Christine leaned her elbows on the front desk, allowing the steam from the diffuser to waft above her head. “We had a shipment of books like that come in the other day. They’re always a hit this time of year.”
Before Joanne could object, Laura stepped forward. “That is a great idea, Sue. Everybody in favour?”
Matthew raised his hand along with Anna, who nudged him in the ribs playfully. “Romance, of course. Your favourite.”
His stomach tightened. Romance? “My—what?”
Anna’s grin widened. “Maybe you can suggest one of your favourite Celia Saint James novels?”
He stifled a laugh, then lowered his voice. “I thought I told you not to tell anybody.”
“It’s just us,” she replied innocently, batting her long lashes at him.
He swallowed, then lifted his brow in amusement. “And a room filled with women who probably know my parents.”
Joanne looked around at all the raised arms, then reluctantly raised hers too. “I guess it’s better than horror.”
Laura clapped her hands together. “Perfect. I’ll send a list of choices and a survey in our Monday email. Please have your answers to me by Wednesday.”
After a note about the upcoming Christmas party and an invitation for everybody to stay for snacks, Laura adjourned the meeting and closed the open notebook on the counter.
Right as Matthew was about to get to his feet and offer a hand to Anna, Christine bustled around the front desk with a wicker basket in her hands. “Before you all go for coffee, I have one more thing. We have four new Page Turners here tonight, and I wanted to give them a warm welcome.” She beckoned for Jace and Jillian to join her at the front, then waved at Matthew and Anna.
Jace and Jillian exchanged horrified glances, not moving from their spots.
“Oh, no.” Anna raised her palms in front of her. “I’m okay right here. Thanks, Christine.”
Christine’s face fell, and she dug a purple metallic button from the basket and held it up. “Official Page Turner” was emblazoned across it with an open book beneath the title. “I have these pins for new members—don’t you want one?”
Lizzie grabbed her tote bag from beneath her chair and held it up for them to see. The same button was pinned to the side of it. “All members get one. You want to join us, don’t you?”
“Yeah.” Sue cranked her neck to join in. “Don’t you want to be an official Page Turner?”
They didn’t respond, and Matthew cringed. Aww, come one. Somebody has to humour her. He pushed back his chair and got to his feet. Anna’s eyes grew wide. He gave her a sheepish shrug, then raised his voice. “I don’t know about these other three, but I’d love a button, Christine.”
Christine beamed at him as he made his way to the front desk. The smell of lavender grew stronger, and she pinned the button on his sweater as if it were a medal. She patted his chest and the corners of her bright green eyes crinkled. “There you go. Now you’re an official Page Turner. Be sure to leave your email address with Laura before you go.”
“I’m honoured.” Matthew gave her a little bow, and the other members giggled in their seats.
“Oh, alright. Christine, I’d love one too.” Anna stood from her chair and joined them at the counter. Matthew held his palm out to her for a high-five. She rolled her eyes at him, but slapped his hand anyways.
Ha! Who knew I could be such a good influence?
Christine pinned the button to Anna’s blouse, then stared expectantly at Jace and Jillian, who both looked like they wanted to be anywhere other than that book store. “It’s okay if you’re shy. You don’t have to come up,” she said kindly. She walked over to them and handed them each a pin. “You’re welcome here any time.”
Jillian gave her a tight smile, and then everyone else got to their feet and started to make their way to the coffee and snack table. Jace and Jillian grabbed their coats and slipped out the door.
Good. Hopefully they won’t be back.
He shifted his gaze to Anna and tapped the pin on his sweater. “So? How does it feel to be an official Page Turner?”
“Magical,” she replied, her eyes bright with humour. She tilted her head. “You know, purple looks good on you. It suits your complexion.”
“Well gee, thanks,” he replied dryly, then gestured toward the snack table. “Want to grab a coffee? I think I see some shortbread cookies too. Somebody’s started their Christmas baking already.”
