Chapter 12: Chapter 11

I’D SPENT these past few days getting all my books unpacked and organized on the bookshelves. The store was set up and ready to go. Peyton, Ruby, and Demi were dropping in to help me whenever they weren’t working. They’d each given me an hour or two a day this last week, and I’d appreciated it so much.

I was opening the doors to Love Ever After as the only employee because I couldn’t afford to hire anyone else just yet. We’d need to see how sales went before I could even explore that option.

“Are you sitting down?” Demi asked as she came through the connecting door from the coffee shop.

I chuckled as I looked up at her from where I sat on the stool behind the checkout counter. “I don’t think I have a choice. I’m so tired that I don’t think I could stand up if I wanted to.”

“You’ve been pushing so hard.” Demi paused as she stood on the other side of the counter and smiled at me. “You know how the doors are opening on Monday?”

“Yep. I’m working around the clock, so that’s all I think about.”

“Well, what do you have planned for the following weekend? The Saturday after your grand opening?”

“Just hoping to sell some books every day after the opening.” There was no hiding the exhaustion in my voice.

Demi’s teeth sank into her bottom lip, and her eyes widened. “I have a surprise for you.”

“I could use one. Give it to me.”

“Well, you met Brinkley, Romeo’s sister-in-law, the day that Romeo proposed to me. Do you remember her?”

Romeo’s brother, Lincoln Hendrix, was a famous NFL player, and his wife, Brinkley, was a sports reporter.

“Yes. She’s great. I really liked her. She’s a bridesmaid for you, right?”

“Yes. So you will be seeing even more of her. But that’s not the big news… I’d told her about your bookstore a few weeks ago, and she said she had an idea that might be great for Love Ever After. She didn’t tell me much about it at the time, but she called a little while ago to fill me in.”

“What is it?” She had me perking up with excitement.

“I told you that Brinkley’s sister, Georgia, is in the publishing business, and she was so excited to hear that you were opening a bookstore. Well, Brinkley and Georgia decided to call their cousin to see if she could come here on the Saturday after your opening to have a book signing. You’ll never guess who their cousin is.”

“What? Who is their cousin?” My heart raced with anticipation.

“Ashlan freaking Thomas. Only one of the most popular romance authors out there right now.”

I was on my feet, running around the counter, my hands flying through the air. “Ashlan Thomas is coming to my bookstore for a book signing?”

We clasped our hands together and jumped up and down.

“Yep. She’ll be here next weekend. She’s going to have the books shipped directly here to your store in time for the signing. We need to start making sure everyone in town knows about it.”

“I’ll post it on all of my social media, and I can make a bunch of flyers tonight to hand out to all the businesses downtown, as well as make sure everyone who attends the opening knows she’ll be coming. I can’t believe this. Thank you so much.”

“Of course. I would do anything for you.”

“I know, but you’ve got the wedding coming up and your own business to run. I know how busy you are.”

She put a hand on each of my shoulders. “And you’ve been there for me since the day you moved back to town. I appreciate you so much, and I want this bookstore to be successful. You deserve all the best things, Saylor.”

My eyes watered, and I shook my head. Demi and I had grown so close, and I was honored that I’d be standing up for her on her special day. She, Peyton, and Ruby had become my best friends, and now I didn’t know how I ever existed without them.

“Thank you so much.”

“Okay. No time for tears. I’ve got to get to the gym, but I’ll text you later and see what you want me to do. I can make a flyer for you tonight, and you can work on the social media posts. I know Ruby and Peyton are working on some fun surprises for you for the grand opening. We’ve got this.” She gave me a quick hug and waved goodbye before heading out the door.

I walked around the counter and heard my phone vibrate.

I hadn’t seen Kingston since Easter Sunday. We’d both been busy this week, and we hadn’t texted, which was very out of character.

I’d been avoiding him because I couldn’t stop thinking about what had happened in the bathroom.

The way I’d liked the sound of my name on his lips when he’d groaned his pleasure.

That I’d found my own pleasure replaying the sound of his voice every single night since.

But why is he avoiding me?

He didn’t know I’d heard him.

I laughed as my eyes scanned the bookshelves. He said it seemed like the right book for him to choose. My gaze stopped on the forbidden romance section. I moved closer, taking in the gold-foiled spine that read Forbidden King.

I don’t think there could be a more fitting title.

I pulled the book from the shelf and smiled when I saw what was resting on top of the pages. He’d placed it there so it wouldn’t get damaged, as it was a fluffball dandelion—the kind you made a wish on. I turned my phone screen around so it was facing me and held it up, making my lips look like I was blowing on the flower, and I snapped a selfie.

My eyes widened at his text, and I opened the photo again and studied it. What was wrong with this photo?

Realization set in. Did it just get hot in here?

This attraction was definitely mutual.

Forbidden King.

It was the reason we’d been avoiding one another, wasn’t it? We just weren’t saying it out loud.

I closed my eyes… and I sure as hell did not see a book signing at my bookstore.

I saw Kingston. Standing over me. Hands on his hips, with me looking up at him from where I had dropped to my knees.

Holy hell.

My eyes sprung open.

I squeezed my thighs together in response and looked down at my phone.

There. I said it. He’d admitted it, so I may as well do the same.

I’d forced myself to focus for the next three days until the grand opening. Kingston and I hadn’t texted again, and I’d tried hard to keep my focus on work.

I was busy, after all.

