Page 54 of When the Woods Go Silent

I swallow hard, wondering if this guy is even real. “It’s almost like we want you to know.”

“Why is it a favorite?” he asks, his fingers sliding over several of the new titles Ruby brought home from the conference.

I consider how to answer, deciding to be uncharacteristically real with him. “The sex is hot and it’s a great adventure, but honestly, my favorite part is the sense of family the main character has. So many people who love her and want to take care of her.”

Kier turns to look at me fully, leaning on the edge of the counter as he frowns a bit. It doesn’t make him any less handsome, either. His eyes are deep green laced with gold, like sun slitting through the forest leaves.

“Do you have a big family?”

“No.” The word comes out more like a whisper, and I glance down, busying my hands with organizing a cup of pens.

“I’d say it isn’t always great, but that won’t convince you, will it?”

I shake my head, keeping my eyes on the counter. People with large families always say things like that, but he’s right. It never helps diminish the dream.

“I do love the new look here,” Kier says when I stay silent. “I stopped in often when William owned it. Did anything happen to him?”

“Oh no, he just retired. My sis- my friend and I bought it from him and moved in from upstate. So you saw it before? It was kind of a mess.”

Kier chuckles, turning to examine a struggling potted violet on a little table. I’ve almost killed it, and it’s barely been a week.

“It certainly was, but there were some treasures here. Did you keep some?” He gestures to the full shelves in the next room.

“We kept everything. I’ve been trying to organize and catalog it all. Kind of crazy how little he kept track of what he had.”

“He kept track up here.” Kier taps his forehead, handing me the romance book. “Will you keep it for me? Until you’re ready to open?”

“If it gives you a reason to come back,” I tease, writing his name on a slip of paper and tucking it between the pages.

“I can think of a few other reasons,” Kier says, the silky undertone to his voice pulling a thrill of anticipation from my body. “It was good to meet you, Rose.”

“See you soon, Kier,” I say, catching my composure and giving him some bedroom eyes. He makes a small noise, like the echo of an appreciative groan, and I know I could find myself in all sorts of good trouble with this one.

As the door closes behind him, I notice the violet he touched seems a lot less droopy, and there are even a few blooms open now that I didn’t see before.

“Same, girl,” I say to the plant, sighing as I watch Kier stroll his long legs across the street, heading toward the woods. He was even dressed nicely, somewhere between casual and business, the pieces obviously expensive and chosen with a good eye.

Once I can’t see his tall frame any longer, I duck back under the counter to work on the cords again. I’ve just gotten practically on my belly to reach the awkward angle when the bells jingle again.

“Seriously?” I grumble, realizing I forgot about the door again. Hoping to see Kier standing over the counter again, I scramble to my feet and am immediately disappointed. “Oh. It’s you.”

Torrence narrows his golden-brown eyes at me but doesn’t say anything.

“Ruby isn’t here. She drove some packages to the post office.”

“Who was just in here with you?” he asks, his voice cold and demanding. I resist the urge to snap that it’s none of hisbusiness, but I should probably play nice. Ruby likes this guy, even if he still seems like an ass to me.

“Just a hopeful customer. We’re not officially open, but I let him look.”

“A local?” Torrence asks, stepping closer to the shelves and running his hand over the same books Kier was looking at. He pauses to flick the edge of a violet leaf, and I glare.

“Leave the plant alone, dude. No, the guy said he was around on business. Why does it matter?”

“Did he leave a name?” Torrence asks, staring down at me. He must tower over Ruby.

“Why does it matter?” I ask again, my hands planting on my hips. “And just so you know, you’re checking a whole lot of my asshole boxes.”

He sneers. “I don’t care what you think of me.” His eyes scan the counter, snagging on the book I set aside for Kier. His hand snatches the paper from it, and the room seems to grow ten degrees colder as Torrence reads the name.

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