A COUPLE DAYS LATER, I stood in front of Pemberley Books, studying the exterior. The paint on the front of the shop peeled. I glanced at the mural on the side of the building, in the alley next to the shop. As a kid, I remembered it clear and freshly painted, classic books from every genre in a grid.
Now, it looked kind of sad. The paint had faded from the sun and time, and most of the titles were difficult to read.
“Hey, buddy. I heard you got into Pacific Rim. Congrats.”
I turned to see Beck Kingston, one of my oldest friends, walking up the street toward me. “Thanks, Dr. Beck.”
He laughed. After we graduated high school, Beck had gone to university in Vancouver and then medical school with the intention of taking over his parents’ practice one day here in Queen’s Cove.
“How were the waves this morning?” Beck sometimes joined me out on the water but always in the evenings. He wasn’t a morning person.
“Perfect. Nice and clean.”
“Ready for Pacific Rim?”
I crossed my arms over my chest and ignored the twinge of panic in my gut. I didn’t panic. That wasn’t my style. I shrugged. “Ready as I’ll ever be. Still going to get out there every morning, though.”
Beck grinned. “Wouldn’t expect anything less of you.” He tilted his chin at the store. “I have a book to pick up, I’ll talk to you later.”
“I’ll join you. I need to talk to Hannah about something.”
The bell on the door rang when he opened the door and held it for me. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the dim lighting, but I spotted Hannah chatting with a customer. Beck headed off in search of a book with a wave to me.
I wandered over to the squashy chairs I had seen her and Thérèse sitting in and took a seat while I waited for her to finish up. I eased back into the chair, studying the store.
Every shelf burst with books. Stacks sat on the floor beside shelves and between the big chairs. There were empty spaces where it looked like a shelf used to be but had given out. I could only see half of the front desk from where I sat, but even from here I could see the weathered desk and old, outdated register. The carpet was thin and the place smelled musty. Not unpleasant, just old.
They hadn’t updated this place in a long time.
Her murmur traveled through the stacks of books.
The front door bell rang again as the customer left and Hannah’s footsteps approached. She stopped short when she came around the corner and saw me.
She reared back. “What are you doing here?”
I snorted. “Now that’s customer service. ‘Welcome to Pemberley Books. What are you doing here?’”
She crossed her arms and gestured at the chair. “You can’t sit there.”
“I’m wearing a shirt this time.”
A hint of pink bloomed on her cheeks. “I noticed. Thank you for doing the bare minimum.” She blinked. “Again, what are you doing here? Do you need me to teach you how to read?”
I burst out laughing. “You’re kind of mean for a shy girl.”
Her eyes widened. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know why I said that. I know you can read.”
The grin stayed glued on my face. I liked this side of her. “It’s okay, bookworm. I know you jest. I’m here to check up on you and see if you’ve done your homework.”
She froze. “My homework.”
“Yep. Since you get off on having homework, I thought I better make sure you did it.” I winked and her eyes widened.
“I don’t get off on having homework,” she hissed. “And no, I haven’t done it.” I noticed her cheeks redden further, even in the dim light at the back of the bookstore.
I rubbed my jaw and narrowed my eyes, pretending to think. “What was that we agreed on again? My way, my rules, something like that?”
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t think too hard, you might hurt something.”
Another laugh burst out of me. “You’re cranky today.”
“I’m not cranky.”
I stood. “Well, I don’t have all day, so let’s get to it.”
Panic flared in her gaze, and she took a step back into a bookshelf. “Get to what?” It was the same squeaky voice as a couple days ago when we were on the water, when I was teasing her about sharks.
“You’re going to ask ten guys out, like we agreed.”
Her eyes darted around, and she chewed her lip. She didn’t want to do this, I could tell, but I didn’t care. A sick part of me liked pushing her boundaries.
A couple days ago, she didn’t want to get on the board. Fuck, she didn’t even want to get into her wetsuit, but she showed up. A part of her wanted to do something new, push herself out of the safe little box she hid in most of the time. And that was how she would become this hot girl she wanted to be. The look she gave me when I pulled her back on her board, sputtering and coughing? She was furious.
I thought about the way she had melted against me when I hauled her to my chest in the water. Something about it sent a thrill through my veins.
She crossed her arms over her chest, frowning at me.
“Bookworm, you want to be a hot girl? Hot girls don’t care what people think of them. They don’t worry if they fuck up because failure is part of life. Do you trust me?”
She snorted. “No.”
I grinned.
“I do trust that you know what you’re talking about,” she admitted.
I wasn’t going to give her a chance to bail on this. “Come on.” I moved past her and noticed another employee behind the desk, a Black woman with bright blue earrings.