Anna pulled out her phone and her face fell. “I really should get going.” She hesitated. “I’d love to stay longer, but I have a ton of work to do on that manuscript for Clarissa. She wants to send some proposals to publishers soon.”
Right, her manuscript. He tried to push down the disappointment welling inside him. “Is this for The Wicked Moon, or your new story?”
“Oh, the new one isn’t anywhere near ready yet.” She sighed and pushed her glasses up her nose, then shoved her phone in her pocket. “I’m not sure what to do with it. I wrote a few more chapters, but it needs tweaking. I haven’t even asked Clarissa if she’s interested in it yet.”
“Well, my offer is still there,” Matthew replied. “If you want me to help with those first few chapters, we can shine them up so your agent will have no choice but to take it on.”
She bit her lip, as if mulling over his proposition.
“Think about it and let me know. No pressure.” He jerked his head toward the chairs, where their jackets and her purse sat. “Should we head out?”
“You can stay if you like. Don’t leave just because I am.”
Heated words from the snack table grabbed his attention. Joanne thrust her coffee-laden hand in Laura’s direction, scowling, while Laura stamped her foot in response. Sue and the lady who’d been sitting beside her looked back and forth between them, thoroughly engrossed in the argument.
“Nah, I think I’ll head out,” he replied.
She followed his gaze and giggled. “Yeah, you wouldn’t want to get caught in Joanne’s crosshairs over the horror suggestion.”
“Everybody has their favourite genres,” he replied. “Though it’s good to be open to new things too. You never know what might resonate with you.”
“Touché.” She tilted her head, then led the way to where they’d been sitting. They put on their jackets and with a wave to Christine and Laura, they made their way to the exit.
Matthew opened the door to the tinkling chimes and held it open for Anna. When she stepped into the crisp evening air, her sleek hair caught in the lamplight, and her breath created puffs of mist.
Suddenly self-conscious now that they were alone, Matthew rocked back on his heels. “I forgot to mention, your hair looks nice tonight. I mean, I like it messy too—”
“Messy?” Anna’s cheeks turned pink.
Dude, why are you talking about her hair? He scratched the back of his neck and tried again. “I mean, I had fun tonight. I’m glad I joined a club for book nerds with you.”
She burst out laughing and gently touched his forearm. “Right. I’m glad too.” She tucked her scarf beneath the collar of her jacket, then her tone softened. “Umm, about your offer—”
“If you want me to stop bugging you about it, I will.”
“No, it’s not that.” She glanced over her shoulder at the door, then stepped closer to him. A slight floral smell came over him. What is that? Her shampoo? It definitely smelled better than lavender. She looked up at him with those wide brown eyes, and he took a step back, fighting the urge to put his arm around her.
Whoa. Steady yourself, man.
She continued, “It’s just, I was embarrassed. You saw my other book, and you didn’t like it. What’s to say you would like this one?”
That’s what this is all about? I should have known. Of course, she didn’t want him to see her new manuscript. He’d flat out rejected her work. No, even worse, he’d pulled the rug out from under what should have been her debut novel. He’d made every author’s nightmare come true for her. Wh
y would she trust him?
He cleared his throat and put his hands in his pockets. “I only want to help. I didn’t suggest Ahmed reject your book because it wasn’t any good. It was for the same reason your agent told you—books about fairies aren’t selling well in adult fantasy right now. These trends, they come and go.”
“I know,” she replied, lowering her gaze. “And I’m sorry I was hard on you for it.”
“I’m sorry I had a part in cancelling your book. If I’d have known—”
She shook her head. “That’s the point. You shouldn’t have known. It’s your job, you can’t play favourites based on an author’s feelings.” She paused, as if to brace herself. “I’d like to send you my chapters.”
He raised his brows. Just like that? She’s going to trust me? “What changed your mind?”
“Well, now that I got to know you a bit, you don’t seem like the pompous business man my sister and I had you pegged for.”
“Pompous?” Okay, maybe I deserve that after what I said to Tad about my role with Raven Stone. “Wait, you talked to your sister about me?”
