Page 56 of Where We Bloom

And now it’smyphone ringing, making me scowl as I pull away from him and look at the screen.

It’s Emily at the shop.

“Hey, Em.”

“Hi, I’m so sorry to call you on your day off.”

“No worries, what’s up?”

I move back to continue cutting the cucumber, pinching the phone between my ear and shoulder, and Connor resumes cleaning vegetables next to me.

“I caught a shoplifter.”

I narrow my eyes.

“Did you call the police?”

Connor’s head whips over to look down at me.

“Of course. They just left. The kid was arrested, and we filed a report, and everything is fine, but I didn’t want to wait to tell you until you got here tomorrow.”

“I appreciate that. Who was it?”

“A teenage girl. I actually felt really sorry for her because I could tell that she justreallywanted to read the book she tried to steal and likely can’t afford it.”

“But we have a no toleration policy,” I finish for her.

“Yeah. She was upset. She’ll probably be released to her parents.”

I turn and lean against the counter, and Connor reaches over and tucks a piece of my hair behind my ear. I offer him a small smile.

“You did the right thing, Em. Thanks for letting me know. How’s Tiffany feeling?”

“Oh, she’s fine. She’s ringing up customers now.”

“Has it been busy today?”

“Steady all day. Have you considered hiring more help? I don’t see us getting slower in the offseason.”

“I have some interviews on Monday,” I reply. “We definitely need more help. I’m gonna go now, but let me know if you need anything.”

“Will do, boss. See you.”

I hang up and look up into worried, insightful eyes. “It’s all fine.”

“Sometimes people suck,” he says, echoing my words and making melaugh.

“That’s true. What wise words.”

“A brilliant and beautiful woman recently told me that.” He winks, and we resume our tasks. “You’re going to hire more help?”

“Yes, definitely. Two, maybe three more. The store is busy, and more often than not, I’m being called away from the floor for other things. I’m in contact with indie authors about collaborations, which issoexciting and not something I ever thought I’d do. I’m constantly buying new stock and starting to schedule book signings. It’s a lot of admin work on my end, and I’d rather have employees on the floor with customers while I handle the back end.”

“You’re growing,” he says, dragging his hand down my spine. “Good for you, bumble.”

“I might eventually buy the space next to me. Not the coffee shop side, obviously, but the other side, if it ever comes available. I could use more space, and it hasn’t even been a year. Anyway, I won’t bore you with that.”

“Do I look bored?” He raises an eyebrow and leans his hip against the counter. Folding his arms over his chest, he faces me as I finish the vegetables.

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