“Hi.” I nodded to her. “Liya, right?”
She beamed at me. “Yeah, and you’re Wyatt?”
“You know it.” I gestured at Hannah. “I’m going to steal Hannah for a few minutes. Is that okay?”
Liya glanced between me and Hannah, who shrank like she wanted to disappear into the floor. “Sure.”
“Cool. Come on, bookworm.” I put a hand on her back and guided her out of the store.
“Where are we going?”
“We’re going to stand right here,” I said, holding the door open, “and you’re going to ask out the next ten guys you see.”
Her hands twisted in front of her. Her throat worked as she swallowed. “This is not how I pictured finding a boyfriend.”
“Hey.” I leaned down to meet her eyes, waiting until she raised her gaze to mine. “Remember when you fell off your board and got a face full of water?”
Irritation replaced her worry. “Yes.”
“You were fine after, right?”
A tiny nod. She inhaled. “Okay. Fine. Let’s get this over with.”
“Excellent.” I scanned the street. It was just after ten in the morning on a Thursday, so no weekend summer crowds yet. A few people moving in and out of stores, chatting with neighbors and friends on the sidewalk, enjoying their morning. Don, the retired guy who ran the local news blog, the Queen’s Cove Daily, walked up the street carrying a couple bags of groceries.
“Don.” I waved. “How you doing, buddy?”
Hannah froze. “He’s married,” she hissed at me under her breath.
I kept the grin on my face but lowered my voice. “Doesn’t matter, not the point.”
Don nodded and smiled at us. “Good morning. Not too bad. Canned kidney beans are on sale at the grocery store and there’s only a couple left, you two should get over there. Ninety-nine cents.”
“Wow, nice.” I grinned before turning to Hannah with an expression that said go on.
She swallowed and shook her head. I nodded with raised eyebrows.
“Hi, Don.” Her voice wobbled.
“Hi, Hannah.”
Hannah’s mouth snapped shut and she glanced at the door of her bookshop, like she wanted to run inside and hide.
I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned against the brick wall. “Hannah has something she wants to ask you.”
Don’s eyebrows lifted. “Oh? Well, go on.” He shifted the bags in his hands.
“Wouldyouliketogetdinnerorsomethingsometime?” She said the words in a rush and I nearly burst out laughing there, but held back. She was doing the scary thing, and I wanted to see how she’d handle this. I didn’t want to push her so far that she’d bail on this whole thing. It was just getting interesting.
Don blinked at her. “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that.”
“Dinner. Would you like to get it sometime?” She stared at her sneakers, face burning.
Don’s mouth made an O. “Oh, Hannah. I’m married.”
“Right,” she managed. “Married.”
Her face burned, and the red flush crept down her neck to her collarbone.
Don shook his head at her with pity. “Oh, honey. You’ll find someone.” He reached into his bag. “Take a can of beans.”
She put her hands up. “No, that’s okay—”
“Please, I insist.” He pushed the can into her hands and shot her another wince. “I’m so sorry if I ever gave you the wrong impression about us.”
Hannah made a strangled noise in her throat.
I tilted my chin at him, still smiling. “See you later, Don.”
“Later, Don.” Hannah’s voice warbled. When Don was far enough away, she whirled at me and slapped my arm.
I burst out laughing.
“That was so embarrassing.”
“I know. You did great. One down, nine to go.” I peered over her shoulder as Max approached. “Round two, let’s go, before you have time to think about it.”
Max was in his mid-twenties and managed Avery’s restaurant, The Arbutus. He gave us a wave. “Hey.”
“Max, will you go on a date with me?” Again, she rushed the words out, like she couldn’t get rid of them fast enough.
One of his eyebrows rose in disbelief. “You know I’m gay, right?”
Hannah’s throat worked and she nodded.
Max glanced between us with interested suspicion. “What’s going on here?”
I shrugged. “Don’t worry about it.”
His gaze narrowed. “I’m not going to go on a date with you, Hannah, but you can come over and watch The Bachelor with Div and me tomorrow night. We eat a lot of pizza and make fun of everyone.” He raised an eyebrow at her. “This is purely platonic, on account of me still being gay.”
Hannah gave a quick nod. “Sure. Tomorrow night. I’ll bring spinach dip.”
He pointed at her. “Now, you’re thinking.” He glanced between us again and gestured between her and me. “I’m intrigued. Goodbye.”
Hannah shifted on her feet, twisting her hands. “Bye.”
Max walked away, casting curious glances over his shoulder at us as I grinned and waved at him.
