Page 4 of Write on Time

Drawing in a deep breath, I push the door open and walk inside the store, breathing in that unique scent that every book lover knows. The strangely exciting scent of paper and dreams just waiting to be explored by restless, loving fingers that can’t help digging into the pages within these walls.

A bell tinkles above my head and her head pops up. “Hello! I’ll be right with you!” Then she turns back to the younger woman standing in front of her. “I think a readers group could be a lot of fun! And I definitely think we should start with one of Lily’s books since she’s coming here! I mean…this couldn’t be more perfect. Yeah, let me know what night you guys want to come in and lead a group! I’d love to participate!”

The woman in front of her grins. “I’ll let you know as soon as I find out who I can rope into this! I think it could be a heck of a lot of fun!”

“Sure will. Just let me know as soon as you want to get this started, Delia!” Her face goes pink and she grins shyly. “I’ve been trying to figure out how to start something like this myself but I have so much trouble meeting new people.”

Ah. I knew she was a little shy but it seems like maybe she’s more than just a little shy. It’s hard to believe she runs a successful store when she’s so sweetly shy.

So beautifully backwards. Almost as shy as me.

I was the school nerd. The guy who wore pocket protectors and thick glasses. The guy who never went to a dance or asked a girl to dance with him.

“I’ll see you later, Delia! Thank you so much for stopping in. It was so nice to meet you.”

The woman with long red curls smiles back at her, waving her hand. “I’ll get back with you as soon as I can.”

“Terrific!”

And then she turns those emerald eyes back to me and I feel like I can’t breathe. And like an absolute idiot I freeze and can’t say a dang thing!

I reach up and tug at my collar. And with a thick gulp, I reach out my hand and say the stupidest thing I’ve ever said to anyone.

“Hi! I’m Lily L’Amour! I believe you were expecting me! I have been dying to meet you in person, Alanis!”

To say her face falls slack in shock has to be the understatement of the century.

“I don’t know who you are but if this is your idea of a joke it’s a really bad one!”

I groan and my whole face turns bright red. “I’m sorry. That came out all wrong.”

“Because it is wrong,” she snips, her mouth thinning and her eyes narrowing with anger. “I don’t know who you are or what you think you’re doing…what strange sense of humor you’ve got. But this is not even remotely funny.”

“Ugh. I wanted to lead up to this as gently as possible. But apparently I’m an idiot. I really am Lily L’Amour. It’s my pen name. I’ve been using it pretty much since I graduated from school.”

She shakes her head, her pretty face turning a milky white. “That’s not true,” she whispers. “Lily’s my friend.”

I nod my head, smiling. “I am your friend. I have enjoyed our letters so much over the years. It seemed like a good time for us to meet.”

Her back stiffens and her eyes flash emerald fire. “Let me see if I got this right? You think we’re friends even though you’ve been lying to me supposedly for the last two years? Does that sound about right?”

“I wouldn’t put it that way,” I mutter under my breath.

“How would you put it?” The way she says that sentence…so dang quiet and controlled has me wondering if I should even answer the question. She sounds like she’s about to go off like a little volcano.

But if she does? She’s the most beautiful Vesuvius I’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing in person.

Gorgeous but deadly.

CHAPTER 4

Alanis

Iwant to cry. I’ve been looking forward to this moment for weeks and now…I don’t know what to think.

“Why didn’t you tell me when I wrote and asked you to come here? I assume this is why you’ve never done a book signing before.” I glance down at his long, lean body and wonder if I’ve ever seen a less feminine man.

He’s strong and virile. A big, solid guy with a husky frame that looks cuddly soft.

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