“Of course, it’s not every day you meet the man who ruined your dreams,” she teased. She tucked her hair behind her ear and gave him an amused look, making him want to pull her into his arms right then and there. She straightened her tote bag around her shoulder. “Anyways, thanks for the nice evening. I should get going and let Monty out, then lock myself in with my computer until my shift tomorrow afternoon at the inn.”
Matthew swept his gaze across the street to the Blooming Box and the dark window of her apartment. “How about I walk you to your door?”
“It’s like, right there.” She pointed to the dimly lit door next to the flower shop window. But then, she softened and slipped her arm through the crook of his elbow. “Although, I guess it is nice to be escorted across the street.”
His arm tingled at her touch. He looked both ways and started across the street. “Like the little old lady you aspire to be, right?”
She giggled and pressed closer to him as they strode across the pavement. “I was thinking more of a queen, but I guess a little old lady is more accurate.”
“Hmm, I think a queen sounds about right too.”
They stopped in front of her door. Anna turned to face him, her arm still entwined with his, and a tress of her hair caught on the joint of her glasses. Without thinking, he gently brushed the hair aside. She looked up at him for a moment, and he was afraid he’d crossed a line. But instead of recoiling, she stepped closer, then stood on her toes and pressed her lips to his.
Chapter Twelve
Anna stared through the raindrops on her windshield at the mass of merlot-coloured leaves that edged the front porch of the inn, only half listening to her sister’s voice. Her phone sat on the dash on speaker mode, and Monty whined from his seat next to her. He leaned over to lick her face, leaving a streak of saliva on the lens of her glasses.
“Ugh, buddy.” She rubbed his ears, then had him sit on his haunches.
“Anna?” Kelsey asked. “You okay?”
“I’m fine. Monty just tried to clean my glasses for me.” Anna took them off and grabbed the microfibre cloth from her console to wipe them off.
“How are you holding up?”
“Well, it’s seven-thirty on a Monday morning, I got barely any writing done this weekend, and I’m having a panic attack about going to work. So, not great.” She put her glasses back on and closed her eyes. Why did I have to kiss him? What was I thinking?
“Take a deep breath,” Kelsey replied. “It’s okay. I mean, he kissed you back, right?”
“Definitely.” Anna picked up her travel mug from the cupholder, wrapping her cold fingers around it for warmth, and thought back to Friday night—Matthew swooping in to help her save face with Jace and Jillian, then laughing and joking with him at the meeting. Even when he’d convinced her to stand up and receive her Page Turners pin from Christine, it had been exactly what she needed. For once, she’d relaxed and pushed the stress of fixing her book from her mind.
Then later, in the light of the streetlamp, with her arm tucked through his, and her body pressed against him when he touched her hair—it had all seemed so natural. And that kiss. Her cheeks warmed at the memory. She didn’t know what had come over her, but he hadn’t seemed to mind. She’d never been kissed like that before, as if he couldn’t get enough of her. For a moment, she’d felt like the heroine in her own novel.
But then they broke apart, and reality hit. This was Matthew—Madison’s brother, her temporary co-worker, the man who had tore apart her work with no regard.
“I barely even said goodbye. I ran up the stairs and left him there on the sidewalk, looking completely confused.”
“Oh, Anna.”
“I’m a grown woman! What’s wrong with me?”
“Did he reach out to you later?”
Anna opened the lid of her travel mug, breathing in the grassy scent of green tea. “Yes. Well, he sent me a text yesterday asking me how I was doing. I replied with totally fine! and three happy face emojis.”
“Okay,” Kelsey replied in an amused tone. “Then what?”
“He told me he had fun at the book club meeting. Then he gave me his email address to send my chapters to him.”
“See, that’s a good sign. You must not have scared him off. At least, not too badly.”
“Kelsey.”
She chuckled. “Oh, come on, Anna. It’s not a big deal. You kissed. So what?”