“Great. Now he’s going to tell Avery what a weirdo I’m being. Standing outside my own bookstore, harassing innocent men.”
“Bookworm, that was amazing. Two rejections, one after the other? When this is over, you’re going to be bulletproof.”
Her nostrils flared and another spike of happiness rose in my chest. If only she could be this feisty with others.
We’d get there.
We kept waiting on the sidewalk for people to pass. The next three guys were in relationships but flattered someone as cute as Hannah was paying attention to them. I had gone easy on her and let her skip the ones that were walking with another woman. I didn’t want to completely mortify her. Just a little.
Div walked by, in a full suit like always. Div worked for my brother Emmett, first at the construction company Emmett and my other brother Holden owned, and now at town hall, where Emmett was mayor.
“Hey, Div,” I called as he passed. “Hannah wants to ask you something.”
Div raised an eyebrow. “Are you going to ask me out, too?”
Hannah nodded, shoulders sinking. “Max told you.”
“And Don.” He studied her before gesturing. “Well, go on.”
“Div, will you go on a date with me?” Her tone was so dreary and dejected that I had to hide my grin behind my hand.
He shook his head, studying her. “No, but I’m going to ask you questions tomorrow night when you come over.”
“That’s reasonable.” She nodded, pressing her lips together.
Div’s phone rang and he read the name on the screen. “I have to take this.” He answered the call and walked away.
“Four to go, bookworm.” I shot her a wink.
She huffed and chewed her lip. At least she wasn’t mortified anymore. Just irritated.
“Wyatt, my dude!” Carter, the twenty-three-year-old who worked at my surf shop, raised his hand for a high five. He shot Hannah a lazy smile. “Who’s the lady friend?”
“This is Hannah.”
Carter’s dopey smile lingered. It was after eight in the morning so he was probably stoned. I didn’t care if he was high working at the surf shop, as long as he didn’t get stoned before teaching any lessons. “Hey, Hannah. What’s your story?”
“Um. I work at a bookstore.” She gestured behind us. “This one.”
“Wow, cool.” He made an explosion noise in his mouth. “Books, ya know?”
“Yep, books.” She sighed. “Do you want to go on a date with me?”
Carter’s mouth fell open. “For serious? Hell yeah!”
Hannah snapped to attention and blinked a few times. “Oh. Okay, then.”
“I’m going to the bar tomorrow night. You want to come with? They have darts,” he told her. There were a few bars in Queen’s Cove but only one that the locals frequented, a dingy old bar that had been standing since the sixties.
She glanced at me before nodding at him. “Okay. Sunday night at the bar.”
Carter fist-pumped the air. “Right on. See you then, chica. Later, boss.” He made finger-guns at her before backing away. I heard him whoop as he bobbed down the street.
“Nice one, chica.”
“Shut up.” Her mouth twitched. “This was your stupid idea.”
From the way she was trying not to laugh, instead of trying to blend in with the wall outside the bookstore like before, my idea didn’t seem stupid at all.
She winced. “He’s way too young for me. What will people think?”
I shrugged. “Who cares? They’ll probably think, ‘wow, Hannah can get it.’”
“Oh my god.” She buried her face in her hands and I grinned.
The bell on the door jingled and Liya stuck her head out. “Han, do we have any copies of Pride and Prejudice?”
Her fingers came to her hair, playing as she thought with a little frown on her face. “Second stack from the supply room. On the right.”
“Great.” Liya grinned at us. “Thanks.”
We turned back to the street to see my brother Holden staring at us with a frown on his face. “What are you doing here?”
“Good morning, sunshine.”
He frowned deeper. “You’re wearing a shirt and you’re standing outside a bookstore.”
Hannah crossed her arms over her chest. “We’re doing a thing. Holden, do you want to go on a date with me?”
Under the brim of his baseball hat, his eyes widened with alarm. He hadn’t dated anyone in years. His frown deepened and he cleared his throat. “There’s an art exhibit at the gallery next weekend I was going to go to.”
I tilted my head, studying him. Didn’t expect that.
“Oh.” Hannah’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “The Emily Carr one.”
He grunted in acknowledgement and shot me a warning glance. My mouth quirked.
Hannah nodded with a small smile. “Okay.”
“Saturday at two. I’ll buy you food after. Don’t be late.” He turned and walked away, leaving Hannah and I standing on the sidewalks, me shaking with laughter and her with her mouth hanging open.
She stared after Holden before giving me a hesitant glance. “I don’t like Holden like that. What if he gets the wrong idea?”
“I’ll talk to him.”
She groaned. “No, that’s worse. I’ll think of something.”
