Page 52 of The Ruse of Romancing
“Maybe a woman who doesn’t look like she’s going to murder me and use my body parts to cast a spell?” Spencer said, his voice cracking slightly.
“Eustasia’s a really nice girl, once you get past her prickly exterior,” I said, grabbing his arm and trying to guide him over to my unwitting accomplice.
“You know, on second thought, I have enough books at my own bookstore. No need to shop at the competition,” Spencer said, breaking from my grasp. “Enjoy your date.”
Spencer fairly ran from the store, nearly bowling several people over in his haste. I fought back my laughter until he was out of the store, relief immediately filling my chest at my narrow escape.
“What’s so funny?” Dani asked, coming up behind me with a bag over her shoulder and at least three more books in her arms.
“Oh, just something I saw outside the window. It’s hard to explain.”
Dani shrugged, accepting my explanation at face value.
“What did you find?” I asked, eager to change the topic and turning to examine her books closer.
She held up two romances and one romantasy novel that looked vaguely familiar. I’d probably seen them around Spencer’s shop.
“Aren’t these covers gorgeous? I want to read the books, but I’m also going to take them home to show Avery so she can see who the cover designers are. Now that I’m more than halfway done writing book two, we really need to find a new designer.”
“Those are nice,” I said, grabbing the top book and examining the cover with its bold font and bright colors. It was a beautifuldesign, but it would clash completely with the current cover ofOf Curses and Pomegranates.“Though, I’m not sure this designer’s style would pair well with your first book.”
Dani gasped, grabbing my arm. “How could I forget, you’re a designer! What’s your style? I mean, when you’re working on something besides covertly drawing me.”
“It depends on the project,” I said, excited but trying to play it cool as I sensed the opening I’d been waiting for since the day I’d officially met Dani in Spencer’s store. With that excitement, though, came a sense of guilt that I couldn’t ignore. I was coming to know and care for Dani, and I couldn’t feel good about using her to advance my career with so many secrets between us.
“You’ll have to show me some of your work at lunch! I want to see if you could be a good fit. Not that I have any control over the decision, but if you’re good, and I’m sure you are, I’ll pass your name onto Avery for consideration.”
I followed Dani as she continued to talk about covers all the way to the row of cash registers at the front of the store. Just as we were about to hop in line, a display of books caught my eye. The table was labeled “staff favorites,” with Dani’s book forming a small stack in the middle of the table.
Snagging Dani’s arm, I slowed her dash to the cash register, turning her to see what I saw.
“And you were worried they wouldn’t carry your book. Looks like at least three employees are fans,” I said as I pointed to comment cards placed next to the stack of her book, each one containing the review of a different Powell’s employee.
“Oh, well, that’s just...” She stammered, her cheeks turning bright pink as she bit her lip. She reached up to brush at her cheeks, looking suspiciously like she was crying.
“Hey now,” I said, pulling her in for a hug. “This is a very good thing.”
“I know. I’m being ridiculous. It’s just, I feel silly for all my worries, but then there’s a voice in my head saying it’s a fluke or that—”
I stopped her by pressing a gentle finger to her lips.
“Nothing about this is a fluke. Give yourself some credit and celebrate a win.”
“You’re right. I know you’re right. Why are the negative voices so much louder than the positive ones?” She asked, her voice small and making my heart crack even more for this beautiful woman in front of me.
“I wish I knew,” I said, reaching up to brush away a tear that had escaped from underneath her sunglasses and was currently tracing its way down her cheek. “But I’m making it my personal mission to help you listen to those positive voices from here on out.”
Biting her lip for just a moment, Dani put down the books in her hands and pulled a pen from her purse before glancing around to make sure no one was paying attention. Once she was satisfied, she grabbed a few of the books, quickly scribbling her signature in the fronts.
Once she was satisfied, she capped the pen and slipped it back in her purse, retrieving the small stack of books she’d been carrying from where she’d deposited them on the table.
“Just celebrating the win,” she said, giving me a small, private smile before heading back toward the checkout.
I watched her walk away. This woman was incredible, even if she didn’t see it. I hesitated before following her, snagging one of the copies she’d just signed, a small souvenir from this moment. I checked out behind Dani, making sure she didn’t see what I was buying.
It was the most sentimental thing I’d done in years, possibly since my dad passed away, and I told myself I bought it for research. If I was going to stand any chance of designing Dani’ssecond book cover, I needed to know what the book was about. But I knew better.
After everything she’d shared with me today, I knew if I wanted to continue getting to know Dani, I needed to read her book. The woman wore her heart on her sleeve, and I had a feeling she’d written a large part of herself into this novel as well.