“I have to work with him. And now, he’s critiquing my work.” Anna took a trembling sip of her tea. “It’s going to be even worse if he doesn’t like it. What if he lies to me about it? To avoid hurting my feelings or to try and get more action with me.”
Kelsey snorted a laugh. “Is that what you call action? A peck on the street?”
“Not helpful, Kels.”
“Right, I’m sorry.” She paused. “Honestly, I think you’re overthinking this. Just talk to him and see how he feels about what happened.”
“How am I supposed to bring it up?” Anna raised her voice to a falsely cheerful tone. “Hey, Matthew, so remember how I kissed you the other night?”
“If you don’t clear the air, it’s going to be awkward working beside him for the next two weeks.”
They were quiet for a moment, then Anna put down her tea and reached over and scratched Monty’s ears. He bumped her hand with his nose in appreciation. “Okay. You’re right. We’re both adults here. I can figure this out.”
“There you go. You got this.”
The sound of crunching gravel met her ears. She looked in her rear-view mirror and saw Rodger’s truck rumbling up the driveway.
“I better go, Kels. I still have to kennel Monty.”
“Okay. Have a good day, and remember to relax.”
Easier said than done. “Thanks. You have a good day too.”
“Listening to cranky customers yell at me over the phone is never a good day,” Kelsey replied dryly. “But it’s a pay cheque, I guess. Thanks. Talk to you tonight for pizza supper.”
Anna said goodbye, then hung up and clipped Monty’s leash to his collar. She lifted the hood of her rain jacket, then let him out of the car and started toward the stable. As her boots squished over the soggy ground, she took a calming breath of the cool autumn air.
It’ll be okay. I’ll apologize and let him know I got caught up the moment. Smooth things over, so he can work on my story without it being weird. Her throat tightened at the thought of her word document sitting in his inbox. Maybe he hasn’t even looked at it yet.
“This is disgusting.” Anna pulled her rubber-gloved hand from the corner of the counter in the makeshift office of the barn, gripping the wire brush tightly. There were bird droppings everywhere and even with a mask on, she cringed at the thought of what kind particles must be flying around.
“Right?” Violet said from across the room, where she was sweeping feathers and droppings from
the floor. She leaned on the broom handle, eyeing the mess around them. “I don’t know how they think this is going to be a coat room in less than two weeks.”
After cleaning the open area of the barn last week, Anna had felt confident in their mission to have it ready for the Starlight Dance. They’d managed to clear most of the muck, dust, and old hay from the main area. After a good pressure washing, even the messes from the birds and mice had been washed away. Anna had been able to envision the soft white lights, the tables with mahogany covers that Madison had told her about, and the bar area that Rodger and Matthew were putting together right now.
But that was before Rodger had led her and Violet to the office in the back corner. The room had been added years after the original owners built the barn, and it had no ceiling apart from the rafters above. Apparently, a whole flock of pigeons had taken to roosting there. While Rodger had pest control help him chase the birds off this summer, and the new tin roof helped keep them away, their old debris still coated the room. Anna wasn’t sure if they should be cleaning it, or condemning it as a biohazard.
Violet set the broom against the wall and tugged off her gloves. “I need a break. Rodger has cold drinks in the truck, want to come get one with me?”
“Thanks, but I’ll keep going for a bit. I have to leave in an hour to get ready for my shift in the kitchen. But you go ahead.” Anna jammed the wire brush in the corner and swiped a pile of litter onto the floor.
“I’ll bring some water back for you.”
“Thanks, Violet.”
Violet pulled open the door, causing the hinges to creak. “Oh hey, Matthew. I’m going to grab a water, do you want one?”
Anna stiffened. She hadn’t had a chance to talk to Matthew yet this morning, not properly anyways. After putting Monty away, she’d rushed over to the barn. Matthew had already started measuring a spot for the rustic wood bar area he and Rodger were building that day, and she’d immediately joined Violet in the back room.
Matthew moved aside to let Violet pass, then stepped into the room. “Sure, thanks. I added some Cokes to the cooler in his back seat. If you want one, help yourself.”
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