Chapter Two

It was another steady Saturday for customer traffic, and Rick Connor was pleased. His little store had officially been in business for two months and things were going even better than anticipated.

This keeps up I’ll have to hire some help, he thought with a grin as he worked the cash register swiftly to keep the line moving.

It was just after six o’clock before the crowd began to thin out and he finally had a chance to move around the store and tidy up some shelves.

***

I’m not really that hungry yet, and nothing sounds good right now anyway, Faith realized as she stared vacantly at her pantry.

Sighing, she moved to the couch, with every intention of flipping channels until it was time to go to bed. But it seemed that plan wasn’t viable, either – nothing even remotely interesting appeared through one full circuit of the channels.

“Okay,” she said to herself, “how about emails or YouTube, maybe?”

You could read, you know, her mind chimed in. Or – gasp! – actually leave your freaking house and go spend time outside. Just sayin’.

And she needed to.

If she spent one more Saturday night like this, she might just have to pull her hair out. A year of these kinds of Saturday nights was beginning to weigh heavily.

She glanced down at her phone's screen, and noticed she’d inadvertently opened her pictures app. And a photo of that no-good cheating bastard Kevin was staring back at her.

Oh hell no. That’s gotta go! Geez, how long as it been since I’ve cleaned out my phone? she realized and began deleting every single picture with Kevin in it.

He’d swept her off her feet, then broken her heart when she’d caught him a year ago (Jesus had it already been a year?) in their bed in the middle of a younger, big chested blond bimbo. She’d filed for divorce immediately. Ten years of marriage was obliterated in an instant.

And twelve months later, it still hurt.

Man, I wish I could clear out the memories in my head as easily.

That accomplished, she looked around.

Now what? Still nothing on television…

She didn’t feel like unpacking more boxes, although she’d been in her new place now for almost six months. She also didn’t feel like going out, although both a work friend and Jandy had called to check on her and invite her to do just that. In the aftermath of the biggest betrayal she’d ever felt, she had turned severely inward.

Her life had become her work as an accounting manager from Monday through Friday from eight to five, and this damn townhouse filled the other hours, with almost nothing in between. She had very effectively placed herself in solitary confinement.

Worth it if it keeps me from getting hurt, she thought cattily.

Not if it keeps you from being alive, her heart seemed to respond all by itself. Go out. Do something. Stop rattling around this place like some godforsaken ghost.

Her temper flared a bit.

“Fine,” she said aloud to no one. “You win. Just shut up about it.”

On the way home from work one day, she had noticed a new bookstore had opened a couple of blocks away. Maybe she could burn some time there, find something to add to her growing collection.

Faith strode to her closet, pulling out her favorite jeans and sweatshirt. Reluctantly she parted with her comfy pajamas, changed, and slipped on her boots. She swept her chocolate brown shoulder length hair up into a ponytail, then frowned at the streaks of silver beginning to wind their way through.

Be grateful, she thought. At least they’re silver not yellowish gray.

Grabbing her phone and purse, she took a deep breath, locked her front door behind her, and forced herself out of her self-imposed exile from the world.

She turned left and went down the sidewalk, enjoying the early evening air as she strolled. May evenings in Pantego tended toward perfection in her opinion. Not cold, and not as hot or muggy as it would be when summer bore down once more.

It wasn’t until she was almost to the building’s front door that she noticed the sign hanging over the street from delicate chains.

“Book Keepers”, she read aloud. “How clever.”

Grinning, she stepped over the threshold into her personal nirvana.

Books.

They were everywhere, as far as she could see, and she barely resisted the impulse to clap her hands together and giggle like a little girl.

I could stay in here forever, Faith thought with contentment, walking up to the nearest rack of books and inhaling deeply as she closed her eyes.

I just got here, and I already love everything about this place.

She was so absorbed in relishing her environment that she almost jumped out of her skin when someone gently cleared his throat and in a rich baritone said, “Welcome to Book Keepers. May I help you find something special?”

You just might. Jesus, he has a sexy voice was her unbidden and unexpected first thought.

She opened her hazel eyes and slowly turned the direction that voice had come from, and her jaw almost hit the floor when she saw who had spoken to her.

He was a bit taller than her and lightly tanned, with smoldering brown eyes, chiseled features, dangerously sexy goatee, and dark hair she wanted to fist her hands in.

Temporarily struck dumb, she managed only to nod as she also noticed his very built frame – broad chest, muscled arms peeking out of short sleeves, narrow waist.

She had no doubt whatsoever that blue polo shirt concealed one hell of a six pack, and she could tell by the fit of his jeans across his thighs that the muscular build continued all the way down.

Now he stood, tilting his head slightly as he gazed into her eyes.

Then he smiled at her, and her heart threatened to burst out of her chest.

Say something, you idiot, the part of her brain that wasn’t on sensory overload demanded.

She managed to find her voice, hoping she didn’t sound as awestruck as she felt.

“Um, hi. I had heard this place had opened nearby,” she said after a long pause.

His smile brightened.

***

“Well, welcome to my store. I’m Rick. Would you like me to show you around?” even as he thought to himself, Christ, she’s breathtaking, and she doesn’t even know it.

“Historical? Biography? Sci-fi? No, wait,” he said, eyes narrowing as he met hers again.

“Let me guess. Spy thrillers and murder mysteries.”

Now Faith’s jaw did drop.

“How did you know that just by looking at me?”

The expanding smile caused Rick’s brown eyes to twinkle.

“Kindred spirits. I just felt it.”

Her eyebrow raised slightly, but she couldn’t help but smile back.

“Do tell.”

And he felt something stir deep inside his soul.