Chapter 31
Present day
“How are things going at the bookshop?” Logan asked, once the server brought their food. He’d chosen their favorite seafood
restaurant for their date, and it was bustling with tourists and locals even on a Tuesday night. He looked handsome in a button-down
that brought out the green in his hazel eyes.
Oh, how Shelby was dreading their upcoming conversation. “Business has been pretty good. The new products have been popular.
We have a long way to go, but I’m very encouraged.” She dug into her seafood gumbo.
Logan tilted his head. “We?”
“The booksellers and me. It’s a team effort, of course. We finished decorating for Christmas today too. The Shop and Stroll
will be here before we know it.” The whole community turned out to support the retailers on that day. It was like an extra
Black Friday. “Did I tell you about Miss Phoebe and the preorder deal?”
“I don’t think so.”
Shelby explained the idea, going into detail but leaving off the bit about her excursion to the island with Gray, and the
midnight rescue.
Caleb was still irritated with her over that.
In any case, he and Liddy had committed to sticking around until after Thanksgiving—probably just to keep tabs on Gray, but Shelby couldn’t be sorry about that.
She loved having him and Liddy in town. Loved having her friend stop by the shop at random times.
Enjoyed grabbing coffee together on Sunday mornings before church.
And she could hardly get enough of little Ollie.
Plus the extended visit also seemed to have mollified their father for the time being.
Of course, with Thanksgiving coming up, all that could change. Family holidays could bring out the worst in people sometimes.
Shelby hadn’t planned to be there. She was supposed to be heading to Charlotte with Logan and his parents to spend the day
with his grandmother. But all that was about to change.
Logan swallowed a bite of blackened salmon. “Sounds like you have things under control.”
“I wouldn’t go that far, but I’m hopeful. Even once we avert this crisis, we still have to maintain steady sales. We’re working
on ways to ensure that.”
Last week she’d implemented another idea with Gray’s help: to-go orders. Their customers could order and pay for books online,
then pick them up on a cart they set outside each morning. It was especially helpful for customers who had difficulty managing
the shop’s stairs. Word was spreading quickly and most days they had a few orders to fill.
“My offer stands—I’ve got money set back and wouldn’t mind helping you over the hump.”
She offered a grateful smile. “That’s very thoughtful of you, Logan. I appreciate the offer, but I’d like to do this on my
own. I can hardly believe Thanksgiving is in two days—and then Black Friday.” She’d have almost every bookseller on hand that
day for the big sale they were running.
“I’m looking forward to spending the holiday together.”
About that... She’d planned to wait until they’d finished eating, but he was almost done with his meal. It was time to
admit this relationship wasn’t working out. The persistent thoughts of Gray were enough to prove it. Not that she had a future
with Gray—that would never happen.
The familiar memory surfaced, Gray’s arms wrapping her up in the hull of the boat. She’d felt safe and cared for. At home. The memory and the feelings it evoked had come to mind too often in the week since it happened.
She pushed the memory away, her gaze skating over to Logan as he took a sip of his drink. Her feelings for Logan were tepid.
Even their disagreements had been tepid. She’d been settling—no doubt afraid to engage her heart again after being hurt so
badly by Gray. Maybe she’d been doing it since long before Logan.
But what kind of life would she have without true love? She needed a man she felt strongly about. A man she actually thought
about when he wasn’t around. And Logan deserved that too.
Shelby set her fork down and wiped her mouth with the cloth napkin.
“Hi, Shelby! Hi!” Daryl lumbered toward their table, beaming. His mother, Jill (essays and short stories), an attractive,
slim brunette in her mid-forties, followed in his footsteps. She was a staple at a local insurance company and had worked
her way to manager over the years.
“Hi, Daryl. It’s good to see you. Hi, Jill. Do you guys know Logan Shackleford?”
“I don’t think so,” Jill said. “Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise.”
“Hi!” Daryl said. “Do you play basketball like me and Gray? I like to shoot hoops in the park. I’m not very good, but it’s
fun anyway.”
