish I had something like this.”
“Wait, really? I honestly thought you were going to be disappointed. I mean, what am I doing for the world? I’m not changing anything, I’m just…”
She shook me a little, her hands firm on my shoulders. “You’re bringing joy. Distraction. Love. Light. Beauty. Hope… You’re giving people a reprieve from the harsh realities of this world and giving them something to laugh or cry or think about that isn’t something overwhelming in their real lives. That is a gift and it’s wonderful, and I won’t tolerate you disparaging it.”
My mouth fell open, her words so deeply meaningful to me, I couldn’t find my own to respond with.
“Hear, hear!” Jess said, and my friends and family nearby joined in to echo it.
I laughed, swiping at my eyes for what felt like the hundredth time in this dream of a night.
“I’m going to go and let you wrap up here, but we’re going to lunch tomorrow, right?” Lizzy said after one more hug.
“Yes. Can’t wait.”
Kenny jogged up to the table right as my dad shut the doors to the store. He was fumbling with his phone and looking a little harried, and started talking before he’d even reached the signing table.
“Sorry I’m late, Jo. I needed to grab something at work and then—” Kenny’s words cut off and he froze, still as death, when he glanced up to see my sister’s face. The air gusted out of him and his lashes fluttered. “Liz.”
Her hands had dropped away from me, but I could sense she’d stiffened at his voice. She turned her head ever so slightly and met his eyes for half a second, dropped her chin, and then left.
My sister, the conqueror of bad guys and badass woman I looked up to, had just practically run away from… Barbie?
“Do you know Elizabeth?” I asked, because what?
Kenny’s gaze had followed her to the door, and he was still craning as though stretching his neck would help him see where she went.
“Kenny?” I prodded.
He shook himself and flashed a smile. “Right. Yeah. We’ve met. Anyway, will you sign? So proud of you, Jo. You’re awesome. Seriously. So awesome. I assume at least one of your heroes is based on me?”
I chuckled. “Oh, definitely all of them, obviously.”
He grinned. “Naturally.” He held up a hand and I high-fived him, then he sauntered off like he had not a care in the world.
“Okay, we all saw that, right?” Dove asked, surveying the group.
“Yes, we did,” I confirmed as my friends nodded.
An hour later, we’d cleaned up and closed the shop, parted ways with my family and friends, and Adam walked me to my door.
“Are you coming in?” I asked, eyeing the way he hadn’t followed me inside.
His blue eyes pierced me and my stomach flipped.
“I want to, but the crisis is over and I think it’s best if I go back to my place.” He shifted forward like his body wanted to follow me even if his mouth had just drawn a line between us.
I wouldn’t jump to conclusions here because we’d been through so much. Maybe he just needed time to himself. “Is everything okay?”
He reached out, his movement lightning fast, and gripped my waist.
“It’s better than I’ve ever hoped for. And that is the reason I’m not going to come in and mess it up.” He dropped his forehead to mine and exhaled slowly, eyes falling shut. “Even if I desperately want to.”
A light laugh slipped out even as I clutched at him, not wanting him to go. “You can come and just sleep, just like last night.”
He was already shaking his head. “I’m a strong man, Josie, but I know myself. I know how much I want you. And I know that we made a promise to take things slow.” He released me. “So we’re going to do that. And we’re going to keep our promise to each other. And then, when we’re ready, we’re going to make more promises.”
My mouth dropped open. “More promises?”
He nodded, all confidence. “Yeah. More. Some might even call them vows.”
I laughed outright at that. “You have it all planned out, huh?”
I sounded flippant but oh, boy was my heart racing and hope winging around like a deranged butterfly in my chest.
He leaned on the doorframe and dropped his face so he was as close as he could be without touching me. “Planned, not so much. But I sure am hoping.”