Page 53 of When the Woods Go Silent

“I’m starting to think I might need to follow your example.” Rose downs half the mug, wincing again at the temperature. “I need to do some spreadsheets or heavy lifting or something. Blank my mind. Are we still on for soft opening tomorrow?”

“Hell, yes.” I’m already bouncing in my chair, excitement swirling through me at how close we are to the real beginningof this dream. “Let’s forget all about boys and concentrate on books.”

“And besties,” she says, reaching over for a fist bump. I meet it, so relieved our little fight didn’t linger.

No matter what weirdness the world brings us, at least I’ll always have Rose.

“Oh, by the way,” I say, trying to play it casual. “We need to order another window.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

ROSE

I’m kneeling behind the front counter, working on setting up our new cash register system, when the bells I hung on the front door jingle. My nerves flare at the thought that I forgot to lock up behind myself after grabbing sandwiches earlier.

How do I keep neglecting basic safety shit, when I’m already so paranoid?

“Sorry. We’re not officially open yet. That’s tomorrow,” I call, my head still ducked under the counter where I’m trying to arrange the cords in a neat bundle.

“Sorry to intrude, then. I couldn’t resist, when I saw you through the window.”

The deep male voice with a hint of a sexy Irish accent pulls me up so fast I almost hit my head on the counter, my thoughts going immediately to the man I saw last night. I feel my cheeks flush as I take in the guy before me now. He’s just standing there all gorgeous and tall, giving me this flirty half smile, and I’m supposed to make him leave?

“I love books,” he adds, and the smile grows as I adjust my glasses and straighten the deep vee of my shirt. He rakes long fingers through his fluffy hair, a bit browner than mine, but he’s definitely a fellow redhead. He’s got the best parts of a male ginger, too, with a light dusting of freckles and features sochiseled he could be a high-fashion model, and full Cupid’s bow lips.

“Um, we soft-open tomorrow, and on the weekend officially. But I guess I don’t mind if you look.”

His forest-green eyes twinkle at me, and he lets them slide down my body, taking my words in a whole new direction. “I’m Kier,” he says, stepping a bit closer and holding out his hand.

“Rose,” I manage, relishing the warm strength of his fingers gripping mine. My mind flashes all sorts of dirty images of him holding that hand above my head, while he-

“Charmed,” he murmurs, a hint of laughter in that silky deep voice. Oh, hell. Haven’t I just sworn off men? Promised Ruby I was going to try taking it slow? Call me a liar and lock me up, then. As long as he has the key.

“Are you local?” I ask, regaining a tiny bit of composure as he lets go of my fingers and turns to skim the nearest shelf. I try to remember which shop I saw the man in front of last night.

“No, unfortunately. But whenever I’m nearby for business, I always take a day or two in Clearwater. It’s just... magical here.”

My attention snags on his wording, but I shake it off quickly. Just a coincidence. I don’t have to read into it like Ruby would. “What kind of business?”

“Security,” he answers, giving a light one-shouldered shrug. “Have you read this one?” Kier turns a cover toward me, and I can’t help but grin.

“One of my favorites,” I admit, thinking of how lucky the lead woman is, to have a whole house of hot men who do nothing but worship and protect her. She’s no damsel, either, and it sounds like such a fun life. “Do you read romance?”

“Of course. Men complain that they don’t know what women want, yet it’s all here, isn’t it? Right on the page.”

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