Page 13 of The Romance Library

Sometimes when you meet someone, you just know. I knew within seconds of meeting my husband that he would be the love of my life and I was right. And when you saw my treasured book collection and your eyes lit up with such excitement, I knew you were the person I’d been looking for.

I’d been searching for someone who cares about books, who understands the joy that they can bring, and who would be motivated enough to see this project through.

Even during the short time we spent together, I could see that you were a hard worker. But three jobs is far too much to juggle. With this salary you can dedicate all of your time to one thing: a project that I believe will become your passion.

I know you will have doubts, but just imagine an entire library dedicated solely to romance! Aisles upon aisles of steamy romance, romcoms, sweet romance, romantasy and every delicious trope you can think of. Enemies-to-lovers, friends-to-lovers, fake-dating… it would cater to every romance lover’s desires.

There could even be a bookstore for readers to buy their favourites. You could host book signings from the best romance authors. The possibilities are truly endless!

Just like the famous bookstores in New York and London, I’d love for The Romance Library to become a destination that people from all over the world flock to visit. It would be truly wonderful!

I’d like The Romance Library to be my legacy.

And there is only one person I believe can make this happen: you.

I believe in you, Jessica.

Please fulfil my dying wish and make my dream come true.

Yours sincerely,

Meredith Davis

I dropped the letter on Cecil’s desk.

‘Well?’ he said. ‘Are you willing to accept?’

‘I really don’t think I can do it.’

All the things Meredith had said were nice. It was great that she had such faith in me, but she was wrong. I admit, having a library dedicated to romance would be pretty cool, and having a stable salary would be amazing too—but it was too big a project for me to handle alone.

I was barely holding my own shit together, so how could I run a business when I couldn’t even run my own life?

And I didn’t read anymore. I couldn’t. So I’d make a terrible book ambassador. Meredith deserved someone better.

‘Could you do one thing for me, please?’ Cecil asked.

‘What’s that?’

‘Meredith showed you the location that she wanted to use for the library, didn’t she?’

‘Yes.’

‘There’s a meeting there tomorrow with the vendor. Another company is interested in buying the property, but he’s asked to meet with us both to hear why we believe he should give it to us. Could you come with me? Help plead the case for the library? I don’t know much about books and even less about romance novels!’ he smiled. ‘You will, of course, be paid for your time. Shall we say five hundred pounds for the day? Consider it a consultancy fee.’

Five hundred big ones for a day’s work?

To some people that might not seem like a lot of money, but for me, it was a fortune. It would cover most of the rent for my shitty bedsit for almost a month. It would mean I could eat proper meals for a change. Pay my bills. I could even get my car fixed.

I wasn’t able to take on the commitment of running of the library, but I could do one day’s consultancy work. That’d be easy. I’d just go there, do my thing, leave and get on with my life.

‘Okay,’ I said. ‘I have to decline the offer to do the whole library build and management thing, but I can help you tomorrow, just for the day.’

‘Excellent!’ Cecil clapped his hands together. ‘Here.’ He reached behind his desk and handed me a bag. The way this guy was giving out gifts, I should call him Santa. ‘Meredith thought you might like these too.’

‘Thanks!’

I opened the bag and saw a dozen different romance novels from all the authors I’d mentioned were my favourites. Steamy romance with all the tropes were the books I loved the most.

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