Chapter Eight
Charlotte accepted the shopping bag from the clerk with a shy smile.
Her purchases weren’t heavy — deodorant, shampoo, a disposable razor, and more antibiotic ointment for her finger.
All things she could have gotten at the box store along with her groceries and other essentials, but she liked shopping the mom-and-pop convenience store.
The same two clerks ran the cash register each time she came in. The store was never packed with customers. The prices were reasonable. And it gave her a sense of belonging, something she craved more and more with each day that passed.
Snuggling her coat closer to her body, she braced herself for the burst of cold assaulting her when the door opened. She stepped onto the sidewalk, marveling at how the temperature was frigid when the sun was so bright. Once the icy breeze died down, she found the walk along Main Street pleasant.
Many of the shops were closed on Sunday afternoon, but people milled about.
She kept her head down, so no one would be tempted to speak with her.
Not that she knew very many people. Even after living in Ivy Springs for a year, she led a solitary life, meeting and befriending only a select few.
It was safer that way. Friends asked questions she wasn’t prepared to answer.
Others were content to gossip about her, but she’d never minded the gossip mill. There were times it came in handy.
The smell of baked goods and freshly brewed grounds drifted on the wind, her cue that she was close to the coffee shop and the spot where she parked her car. Drawing her keys from her coat pocket, she pointed the key fob in the direction of her car. Then she stumbled.
“Ben? What are you doing here?”
The man who occupied way too many of her thoughts lately leaned casually against the passenger door of her car. She hadn’t seen him since she sliced her finger, and he looked better in person than the fantasy living in her head.
His legs were stretched in front of him, crossed at the ankles.
He held a to-go cup from the coffee shop in one hand while the other was hidden in the pocket of his bomber jacket.
His wavy hair was tousled by the wind, giving him a sexy, rumpled vibe which warmed her insides.
He flashed a smile at her rude question, and Charlotte felt her insides turn mushy.
“I recognized your car when I came out of the coffee shop. I wasn’t sure where you were or how long you’d be. But since I’m in no hurry, I thought I’d wait a few minutes on the chance that I would see you and say hello.”
She stood wide-eyed, shocked that he would, first, notice her car, and second, wait specifically for her.
Unsure what to say, she forced her feet forward, unlocked the car doors, and deposited her purchases in the back behind the driver’s seat.
Feeling him watching her expectantly, she finally met his gaze with a slight smile.
“Hi.” She barely refrained from cringing at her lame greeting.
Since his broken nose had healed enough for the bruising to disappear, she noticed how his eyes were darker than any she’d ever seen.
Brown wasn’t an adequate description. They were blacker like a dark roast coffee, the depths intense but soft and tempting — an unsettling combination.
He had twisted around to face her over the top of her car, and though the vehicle was between them, he was too close for her comfort.
“How’s the finger?”
She lifted the bandaged appendage. “Better, but the doctor wants to wait until next week to take out the stitches. It’s awkward having to work around it, but I’ve adjusted.”
He studied her for the next several minutes, a soft half-smile curving his lips. A flush crept up her neck, though she wasn’t sure why. The silence was awkward, at least for her, but his gaze wasn’t leering or inappropriate. It was just...direct, and she was unsure what he expected from her.
“Walk with me.”
Certain she’d misheard him, she blurted, “What?”
His smile widened. “Walk with me. Unless you’re in a hurry or have somewhere else to be.”
She frowned. “You get that it’s kind of cold to be walking around, right?”
Ben chuckled. “We don’t have to go far. I was on my way to Whimsy just down the sidewalk.”
“The bookstore?”
This man kept surprising her. Or maybe she just kept putting him in a stereotypical box where he didn’t belong.
He struck her as someone who could lose himself in the action of a sporting event versus the pages of a book.
Realizing he was a reader appealed to her.
The more she learned about him, the more she liked.
She tilted her head to one side. “The bookstore isn’t open on Sundays.”
He sipped his coffee, looking very pleased with himself. “It is today. I passed by there on my way to the coffee shop, and the open sign was all lit up.”
“Oh, um, I don’t know. I just…”
Her mind searched for a plausible reason for not joining him, but an idea never materialized.
The truth was she’d been wanting to visit the quaint store but was never able to get there during its business hours.
