“Hey Gran. I brought you a sandwich. What is it that has your attention so captured that you don’t see how the store is practically packed?”
“Oh boy, don’t be so dramatic. It’s not that packed. It’s just all the little people running around.”
I laugh. I laugh hard. Gran doesn’t care too much for children, especially when they’re in her bookstore. They always seem to mess up the way she has things organized, and it irritates her.
“So what are you working on?” I sit across the table from her, waiting for her to look up at me and let me in on this secret.
“I’m making this Onyx into a necklace. Care to help me?”
“Ugh Gran, I’m a guy. No thanks.” Before I’m able to make it out of the
room, she asks me to grab a few things for her. I’m walking to the table that holds all the stones, when the humming starts. I close my eyes and focus on where the energy is coming from. Gran taught me that when I start to feel it or hear it, to trust it. So that’s what I do. I ignore what Gran told me to get and let my hands have their way with the stones. I grab a rose quartz, which symbolizes love, a moonstone, also dealing with love, and a cat’s eye, protection.
Interesting choice of stones. I make my way back to Gran to let her know these are the ones that called out to me.
“Gran, who are you making this necklace for?”
“Boy that is none of your business. If the shop is as busy as you say It’s, why don’t you go stand behind the counter. Check people out and make coffee.”
I’m stunned. Gran has never kept something from me. It peaks my curiosity that much more, but not wanting to argue, I turn around and head out the door. As soon as I pass the frame, my body comes alive at the sweetest sound.
There she is, the girl I thought I would never see again. She’s surrounded by five or six kids, whose attentions were fixated on her, as she sits in the rocking chair reading them a story. Her voice alters for a moment, getting deeper to create a masculine sound.
"If you allow me to take her to the Castle, I'll call in famous doctors to waken her from this peculiar sleep. She's so lovely . . . I'd love to kiss her!"
Then her voice reverts back to her own. I make my way to the counter so I can have a better place to view her. The sun is streaming through the windows casting a spotlight on her. She’s so focused on reading the story and pleasing the children, that my staring isn’t drawing her attention.
I notice a few of the parents are just as taken with her and the way she’s telling the story. I wonder why we have never had someone do story time before now. Maybe one of the kids is hers. That would explain why she was here, doing the reading no less. I’ll have to ask Gran when I get a chance. Parents start lining up after the story is over. She gets up and starts picking up books that got knocked over and re-shelves them. That’s odd. I wonder why she’s doing that. Her body becomes rigid when she nears me. I see her chest rising faster. Then she lifts her face.
Our eyes lock instantly. I can feel the hairs on my arms standing to attention as the humming buzzes over my skin, shocking its way through me. I hold her stare, not wanting to be the one to break it first. I continue checking out all the customers at the counter. I notice they’re all buying the Snow White book. No doubt each kid had to have it after hearing a reading like that. I see the little girl that sat right in front of this beautiful
creature, run up to the woman to give her a hug. She breaks the connection when she looks down to smile at the little girl. She has the best smile. After I finish checking out the last person, I bolt to the door leading to the storage area before she can look up again.
My dreams didn’t do her justice. She looks even better than I remember. Wearing some faded black jeans, a pink tank with a black shirt over, and tennis shoes on her tiny feet, she looks absolutely breath-taking. She is driving me crazy right now, and she doesn’t even realize it. I’ve never seen a girl so sexy in such a casual outfit.
I pass through the door that connects the storage room to the new age room in search for some answers. I should at least know her name, right? My heart is tapping out a rhythm of its own, speeding up at certain times and slowing down to normal in others. It seems to really pick up when I'm near the stones. I wonder if the necklace Gran was working on is for that girl. If It’s, then why are the stones calling to me? This is getting surreal. I spot Gran in the back digging through a box that looks like it could fall apart at any moment.
“So Gran, when were you going to tell me you hired someone else?”
“Oh, are you talking about April?
So that’s her name. I smile. She looks like an April. She could be anything really, but April fits her perfectly.
“Sure I guess. You know I could have worked more if you needed me too.”
“I know. But that girl is in love with this store almost as much as I’m. She is sweet and innocent in a way that I didn’t know was possible. She’s had a hard life Logan. It’s only starting to get better. She told me this place felt like home the moment she walked in.”
“Gran, can we afford to pay her?”
“Oh, don’t you worry about that Logan. Did you not see that each parent bought at least one book? They all bought Snow White because the kids loved the way April told the story.”
She’s right. April does have talent for keeping the kids occupied so the parents can shop without distraction. Hearing that April has had a hard life cuts me deep. I have the overwhelming urge to sooth her pain. I shake my head. I don't understand why I keep having thoughts like that. If she’s going to work here, I’m going to have to find a way to be around her.
“They all did. You are right. Some of them bought a few other books as well. The parents looked relieved to have someone else entertain their kids for a while.”
“We used to have story time when I first open this store. I knew when I met April that she has the voice to draw attention to her and keep anyone
captivated.”
“She sure does gran. It’s a great idea. Maybe we can all get together to rearrange the children’s section and schedule story times every day.”