Fantasizing about my brother’s best friend was a complete waste of time.

I knew enough to know that Kingston would never act on anything. And it was a one-way road to heartache anyway. I wasn’t looking for a fling. That wasn’t really my style.

Though I’d never had a fling, so I’d never say never.

“You ready?” Demi asked as the door flung open, and I turned my attention to my girls.

Ruby, Demi, and Peyton had rallied around me to get things ready for today, and I was grateful.

They’d baked and stayed up late, helping me get this place ready for the grand opening.

“Yes. I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.” I blew out a long breath.

“You look like a sexy librarian,” Peyton said, and Demi and Ruby both laughed.

“You look gorgeous.” Demi gave me a hug.

“There is already a line forming outside. I can’t even imagine next week when you have the book signing for Ashlan.” Ruby took a bite of a chocolate-covered strawberry and groaned. “Damn, these are so good.”

“I thought they were a good romance bookstore snack,” Peyton said, admiring the chocolate-covered goodness she’d made for the opening.

“How do you figure?” Demi asked, with a wicked grin on her face as she reached for one and took a bite.

“Warm chocolate. Sexy men. Speaking of sexy men, I saw Coach in line outside with some flowers. Apparently, he’s coming for your big day. You sure you don’t want to drip some chocolate down his ripped abdomen and lick it off?”

“Girl, you’ve got a one-track mind,” Ruby said before waggling her brows. “But do you have some leftover chocolate that I can take over to River’s tonight?”

My head fell back in laughter, and I patted down the skirt of my white and pink sundress. “You can take it all. I won’t be needing it.”

Jalen and I had remained friendly since I’d been honest with him about our relationship being better off as just a friendship.

I glanced around the place one last time before I opened the doors. We’d gone with rustic wood planks on the floors, and the bookshelves were sage green, with four-inch thick molding and gorgeous detail, and the checkout stand that Kingston had built for me was topped off with a white quartz countertop. Janelle, who owned Sweet Magnolia’s a few doors down, had dropped off a vase full of pink peonies for me, and they were sitting on the counter, looking more like a piece of art.

“Hey, hey,” Kingston called out, as he and all the guys came walking through the side door from Demi’s coffee shop. “Big day today for our girl.”

Hayes and River each had a case of bottled water in their hands. Romeo had two sleeves of clear cups, which Demi wanted to be placed next to the lemonade station she’d set up. Nash was holding Cutler’s hand, and Kingston had a big bouquet of flowers.

“These are from all of us, and Beefcake picked them out from Janelle’s shop.” He handed them to me, and I didn’t miss the way his eyes quickly raked over me from head to toe.

“Thank you so much,” I said.

“Happy opening on your love bookstore,” Cutler said, and my eyes widened as I took him in.

“Thank you. I like your hat.”

“It’s a fedora. It’s very cool, right? I wanted to wear something special for your big day.” He dropped his dad’s hand, and I bent down to give him a hug. “I like having you live here all the time, Saylor. And I’m going to come to your bookstore and read all the books.”

Nash cleared his throat. “How about we bring your magic fantasy books that we just got for you, and you can read those here?”

“But I want to woo my ladies. That’s what Uncle King told me these books are about. He said they would teach me everything I need to know someday.”

Nash put his hands over both of Cutler’s ears. “For fuck’s sake. Seriously?”

Kingston smiled, and my heart raced in response. His broad shoulders were straining against his white tee. His denim jeans showed off his finely toned ass and long legs. He had a pair of cowboy boots on, and his dark hair looked like he’d just run his fingers through it and walked out the door. He was sexy as hell, and I felt this pull toward him lately that was becoming more and more difficult to ignore.

“Take your hands off his ears and I’ll explain,” he said, a wicked grin on his face.

Nash removed his hands and raised an eyebrow as he waited.

“What I told my little man here is that romance books are books that women read, which means it’s what they want. So, when Beefcake grows up, he should consider these books his… education on how to win over the ladies, so to speak.”

“Wait. Is this your defense? He’s six years old,” Nash hissed.

Kingston shrugged. “Today, he’s six years old. I was six years old… yesterday. I wish someone had told me about these books a long time ago. I’ve been reading every night now, and let me tell you, I am learning a whole lot about what women want.” He winked at me.

“You hate reading,” River said, shaking his head and laughing.

“Not anymore. I’ve been reading the Landmark Mountain series by Willow Aster, and these dudes have game. You guys could learn a thing or two from the Landmark brothers.”

“You’re reading a romance series? Who are you, and what have you done with Kingston Pierce?” Hayes said after he set down the cases of water next to the cooler I’d filled with ice.

“Don’t knock it till you try it.” Kingston’s gaze locked with mine. “You boys have a whole lot to learn.”

“I’m sure all the women in Magnolia Falls will be very pleased that you’ve found a love for romance books.” Hayes shook his head and laughed as he continued placing the water bottles into the cooler.

“I’m all about pleasing the ladies,” Kingston said, his gaze never leaving mine.

Ruby cleared her throat, and I quickly turned to look at her, and she raised a brow. “I think it’s time to open the doors.”

I was grateful my brother was preoccupied, and everyone else was too busy having their own little side conversations to notice the way Kingston was looking at me.

The way I was pretty sure I was looking at him.

But Ruby definitely noticed.

I shook it off and moved toward the doors.

Today felt special.

Like the first day of the rest of my life.

I turned the lock on the door and pushed it open.

Here we go.