Page 20 of Enemies in Paradise

Georgia knows how to wield a hammer both literally and metaphorically. With her insight, she’s hit the nail on the head. Working as a detective isn’t fulfilling in the way I thought it would be, and I can’t blame Captain Markham entirely for that. If I’m being honest, the major reason I joined the LAPD wasn’t just to help people, but to connect with my dad. After eight years on the force, I don’t feel any closer to him.

But what if I do the same thing with opening a bookstore—idealize how my life will look, only to find out later that I’ve made a huge mistake?

“You’re right,” I say to Georgia, “I do need to find something, but I don’t know what. I don’t know how. If I’m not a detective, what am I? Besides a failure for walking away when the job got too hard?”

Georgia’s brow knits together, and she holds my gaze with hers, looking more serious than I’ve ever seen her. “Life comes with pivot points that often masquerade as failure until you really step back and examine them. Use your investigative skills here, Cassie. Stop judging yourself and your situation so critically. Look at all the facts in front of you, and maybe you can see, rather than being forced to pivot, you’re being given a new opportunity.”

Her words wash over me, first rocking me, but then swaying gently to soothe me.

If she wants me to investigate my situation, I’ll start by questioning her. “Are you implying that buying a bookstore could be the new opportunity I’m looking for?”

She answers with a shrug, one side of her mouth lifting with her shoulder.

“How would owning a bookstore help people?”

“It’s not about owning a bookstore, it’s aboutprovidingbooks for people.” Georgia’s half-smile grows to a full-fledged grin. “Think about it. You could give this community something they don’t have: a place to fall in love with stories. You could bring in authors for signings. Plan community events. Create a gathering place for people who want to escape the real world.”

I resist smiling back, even as her marketing tactics work their magic.Gathering placeis playing on repeat in my head to the beat Bear, with his cousin Seb on bass guitar, are messing around with—a song I can’t recognize because of the liberties he’s taking with the riff. “I’m not sold yet, but I’ll give you this, you really know how to turn lemons into lemonade, Georgia Rose.”

“True.” Georgia sits up as Evie slides back into her seat. “But I also know how to breathe new life into something everyone else has given up on. I can help you do that with the auto shop, and I can help you do it with your life if you’ll trust me and take a chance on yourself.”

“What’s going on?” Evie asks, and I’m grateful for the few seconds I have to rein in my emotions while Georgia tells her why I need to follow my dream.

Adam and another guitarist join Bear and Seb on stage and pick up the beat. Immediately I recognize the song I couldn’t suss out before.Come Togetherby the Beatles.

“I hope you’ll buy it! I’d love to have a bookstore here.” Evie bubbles with so much excitement, it threatens to spill over onto me. “I’ll help you with whatever you need.”

I glance from her to Georgia. “I haven’t made up my mind yet.”

“You don’t have to. You’ve got thirty days to consider after you make an offer. But in the meantime, we can put together the loan paperwork and renovation plans.”

I shake my head, but I’m not saying no. I can’t deny the feeling that, even though my life in LA may be coming apart,things could come together for me in Paradise. I give into Georgia’s prodding, the background music, and the smile I’ve been fighting.

“What about Bjorn? Won’t he be mad at you for helping me?” I ask Georgia, then look back at Evie. “And you too, Evie?”

“Bjorn?” Georgia laughs. “No one calls him that. He hates it.”

I shrug. “I don’t know him well enough to call him Bear. And, the point is, he’ll be mad at both of you for helping me.”

Georgia and Evie are both Thomsens now, and my decision to buy the shop would affect their brother-in-law. They may believe my bookstore is a better use of the site than Bear’s current hoarding there, but their loyalty should be to him first. He’s family.

“Leave Bear to me,” Evie says. “He’s almost as stubborn as Adam is when it comes to wanting Paradise to stay the same as it’s always been. I convinced Adam change isn’t so bad and if people see you’re serious, most will catch your vision. Even Bear.”

Her eyes go to her husband’s, who’s back on stage with Seb and Bear.

He sends her an adoring look, then catches the kiss she blows him, which is so cute I want to gag a little.

When she turns back to me, her goofy smile is gone, and she’s all business. “Here’s the thing, though, Cassie. The best decision I ever made was listening to Georgia and starting over in Paradise. I have a job I love, and a man I love even more. I know it seems like dreams can’t come true, but they really can. If you want this, we can help you make it happen and Bear will be okay in time. He’s had a year to get his vision together, and it hasn’t happened. You don’t need to put your dream on hold for his sake.”

Evie’s assurance quiets the worries flooding my brain. Between her confidence in Georgia and Georgia’s confidence inherself, I might have the courage to let Georgia make over my life. But thinking that suddenly makes it so I can’t breathe for a second. Moving from a big city to a small town, giving up being a cop for owning a bookstore? That’s a Hallmark movie, not real life.

But my real life kind of sucks right now, and I have thirty days for everything to unfold with both my dream and my reality. So why not see what happens?

If the bookstore doesn’t work out, and I lose my job, maybe Paradise could use an experienced police officer. In a small town, I could actually get to know the people I was hired to protect. Maybe I would do both. Like Adam being the cook and the guitarist. And isn’t Bear a plumber and a coach and, apparently, a very sexy drummer?

My chest loosens, and I can feel in my bones that I need to take a chance. It might be the only chance I have to redefine my future. “Let’s give it a go. I might be rushing into things, and I’m for sure getting in over my head, but I want to try. It feels right.”

But as soon as the words are out, despite Georgia and Evie’s excited grins, my already unsteady confidence trips.

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