“That sounds good Logan. We will have to talk to April to see if she has time in the afternoons.”
“Why Gran? Does she have another job in the afternoon?”
“Well Logan that is something you are going to have to talk to her about. All I know is she can come in from 9:30 am to about 1:00 pm and then come back from 4:00 pm till we close.”
“Well that doesn’t sound like she has another job. Maybe she has an ill family member or something.”
“Like I said Logan, if you really want to know, you’re going to have to ask her. Also, give her the keys to the store.”
“Yes ma’am.”
I chuckle as she frowns at me for calling her ma’am. I take a few deep breaths before I walk out to face April. I see her walking around the store making sure everything is in its place. She stops in front of the children’s area, stands there and stares. Then she starts moving a few things around.
I know the minute she senses me. She drops what she was doing and stands straight up. Her hair is flowing down her back, straight with a little curl on the ends. It looks soft and silky. I want to run my hands through it, secure my hands at the base of her neck, and kiss those lips.
Chapter 21
April I loved having story time, so I’m studying the children's area. I want to expand it and add some pillows and blankets, so the kids will feel safe and comfortable. Then, I feel the shift of energy in the room so I know Logan has walked in. I’m able to maintain my composure at first. That all changes the moment he steps closer to me. I stop what I'm doing, stand up, and wait. What I’m waiting for is beyond me. Taking a deep breath, I turn around.
He is just as gorgeous as I remember. My mind must be able to take pictures because I was able to reproduce him perfectly behind my eyelids. He’s wearing a black shirt today with some khaki shorts and some Vans. The shirt was like the
first one. Tight. I want to run my hands up his abs and curl them around his neck. He’s wearing a chain today, a silver one. His face is perfect; my breath catches, and I bite my bottom lip, trying to hold back the loud exhale that’s sure to escape. He’s smiling. Can he tell what he’s doing to me by just looking at me? I’m trying to look everywhere other than his eyes. I know as soon as I look at his eyes, all sense I have will be gone.
“Hey, my name is Logan. Gran told me to give you these keys.”
His voice is like chocolate, smooth and addicting; I want to pour it all over me. I hear him chuckle.
“Hey. I’m April.”
My voice sounds breathy. I can feel my face heating up, so I avert my eyes and stick my hand out to take the keys from him. I reach out with my right hand palm up, so he can drop the keys into my hand without contact, but somehow that doesn’t have the affect I wanted. As soon as I do that, he grabs my hand and stares down at my tattoos. I feel like I need to explain it because he doesn’t look like someone who would like tattoos.
“Oh, I wasn’t sure on policy. Do I need to cover them up?”
While still holding my hand, he lifts his head to look at me. The look he has on his face confuses me. His eyes are sparkling; he looks like he has just found something he’s been searching for. Then, there's his smile. Damn. That smile sends my heart into spasms. He starts tracing the bottom symbol first and then trails up to the one by the bend of my elbow. I get goose bumps all over my arm, and a shiver passes through my body. My teeth implant themselves on my bottom lip. What was that? I look over my shoulder to see if someone passed by me bringing in a breeze, but Logan and I are the only ones in the shop.
“What do these mean?”
He’s tracing the one by my wrist again. I know he asked me a question, but my brain seems to not be working. I try to shake my head so I can answer the question.
“That one means "hope". It’s the language of the angels.”
“So you believe in God, angels, and the devil?”
“Well, I believe there’s good and evil. I’m baptized Catholic, so I was raised to believe in that. As I got older though, my mother and I became Wiccan.”
“So that explains the trinity on your right ankle.”
He looks like he’s blushing because he basically just admitted he’s been checking me out. I grin, but before I can agree or deny, he starts talking again.
“These are lyrics, right?” He asks as he reads the words on my tattoo:
"Do you see my face?
Sad behind a smile
Fake it for a while"
He’s back to tracing each word and each music note. It feels so intimate. The butterflies are really taking flight now, and that humming sensation is making its way through my body. Breathing is becoming more and more difficult.
“Yeah, they’re lyrics to a song by one of my favorite bands. You might actually know them. They’re a local band called Adelitas Way.”
I’m trying to control the way he’s affecting me. His hands are so soft. The way he’s caressing my skin has me wanting to push him against the wall.
“They’re one of my favorite bands too. Those are the lyrics to ‘Closer to you’, right?”
“It’s. You think it’s silly, right? Don’t worry if you do. Most people think it’s stupid, but it reminds me every day to not be anyone else but myself.”
“I don’t think you’re silly. It’s not stupid at all. I actually think it’s really cool. Do all of your tattoos mean something to you?”
“They do. I don’t agree with getting something just to get it. “
That’s when he lets my hand fall from his. I feel the loss immensely. The overwhelming urge to grab his hand is so great that I stuff my hands in the back pocket of my jeans to keep me from
embarrassing myself. Do I walk away or wait to see if he’s going to say something else? I look at him one more time to see him studying me. Why does he look so captivated, like I’m an equation he’s trying to figure out? I shrug my shoulders and turn to walk in the opposite direction of him. Just when I make it half way down the aisle, his voice stops me again.
