Page 55 of Not in the Plan

“Thought I’d stop by and check on you. Oh, and I brought you something.” Charlie grabbed a container out of her bag.

Mack’s eyes lit up. “You brought me the hostage scone?” She popped a chunk in her mouth. “Yum. So good. Thank you.”

“How’s it going out there? You look like a natural.”

“I’m miserable.” She swiped the corner of her lips with her pinkie. “I’m so tired. And my throat is on fire. I had no idea this many people would show, and I already spoke for a few hours at the conference.”

“And how’s your body?”

“My body?” Mack’s dimples appeared.

Charlie’s entire being turned red. It was like Mack could read every thought. “From yesterday… from the floor.”

Mack laid her hand on Charlie’s arm. And kept it there. “Ah. In one day, I’ve exceeded the maximum amount of Tylenol a human should have in a week. But I think?—”

The curtain swiped open, and a stunning Black woman with braids reaching to her waist peeked in. “Mack, we’ve got to keep the line moving.”

“Okay, be there in a second.”

The woman smiled at Charlie before she pivoted and closed the curtain.

“Come sit by me.” Mack pushed her hands together in prayer hands. “Please.”

“What? No. I can’t do that.” But the idea of being by Mack in any capacity sounded pretty damn good.

“I’m serious.”

Mack’s palm pressed into Charlie, and her entire arm went mushy. Mack tugged her toward the entrance, and Charlie followed.

When they stepped outside of the curtain, Charlie felt a hundred eyes look at her. The air-conditioning and fans couldn’t keep up with the heat and she subtly fanned her dress at the thigh.

“Viviane, meet Charlie. Charlie—Viv,” Mack whispered as she got settled back into her chair and fetched a pen.

“Hi, there. Nice to meet you. We’ll chat more when this is all over,” Viviane whispered back with a firm grip, brilliant smile, and effortless confidence.

Charlie liked her immediately.

The next hour zoomed by. People held their books out to Mack as she charmed each guest with generous smiles and quick conversation. Charlie did this in her shop—schmoozed—but shelovedit. Watching Mack do this, knowing she cringed inside, impressed the hell out of Charlie.

“Hey, the contractual time is over. You wanna wrap this up?” Viviane asked Mack with a hushed voice.

“Nope,” Mack said. “They’ve been waiting for hours. Least I can do is stay.”

Viviane nodded and told the assistant to continue.

A man approached with three books under his arm, his body bouncing as he held them out to her. “Your book kicked ass. I’m buying these for my family. Loved everything about it. Dude, the ending was killer. I mean, you know, not killer, butkiller.” His loud and rushed tone was more excited than dangerous, but Charlie’s hair stood on edge.

“Thank you for that.” Mack poised the pen over the book. “Who should I make this out to?”

“Can I get a hug?” The man plunged his arms forward without waiting for a response, and although he directed his reach to Mack, Charlie’s backbone stiffened.

Viviane clamped her hand down on top of Mack’s, her bangles tinkling. “Sorry, no hugging policy. I’m sure you understand.”

Mack handed back the books, reached under the table, and gave Charlie’s knee a squeeze. The tingles blasted to the top of her thigh. The overzealousness was aimed at Mack, and she comforted Charlie?Swoon.

When the last person left, the owner bolted the deadlock. He waved his employees over to the counter as Mack slid down the chair and rested her head on the back. “I’m so flipping tired.”

“You did good.” Viviane patted her on the arm. “Charlie, thanks for hanging out. You were everything Mack needed to not crawl under the table.”

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