To visit it with Ben at her side sounded perfect, even if it was a danger to her peace of mind.
“Come on. I was on my way there anyway, and I would appreciate the company.”
His voice washed over her rich and tempting, like fine wine she craved. She spent many weekends on her own, so his offer touched a lonely part of her she’d come to accept but didn’t want to have.
Maybe this once. “Yeah, okay, but I don’t have a lot of time.”
She didn’t really have any other plans for the day, but by implying that she did, she gave herself an out if being with him got to be overwhelming.
“Great.”
With a warm hand at her back, he carefully led her across the street to the sidewalk. Traffic wasn’t heavy at this time of day or in this part of town, but she felt protected as if nothing would touch her with him at her side.
He started talking once they were on the sidewalk, leaving openings for her to remark if she wanted but carrying the conversation when she didn’t. She was content to listen, knowing anything she contributed would probably be lame and awkward.
“I didn’t realize there was a bookstore here until this week. I was scrolling on my phone one night, and an ad for Whimsy popped up. I drove by here, saw the open sign, and decided to grab a coffee and check it out. Maybe you can help me choose a new read.”
“I don’t have time to read a lot, so I may not be any help.”
Ben shrugged. “Then we can just sit and talk.”
Whimsy was empty when they stepped inside.
Charlotte glanced around, marveling at the quaint interior with beautiful book displays and cozy seating areas.
The air smelled of vanilla and cinnamon, and while the atmosphere felt relaxed and elegant, she sensed an element of fun brewing underneath the surface.
A bell over the door signaled their arrival, and a striking woman appeared from the back.
Her shimmering black hair was piled in a messy bun on top of her head, appearing effortless.
Her make-up was impeccable with the earth tones enhancing her caramel skin and wide blue eyes.
She wore jeans and a simple top with name brand sneakers adorning her feet.
Even casually dressed, the woman was poised and refined, like an accomplished actress walking the red carpet.
Charlotte felt frumpy by comparison, but the woman smiled as if having them walk into her store was the most exciting moment of her day.
“Welcome! Anything I can help you with?”
Ben shook his head. “I think we’re just going to browse.”
“That’s fine. We’re running a sale on children’s books right now if you have an interest. Just let me know if you have any questions. My name is Tabitha.”
“I love your store,” Charlotte said. “I didn’t think you were open on Sundays, or I probably would have been by here sooner.”
“We’re not open every Sunday. I usually only open when my husband is working. I like to keep busy when he’s on shift,” Tabitha explained.
“What does your husband do?” Ben asked.
“He’s a fireman. If I’m working, he and his buddies will stop by. Mainly to eat the treats my mom bakes for the store, but I like getting to see him.”
Tabitha pointed to a display on the counter next to the register. Delicately wrapped items were arranged on a tiered stand, carefully labeled to show what they were. Charlotte noted the variety of treats including oatmeal bars, chocolate chip cookies, chess bars, brownies, and trail mix.
“Well, if your husband and the other firemen won’t mind, I may have to try some of the treats before we leave,” Ben said smoothly.
“They’ll get over it, believe me,” Tabitha said dryly just as a child's voice called for Mommy from somewhere at the back of the store.
“Excuse me. That’s my daughter. I’ll just check in on her while you browse.”
“How does she know we won’t shoplift something?” Charlotte murmured more to herself, but Ben was close enough to hear her.
He nudged Charlotte’s arm to get her attention and then pointed to a dome light fixture in the corner where the ceiling met the wall. “Security cameras. She has them posted all over, and I’m guessing she can monitor everything going on from the back area.”
“You noticed that?” She hadn’t seen the dome until he showed her, and yet he’d already picked out every spot in the store being watched.
His lips turned up in a slight smile which sparkled in his eyes. “I notice a lot of things.”
Charlotte swallowed nervously. “So, uh, is there anything in particular you’re looking for?”
He seemed to carefully consider her question as his smile changed into a flirtatious grin. “Well, some time alone with you for starters. Anything else is just a bonus.”
If any other man had pulled out a line like that, she would have rolled her eyes. Coming from Ben, the words were intimate, and butterflies dipped in her stomach. She turned away and spotted the children’s section.