Logan’s eyes flitted to Shelby’s and back. “I’m not much of a sports guy really.”
Shelby searched for a change of subject. “Logan works at the bank, Daryl. The one across from the Dairy Bar.”
His blue eyes lit up. “I like the bank. They give me suckers, but sometimes I have to ask. Do you have any work for me, Shelby?
I need ice cream money.”
Jill chuckled. “Daryl, that was a little pushy.”
“I was just asking.”
“That’s okay,” Shelby said. “I don’t have any sticker work for you, but the leaves sure are coming down. How’d you like to
do some raking for me?”
“Yes! I’ll do it. I’ll come tonight after we eat.”
Jill patted his arm. “I think tomorrow would be soon enough. Does that work for you, Shelby?”
“That would be great. I’ll have all the tools ready for you.”
“We’ll let you get on with your date.”
“Nice to see you both,” Shelby said. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Daryl.”
“Bye, Shelby! Bye, Logan!”
They said their good-byes and Shelby smiled as she watched him go.
Logan took her hand. “Not everyone would take the time to befriend someone with special needs. I admire that about you. You’re
a kind person.”
Her heart sank. “Daryl’s a delight. It’s impossible to be blue when he’s around.”
“I can see that.” He squeezed her hand, his steady gaze fixed on her. “You bring out the best in me too.”
Ugh. She braced herself for what was coming. Worked that leading sentence around in her mind as she propped her lips up with a
smile. “Listen, Logan, I was hoping maybe we could talk about us tonight.”
His expression shifted as a glimmer of concern flashed in his eyes. “Okay... that sounds a bit foreboding.”
She turned her hand over in his and squeezed. Now or never. “I so enjoy our time together, Logan. We’ve become very close over the past few months, and you’re every bit the kind and
bright man I’ve always thought you were.”
His expression changed, a sign flipping from Open to Closed.
“I really like you as a person. You have so much to offer a woman in a romantic relationship.”
He pulled his hand away. “Just not you?”
She winced. Cleared her throat. “I feel like we’re at the point in our relationship where, if it’s working, the feelings progress to the next level... but that just isn’t happening for me.”
He smirked. “Yeah. Ever since Gray Briggs came back to town.”
She shook her head. “It’s not Gray.” At least not in the way he meant. “He’s not even an option I’d consider—for multiple
reasons. I’d really hoped something would come of this, Logan. You’re such a great guy and you have so much going for—”
“Don’t patronize me, Shelby. I don’t need you building me up. I know who I am and what I have to offer. Don’t worry, I won’t
go home and weep into my pillow.”
The sharpness of his tone gave away his true feelings. He was hurt and putting up a front. No one liked getting broken up
with.
“I’m not. All those things are true. I had hoped my feelings might develop into more and they just—”
“It’s hard to develop feelings for someone you’re holding at arm’s length.”
What? “I don’t hold you at arm’s length.”
He gave a wry laugh. “You’re kidding, right? You have a ten-foot wall around your heart.”
Shelby blinked. That wasn’t true. What did she have to protect herself from? He was just being defensive. Although he did
seem pretty adamant. “I didn’t know you felt that way.”
“I guess it’s beside the point now.” He tossed his napkin on his plate.
She was glad they’d met at the restaurant. A tense ride home would be excruciating for both of them. “I’m sorry, Logan. I
didn’t mean to disappoint you.”
He removed his wallet and fished out some bills.
She grabbed her purse. “I’ve got it.”
He spared her a look as he set the bills on the table. “Say what you want, but I’m not stupid. This has everything to do with
Gray.”
“Give me some credit. Gray already left me once, and he’ll be leaving again in a month. I wouldn’t let myself get wrapped up with him again.”
He pocketed his wallet. “Well, I guess we’ll see if he can scale those high walls of yours, won’t we?” He stood.
“Logan, please. Don’t leave angry. Can’t we talk a little more?”
“I don’t see the point.” He offered a mirthless smile. “See you around, Shelby.”