Page 124 of The Seven Rings
“I do.” She slid one out of her case, handed it to him.
Nodding, he studied it. “Slick. We could use some slick. I’ll work on her.”
Pleased with the stop, Sonya walked back to her car to stow herbags. Maybe she’d bought more than she’d intended, but she had a gift-wrapping room with storage.
She strolled into A Bookstore. Diana rang up a customer while several others browsed the stacks, and Anita answered questions from one on the phone.
They both shot her smiles. Since they were busy, she put business on hold and did her own browsing. Ten minutes, two books, and another couple of gifts later, she walked to checkout.
“Busy morning,” she said to Diana.
“The best kind. How’ve you been, Sonya?”
“Busy, so the best kind of good.”
Anita finally hung up the phone and let out a long exhale. “Wow. Our online business has taken a jump since you took that on, Sonya. I’ll thank you later, but now? Whew!”
She looked at Diana. “The customer wants the entire Sutton Grove series.”
“It’s a good one.” Diana shifted to Sonya. “And it’s twenty-three books.”
“Double it. She wants a set for her brother and one for her grandfather. A pissed-off gift.”
Sonya laughed. “I have to ask.”
“They both argued with her that women can’t write good, gritty, compelling mysteries. Joyce B. Landon writes the Sutton Grove series.”
“Ah.”
“They’re good, gritty, compelling mysteries.”
“They are,” Diana agreed. “We’re not going to have the whole backlist in stock.”
“I told her we’d order. I’ll get started.”
“If you’ve got just a minute first? And maybe take one more to get me the first book in that series? I’ll send you these digitally, but since I was coming in anyway, I printed out the T-shirt idea, and the bookmark.”
When she walked out, again pleased, she decided she could cart her bags one more stop. Then juggled them as her phone signaled.
The readout said: Doyle Law Offices.
“Hi. It’s Sonya.”
“Sadie.” Deuce’s admin spoke in her crisp and bedrock Maine voice. “Eddie’s not around, so I’m handling Number One. He wants to meet with you. He can come to the manor at noon.”
Number One. Ace.
“Oh, I’m actually in the village now, and have an appointment in a few minutes. I could come by the offices later if he’s free.”
“When?”
“Ah, I’m supposed to meet Cleo for lunch at one, but I can cancel that and—”
“Hold on.”
Sonya shifted the bags again, blew out a breath, and kept walking.
Sadie came back on, brisk as ever.
