Page 46 of The Bookstore on Marco Island

Gill huffed, turned, and pranced out of the shop, slamming the door so hard behind her that Mike was surprised the glass didn’t break.

“You are such an idiot!” Harry hissed at Mike. “And Gill’s wrong.” He shook his head. “You don’t deserve Nicky, and I won’t be surprised if she never speaks to you again.” He turned and made his way to the front door. “You’ll be lucky ifIever talk to you again.”

Harry stormed out of the shop but didn’t slam the door as he left Mike standing, staring after him. His mind was a turmoil of confusion, regret, and despair while his heart ached. Harry was right. Mike was an idiot, and he most certainly did not deserve Nicky’s forgiveness.

Mike closed his eyes and ran a hand over his face. What a mess he’d caused.

“Well, that was quite the scene,” a female voice surprised him.

Mike’s eyes shot open, and his head swiveled towards the sound of it. A tall, dark-haired woman was leaning casually against a bookshelf.

“How long have you been there?” Mike asked, his eyes narrowing. She looked familiar.

“Oh, since Harry came in,” she answered.

“You’re—” Mike was about to say, and she answered.

“Hannah Scott, Nicky’s sister,” Hannah introduced herself. “I came to surprise Nicky and meet my new niece.” She folded her arms and tilted her head. “I know I should’ve run after her, and I was about to. Right after, I put you straight about a few things, but Harry did that for me.”

“And you still didn’t run after your sister?” Mike’s frown deepened.

“I know Nicky,” Hannah told him. “And by the look on her face when she left, Nicky didn’t want to be around anyone, so I held back, and now I’m glad I did.”

“So, you hid between the shelves and eavesdropped?” Mike’s eyes narrowed accusingly.

“Pretty much.” Hannah nodded, unabashed.

“Aren’t you supposed to grow out of snooping on your siblings when you become an adult?” Mike raised an eyebrow.

“Snooping is not clothes or a phase a person goes through,” Hannah told him. “It’s something everyone does no matter their age.”

“I’m sorry.” Mike sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t mean to be rude.”

“But you feel like you’ve just been dragged over hot coals?” Hannah guessed.

“Something like that.” Mike let out a breath. “I’m sure you’re dying to run and tell your sister what you’ve heard.”

“Nope,” Hannah said, shaking her head. “It’s not for me to tell her.” She pushed herself away from the bookshelf. “That’s for you to do.”

“Yeah, like Nicky’s ever going to want to be in the same room as me, let alone talk to me ever again.” Mike closed his eyes and clenched his jaw as the pain shot through his heart at the thought of Nicky and the look in her eyes as she fled from the bookstore. “Harry’s right. I am an idiot.” He grunted. “I let my ego get in the way of —” He ran a hand through his hand and looked at Hannah in despair. “What am I supposed to do now?”

“Well, when you’re finished feeling sorry for yourself,” Hannah said, walking toward him, “I’ll help you.”

Mike’s brows shot up in surprise. “You’ll help me?”

“That’s what I said,” Hannah replied.

“Why, after what I just did, would you want to help me?” Mike asked her.

“Because of how you’re currently beating yourself up,” Hannah told him. “And if I wasn’t here, I have a feeling as soon as you caught your breath, you’d have been through those doors to find my sister.”

“I’m that transparent?” Mike laughed.

“No,” Hannah said. “You’re just that guy.” She smiled. “That guy who would weather a raging storm to try and set things right, especially when he knows he’s in the wrong.” She patted his arm. “It’s stupid and sweet.”

“I don’t know what to say to that.” Mike looked at her confused.

“Say, thank you, Hannah. I accept your help,” Hannah told him. “And that you’ll do what I say and not follow that big, soft heart of yours that I have a feeling will only lead you into more trouble.”

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