“Wait April. You said all of them mean something to you. How many do you have?”
I assume he’s just fascinated with tattoos and probably wants to get one himself. So I turn around to face him and slam right into his chest. What is it with this guy? I’m either making a complete fool of myself by staring at him, or I’m running into him. Here comes the blush again. My hands are embedded into his shirt yet again. I don’t remember putting my hands there or know whythey’re still there. Risking a look at his face, I see him looking down at me. It looks as if there’s a war raging in his eyes.
I’m starting to feel dizzy. His eyes are pulling me into their vortex. I’m surrounded by indecision, fear, love, and curiosity.
He is so confused and guarded that he doesn’t know when he can trust someone. My heart breaks a little for him. What happened to him to make him feel this way? Wait! How am I picking up his feelings? Things are getting more and more interesting the longer I stay rooted in this position. Gran clears her throat, and we separate immediately.
“April, don’t you need to go?”
I look at the clock behind the counter. Shit. I’m going to be late to pick up Michael if I don’t hurry up.
“Oh my gosh, Gran you’re right! Umm, I’ll see y’all in a few hours?”
“Sure thing child. Don't rush.”
I walk over to her to give her a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
“Thanks, Gran. I'll see you soon. It was nice talking to you, Logan. I guess I’ll see you around.”
I’m already walking out the door when I hear his voice. I don’t know what he is saying. Besides, I can’t worry about that. He’s still young, and though we have that sizzling attraction, there’s no way he would be interested in someone with 3 kids.
Chapter 22
Logan “It was nice talking to you too, April.”
My words are lost on Gran and myself. My mouth wouldn’t work fast enough. She was saying bye one minute and out the door the next. What is it about her that sends me into oblivion? When she’s around, me all I want to do is touch her. When she’s not around, my mind is consumed with her. My thoughts are lost on the way her eyes sparkle when she smiles and the way her hair has different tones when the sun hits it.
“Boy, you better get that look off your face.”
Confused by why Gran would say that, I turn to look at her. She’s worried. It’s etched all over her face.
“What do you mean? Is everything okay?”
“Everything is fine Logan. Be careful with that girl. She's fragile and doesn’t trust easily.”
Is gran trying to tell me to stay away from April? Why would she think I would do something to hurt her? Would I hurt her? Why am I even questioning myself?
“I don’t know why you’re worried Gran. We just got to talking about her tattoos.”
“I’m worried because she has a lot on her plate, and a broken heart doesn’t need to be added to that. I see the way you look at her Logan. Get to know her as a person before you believe that tattoo means something.”
How does Gran know about the tattoo? And why does she think would I break April's heart? Gran is walking back to her hide out while I just stand in the middle of the store staring at the door April just walked through. I wonder if she has a secret. Maybe she’s running from something like I was. Whatever her secret is, I’m determined to figure it out. It can’t be that bad, can it?
I walk around doing random things around the store: pulling stuff out from the back to stock the front, straightening books, making new coffee, and watching the clock. She’s only been gone for an hour, but it seems like so much more. Gran comes out a few times. We talk a little, but not much. I can tell she wants to tell me more about April, but she respects privacy.
I help the few people who come in. My mind is lost in space trying to figure out a way to get April to op
en up and talk to me. The word "date" keeps flashing through my mind. Is it too soon to ask her on a date? Today was the first time we've really talked. Maybe I’ll get her to open up here at work first, since It’s neutral ground. So that’s my plan. I’m going to make it a point to talk to her every time I see her.
It's times like these when I wish Deandra was still around. She would know what I should do. I don’t want to ask Gran; she would just warn me again. I don’t have any friends to ask. I guess I’m just going to have to wing it and hope for the best. I make my way to the counter to sit down. I grab the spiral I keep in the drawer for when it’s slow, turn to a blank page, and start sketching.
I’m so caught up in the drawing that I jump when I feel someone touch my shoulder. I look up to see Gran with that same worried face on.
“What’s going on Gran? You keep looking at me like you’re about to tell me something horrible.”
“Oh it’s nothing Logan, but you might want to hide that drawing. April will be back soon, and you don’t want her to think you’re crazy.”
I swear that lady talks in riddles. Why would April think I’m crazy if she sees my drawing? I look down and freeze. She wouldn’t think I’m crazy. She would think I’m a stalker. If April’s face was black, white, and flat, this would be her. I was able to capture her perfectly. I run my finger down the paper, and it’s the first time I see sadness. I have to pay attention when I see her again. Then the lyrics tattooed on her come back to haunt me. She's hiding behind a smile, but why?
I put up the sketch and stand up. It’s already time for me to go. I was hoping she would be back before I left. I guess I’ll have to wait and see what happens tomorrow. I yell to Gran that I’m leaving, walk out the door, and get into my car. I let the bass shake away all the lingering thoughts, and I start to relax. I have a few errands to run. I need to go get some food for the house, pick up some stuff for the bookstore, and clean out my car. It smells like death in here.
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