Page 2 of One-Click Christmas
“Yeah, that’s a problem.” She laughs and takes a sip from her water bottle. “Kade’s dad was similar. His idea of foreplay was cheating on me with the neighbor, who bragged about how short she is like it’s a personality trait.”
I sigh. “That’s why women need romance novels and big, sexy, emotionally mature men like Hunter Black.”
Her brows narrow. “Sorry, but I think all the emotionally mature men were abducted and returned to their home planet. Hunter Black is probably just a hologram beamed in from whatever galaxy specializes in six-pack abs and emotional cognizance.”
I shake my head, grinning with narrowed brows. “I refuse to believe it.”
“Hey ladies!” The scent of pumpkin spice follows Marley as she makes her way back out into the main part of the shop. She’s carrying the box cutters I’d been looking for. “Saw these in the back room, figured you needed them.”
“Thanks!” I say as Bookmark hops up onto the counter and purrs, rubbing up against my arm for pets. “Holly says you have news!”
A wide grin lifts her cheeks as she leans into the counter. “I do, but first, I wanted to say how much I love you girls and how thankful I am that you work so hard to keep my grandpa’s dream alive. This bookstore is everything to me, and this Christmas I’m going to pull out all the stops to save it.”
“The suspense is killing me!”
“Okay,” Marley grins wider. “Well, as you know, we have a very special guest on the way. They’re set to arrive tomorrow for a reading of their book and a signing.” She nods toward me. “You’ve been in charge of preparations, and we have a rather large preorder count for this event.”
“It’s crazy, especially since these people don’t even know who the author is.”
“People like surprises. Have you seen those blind date book boxes? They fly off the shelves.”
She’s holding back. I swear she loves toying with us.
“Yeah, they’re super cool… so who’s the guest?” My tone is sarcastically playful.
“I don’t know if I want to tell you. Maybe you guys want to be surprised too. I mean, you’ve come this far.”
I narrow my eyes and lean into the counter. “You’re enjoying this way too much.”
“Maybe,” Marley grins, twisting a pen between her fingers, “or maybe I’m really good at building suspense, like a certain author I know.”
Holly huffs. “So… romantic suspense author. How many books have they written?”
“Sixty-two,” Marley offers as though she’s being generous with her clues. “Their newest book comes out in January,” she slows her speech, emphasizing each word, “but we have first edition copies in that box right there.”
My heart pounds as I reach for the box cutters and slice into the tape layered on top. I only know one author that’s releasing a book in January, granted I don’t follow many authors, but there’s no way in hellNew York Times Best-Sellingauthor Hunter Black is going to be at this little bookstore.
I peel back the cardboard flaps, and the smell of fresh ink and crisp pages hits me like a warm hug. I’ve always loved this aroma, ever since I was a kid. Holly leans in beside me as I pull back the bubble wrap.
I blink. “What? No way!”
Marley’s smile is smug now. “Way. He’ll be here tomorrow at eight in the morning. I’m hoping you can show him around the store, maybe entertain him with some breakfast. His agent said he’s pretty private, so I’m thinking I’ll have the bakery drop some specialties off early tomorrow.”
My head spins, and I wonder if maybe this is some kind of sick dream. Maybe I fell asleep in the chair after finishing his book last night. Maybe I got run over by a reindeer and this is the coma hallucination I’m having before I check out for good.
I stare back at the stack, then toward Holly, who looks just about as shocked as I do, before finally making eyes with Marley. “Are you sure? This is insane. I mean, how did you get someone that huge?”
Marley grins. “I have my ways.”
“No, seriously.How?I love this store, it’s my whole life, but… Hunter Black? He’s the biggest thing in romance.”
“Apparently,” Marley says, tilting her head to the side, “he’s a bit of a grump. Hates people, hates signings, hates the cities they send him to. His publishing company requires he do at least three events a year, so he chooses small-town stores to get away from the crowds.” She shrugs. “I pitched the store back in April. The secret has been killing me!”
I glance at the box of first editions and then back at Marley. “So, you’re not kidding? This isn’t like a cardboard cutout of Hunter Black? The real, breathing human will be here, in our shop, tomorrow morning?” I pick up a book and flip to the back cover where his too hot for life photo is printed. “This man, right here, he’s coming to the store tomorrow, and I’m in charge of having breakfast with him?”
Marley nods, laughing. “Merry Christmas! Help yourself to a book, too. Both of you. I expect them to go quickly tomorrow.”
I cradle the book like it might fly away as I stare blankly ahead. How am I going to finish the day? I need a new outfit, a new haircut, a new personality, a new face, a new everything. “This is insane. I mean, what do you even say to someone whose work you’ve admired for years?”
