Page 14 of Reckless (Adventures in Love 3)
“How did things go with you and Maverick?” Cybil asks as soon as we hear the door close, and I drag my attention off Claire to look at her.
“Fine. He’s not the most talkative man I’ve ever met in my life, but he made me breakfast and took me up to where he plans on building his house, so that was nice.”
“He’s a nice guy; all the guys are. I think you’re going to love it here once you’re settled.”
“I already love it here because you and Claire are here, so please don’t stress about me being happy. I’m going to be fine,” I assure her, and she studies me closely.
“I know you will.” Her face softens as she looks at her daughter. “And who knows—maybe you’ll find what I did here.”
That’s doubtful, but of course I don’t say so. I mean, she won the life lottery on a fluke. Who else could have their fiancé break up with them weeks before their wedding, go on the couples retreat that she was supposed to go on with her ex, meet a guy like Tanner, fall in love, end up pregnant by accident, and then get married to the right guy? That’s the kind of thing that only happens in the books I read; it definitely doesn’t happen in real life, and it sure as heck would never happen to me. With my luck I would have ended up marrying the wrong guy and spent the rest of my life wondering why the heck I hadn’t run when I should have. “My priority right now is to find a job and a way to open another bookstore. If I can do both those things, I will be happy.”
“Well, I just might have some good news for you.” She comes around to take Claire when the little girl reaches for her. “Do you remember Blake, Tanner’s other partner?”
“Yeah, Tanner’s other best friend, right?” I ask, thinking of the blond guy I met the last time I was in town. He and his fiancée both were so sweet and cute together.
“Yep, well, his fiancée’s dad has decided that he’s going to move his law practice to his house since he’s not working as much as he used to, and his office is right on Main Street. I thought that maybe if you were interested, we could go check it out. It’s not a huge space, but it would make a cute bookstore, and it’s in the perfect location with lots of foot traffic.”
“I don’t really have the money to open another shop right now.”
“You might not, but I do.”
“I’m not letting you pay for me to open another shop.” I shake my head in denial.
“I would also be doing it for myself. I figured that I could have a display there with a few of my bags, and I know there’s a few other girls in town who make stuff and sell it online. I thought that it would be cool to have not only books but some stuff from local sellers.”
“That would be cool,” I agree, trying not to get my hopes up. “How would it work with us selling other people’s stuff, though?”
“They’d give us a percentage of what they make off each item they have in the store. And if you think about it, they would have a vested interest in keeping people coming back, so I think it would be beneficial for all of us.”
“I like that idea.”
“Me too.” She smiles, then asks, “I’m sure that the guys are done unloading all your stuff; do you want to go check out your new home?”
“Yes.” I scoot off my stool, then find Pebbles where he’s curled up next to one of the heater vents. Once I have him and have put his leash on him, Cybil, Claire, and I head out the back door and then walk the short distance to the shop, which is a huge metal building with a large rolling door and a smaller door on the side.
The building used to be where Tanner kept some of the equipment for the lodge that he’s part owner of, but when Cybil agreed to move in with him, he renovated half of it for her. That way she would have a place to make her one-of-a-kind vegan-leather bags, purses that people from all over the world order because they truly are like pieces of art.
When Cybil lets us inside the building, we head through her workshop, where she keeps her sewing machine and all her materials, and go to the left, where there is another door. Since her hands are full with Claire, I open it for her and hear Tanner and Maverick talking. They stop as soon as we step inside.
“Were you guys talking about us?” she asks her husband, going over to him to pass off Claire, who’s excited to see her dad after just a few short minutes.
