Page 3 of Cat Sloan is Swirling

“Yes!” CeCe exclaimed.

“Do you have a name for the room in the back?” Cory asked Cat.

“Yeah, I think I’ll call it The Bottom Shelf.” Cat grinned. “But let’s not tell Mom about that part.”

Cory chuckled. “You have to watch out for the quiet ones.”

“So, little sister. Do we get a discount?” CeCe asked.

Cat laughed. “Do you think this is what Dad had in mind?”

“I can see it now!” Cory exclaimed. “Our clients can stop by and get a drink, a book, and get their hair done.”

CeCe held out her hand. “I’m in.”

“I’m in,” Cat said, placing her hand on top of CeCe’s.

“Watch out,” Cory said, placing her hand on top. “Here come the Sloan Sisters!”

1

Three Months Later

Cat Sloan quickly glanced at her watch and couldn’t believe that just a few short hours ago she’d been with her sisters, toasting to the success of their new businesses as they opened the doors for the first time.

As she walked back through the opening between her store and CeCe’s, she’d taken a moment to gaze around her brand new bookstore. Your Next Great Read filled her with pride and anxiety in equal measures. Cat had never owned her own business; neither had her sisters. But in a twist of fate—or was it a lucky break? Either way, she, Cory, and CeCe had the money to make this happen.

Cat chuckled as she remembered Cory telling all their friends and family that they were opening the Sloan Sisters’ Shopping Extravaganza. In spite of the silly name, this wasn’t your typical shopping center, though. It was more eclectic.

Cory opened The Liquor Box on one end of the building and Cat’s bookstore was the anchor on the other end with CeCe’s beauty salon nestled between them. While finishing the building, Cory had made sure there was a large opening between each store so people could browse all three locations without walking outside.

It proved to be a smart addition as people walked from store to store during their open house.

Cat overheard CeCe explaining to her clients that they could get their hair done while enjoying a good book or a drink. Several customers had stopped by the bookstore after buying their favorite bottles of wine from Cory and mentioned making an appointment at CeCe’s salon.

So many thoughts swirled in and out of Cat’s head as she waited on customers or straightened the shelves. She loved to read and after discovering sapphic fiction and romance, she wanted others to know about this genre. Cat loved these books because she often saw herself in the characters.

She may have been a quiet tax accountant by day, but when she escaped into the world of sapphic literature she became the ice queen having a secret affair with her assistant. Or the girl-next-door with a crush on her high school best friend. Sometimes she wondered what it would be like to be the domme or a submissive in some of the spicier books.

Cat walked along and let her fingers lazily roam across the titles in one particular section: second chance romance. An unintentional sigh escaped from deep inside her. Fucking Hattie Tucker.

“Are you all right?” Jessica asked from behind the register.

“Sure. Why wouldn’t I be?” Cat replied, walking towards her.

“I know that sigh. You’re thinking about Hattie, aren’t you?” Jessica said.

Cat narrowed her eyes. “I knew it was a bad idea having you come work here.”

Jessica smiled. “What’s so bad about having one of your best friends working with you?”

“Because, evidently, you know my sighs. I’m not sure that’s a good thing,” Cat said with a soft smile.

“I only know your Hattie sighs. And that’s because your sisters made it my job to make sure you don’t waste another minute thinking about that good-for-nothing ex of yours,” Jessica explained.

Cat furrowed her brow. “If they made that part of your job, are they paying you as well?”

Jessica chuckled. “What do you think?”

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