Page 34 of Once Upon a Beast

He raised his cone in toast, then took a nibble. Isaac’s eyes widened. “You weren’t kidding. This is really good.”

“Told you so.” On a wink, she started her truck.

“We’re not eating here?”

“Nope, need to continue on before the coach turns back into a pumpkin. And don’t you even suggest that just because I’m a woman I can’t drive and eat at the same time.”

He chuckled. “Wouldn’t dream of it. So where are we headed?”

“Just a few more spots, but all important parts of our town’s history.”

Del continued with her tour guide duties in between bites of ice cream, pointing out their historic post office and Robyn’s salon. Just past their town hall, she pulled into a parking space before yet another two-story brick building. The recently updated oil-lamp-looking streetlights along Main Street cast its two storefronts in a warm glow: Haines Hardware and Brooks Books.

“This is your bookstore?”

“It is,” Del said, pride swelling in her chest.

Even in the dark, their store looked warm and inviting. Her father had painted the front door blue years ago, and later the casings around the wide windows on either side holding their storefront displays. This month, the right display housed her mother’s treasured—and now retired—blue rocking chair in the far corner. A beautiful, rainbow-colored quilt made by Barbara Thompson was draped over its back, and Dr. Seuss books were scattered throughout the space. To their entrance’s left, Faye had placed a small wooden table in the display window, helping showcase books geared toward adult readers. Though the shop’s interior lighting was off, the streetlamps illuminated far enough into the store to show a glimpse of the handcrafted shelving units.

“I can see why you’re working so hard to protect it,” he murmured, squinting into the darkness. “It’s beautiful.”

“Thank you. And it is a lovely store, but that’s not the only reason we need to keep it open. For my mother, this store was her dream. Our family has worked tirelessly since her passing to keep that dream alive. Aunt Faye, my dad’s only sister, moved back after the accident and picked up Mom’s torch. Without her, Brooks Books would have never survived.”

“And who is that?”

Del followed Isaac’s gaze to the rotund orange tabby cat that’d emerged from the darkness and taken a seat beneath the display table. He looked toward them and, unimpressed by their presence, began grooming the base of his tail, one hind leg lifted as best he could around a very round belly.

“Oh, Felix.” She groaned. “That’s quite a first impression you’re giving Isaac.”

“That’s all right,” he said with a laugh. “I’m sure he can’t see us.”

Del snorted. “Oh, I’m sure he can and just doesn’t care. We found him as a kitten, meowing at the backdoor years ago. Aunt Faye brought him inside to be our mouser, and he’s been king of the shop ever since. We do love that fatty cat.”

Felix shifted to lay on his back, feet dangling in the air like a bloated racoon laying on the side of the road. Del could only hope this view wasn’t what would stick with Isaac when he was building their website. She turned to say as much, but stopped when she found him studying her.

“What is it?”

“This store really means something to you, doesn’t it?” he asked quietly.

“No.” Her gaze shifted to the rocking chair. “It means everything to me.”

His free hand found hers and gave it a squeeze. “Then I know you’ll—”

A knock sounded at her driver’s side window.

Isaac froze, wide-eyed. If he’d been acting timid as a doe earlier, now he was one trapped in a set of headlights. Had bringing him out here been a bad idea after all?

*

“Stay calm,” Delaneysaid, her words as effective as telling a man on fire not to mind the heat. “Tinted windows, remember? It’s going to be all right. Let me just take a quick peek so I’ll know the best way to get rid of them.”

Isaac nodded, quickly scanning the inside of her cab. No blanket, not much of a back seat. Where was he supposed to hide?

She turned slowly and squinted out her window. “Oh boy. We might be in some trouble.”

“Really?”

Damn.He never should have opened his door at the ice cream place. Someone had to have seen him. Heck, there was probably an angry mob forming outside right now.

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