Page 108 of Once upon a Summer Night

That morning, a man entered her shop, asked for her by name, and handed her the wrapped parcel. Bemused, she’d taken it, and the man left before she could tip or thank him. When she tore the paper open, the bold strokes of red, tinged with deeper red veins, had her curiously peeling back the rest of the wrapping.

It was an enormous painting of a red poppy, tinged with white. The flower was painted in full, exacting detail on a stark white canvas background. And in the center of the flower, in a shade just a touch lighter than the deep black of its slightly imperfect circle, it read,Anything but simple.

Her throat closed, and her eyes blurred.Oh, Colin…

“Nice gallery piece, though the artist message is unnecessarily cryptic,” Norman declared, eyeing it critically. “It’s a poppy flower. It’s a weed, really, but whoever painted this made it look quite interesting.”

He then hoisted it and hung it on the wall opposite the register, claiming it was a good start at redecorating.

Later that afternoon, when the bell over the door tinkled, she suddenly realized she was staring at the painting again and quickly put the book down. She glanced around. Perhaps Norman was right in that it was time to change things up a bit. She tried to see what her customers saw when they walked in.

The longest wall was floor-to-ceiling shelves, stuffed with different shapes and sizes of books. The rolling library ladder, which followed each wall in the shop, added a feeling ofwhimsy and a good deal of practicality to the space. The tables in the middle of the store were stacked with gently used books, arranged by subject matter. At the back of the shop, a little gas fireplace blazed merrily, even though it was now late summer. A small, comfortable, second-hand couch flanked it, and the low coffee table held a selection of tea and teacups for customers to enjoy.

She waited for the feeling of joy to infuse her but, as had been the case for the last few weeks, she felt only emptiness.

“I’m running out for coffee,” Norman declared, tossing his apron on the counter. “Want anything?”

“No, thank you,” she murmured, lost in her thoughts. Perhaps new paint? Maybe a bright shade of yellow would cheer her.

Probably not.

“Hullo,” she heard Norman greet the patron who just entered. “If you need anything, the owner’s in the front.”

“Thank you,” the man replied, and Ellie’s heart leapt to her throat.

No.

It couldn’t be.

But it was. Colin rounded the corner, his presence filling the space. Ellie stopped breathing, suspended in a moment of absolute agony that pierced her soul, rendering her unable to move, or think, or be.

“I see you got my gift,” he said, his voice low. A slight question at the end of it, perhaps, to goad her into responding.

She remained silent even as her heart yearned for him.

He rocked back on his heels, looking around the shop. “This is really nice. I can see why you’re such a success.”

Another customer entered and called out. She managed to reply, and the woman came around the stacks. “Self help?” she asked.

“Back wall, just there.” Ellie pointed, and the woman turned her back to them with a nod of thanks.

Ellie looked back at Colin. “Can I help you?” A small wave of relief washed over her when her voice didn’t shake.

“You haven’t returned Candice’s calls. She’s in a bit of a panic, you know.”

Ellie’s stomach dropped to her toes, and she resisted the prick of tears.Of course. He still thinks I’m the determining factor of his business here.

“I’ve been busy.”

“Oh?” Colin asked, taking a step toward the counter. His eyes were molten chocolate, and they bore into hers, the intensity robbing her of breath. “I’d like to remind you of the contract you signed with Celtic Connections. You promised to give it a try. Reginald told us he ended things.”

“He did,” she replied, her throat dry.

Colin stared at her. “You told me that you were ready to find love.”

Ellie glared at him. “Iwas ready. It was the fool I fell in love with who was not.”

He paused, his eyes glinting, and he leaned back. “So it’s like that, then.”

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