The bell behind us jangled again and Beck stepped out.
“Hey, Hannah.” He gave her a warm smile and held up a stack of books. “I got lucky today. I got that book you ordered in for me about medical research.”
Hannah gave him a shy smile. “It’s so funny. Mary Roach is so sharp and witty.”
“And I’m going to read this Pride and Prejudice you won’t stop talking about.”
I turned to study Hannah. She hadn’t mentioned this book to me.
She chewed her lip, biting back a smile. “I’m so happy you’ve decided to take your life in the right direction.”
I frowned, watching her smile up at him. Her eyes glowed. She was lit from within, talking about this book. Where was the shy, terrified Hannah? She seemed to melt away in Beck’s presence.
“You love this book, huh?” He beamed at her, and there was a spark in his gaze.
She nodded. “It’s my favorite. It’s so… It’s the ultimate romantic comedy.” She gestured at the weathered store sign above us. “There’s a reason the bookstore is named this.” She beamed again. “You’ll see.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. My shoulders tightened.
Beck gave us a quick nod. “I look forward to it. See you later, you two.”
Hannah shot me a side-long glance but I held my hand up to Beck. “Hannah wants to ask you something.”
Her face went red. That made my shoulders even tighter. She didn’t blush with Holden.
“Um…” she started.
“Go on.” I tilted my chin at her, keeping my arms crossed.
Beck glanced between us with narrowed eyes. “What is it?”
Hannah winced at him. “I’m trying a thing. Do you want to go out with me?”
Beck’s gaze flared with interest. “Yes, I do. Is this because I’m reading your favorite book?”
She laughed and there was a weird stab in my stomach. “No, no. Wyatt’s making me ask people out to embarrass me.”
Beck looked impressed. “Good for you.” He glanced at me and did a double take before shooting a quick smile at Hannah. “I have to get back to the clinic, but I’ll come chat with you tomorrow.”
She nodded. “Okay. Bye, Beck.”
He waved. “Bye.”
I watched him walk down the street. Beck was tall like me, with a good head of dark hair, nice teeth, and he was always in a good mood. He was a regular at the gym. He was pleasant to everyone, well-liked around town, and single.
Hannah hummed to herself, glancing up and down the street and rocking on the heels of her sneakers. “One left.”
A weird feeling hit my stomach. I couldn’t explain it, but my mood had soured.
“You’ve done enough. Good job today, bookworm.”
“Oh. Okay.” She shrugged. “That wasn’t so bad, I guess.” She remembered the can of beans in her hand and winced. “Actually, yes, it was.” She tilted her head, passing the can back and forth between her hands. “I do want to see that exhibit at the gallery, though. And Beck is cute.” Her gaze followed him down the street. “Super cute.”
I stepped in the way of her line of sight. “We have another surf lesson tomorrow. Dawn.”
She groaned. “So early.”
I pictured her with messy hair, rolling out of bed and turning off her alarm. “We have to catch those clean waves, bookworm. They’re the easiest to learn on.”
“I’m going to fall off my board again.” Her mouth twisted to the side.
“Undoubtedly.”
“It’s going to suck.”
“Hey.” I nudged her. “You got rejected by half the town today, and you’re still standing.”
Despite the embarrassed flush on her face, she laughed. “Ugh. Please let me forget.” She glanced at the store. “I should go back in. Oh.” She paused. “I’ve been reading about social media marketing. What’s your brand?”
One eyebrow lifted. “My brand?”
“Like, your vibe.”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. That everything is temporary?”
“Uh, no, that’s depressing.” She shook her head. “It’s fine, I’ll come up with something. Can I take a few videos of you tomorrow morning after we surf? Do you have time?”
Oh, right. That social media thing. Knowing someone was thinking about it and that I wouldn’t have to do anything was a relief. “Sure. Whatever you want.”
She flashed me a smile, a real one like she showed Avery, and my chest squeezed. I smiled back at her.
“See you tomorrow, Wyatt.”
“See you tomorrow, bookworm.”
WHEN I RETURNED HOME from surfing that evening, I had a missed call from Avery.
“Why do you want my copy of Pride and Prejudice?” she answered as soon as I called her back.
“I want to read it.”
She snorted. “Why?”
“I’m curious about it.” I pictured Hannah’s eyes lighting up, talking about it. There must be something good in that book.
“I left it on your front porch.”
I opened the front door and saw it sitting there on the welcome mat. “Here it is. Thanks, Av.”
“What’s this I hear about Hannah asking out half the guys in town?”
Even though Avery was Hannah’s best friend, I held back from elaborating. “She was doing her homework.”
We said our goodbyes and I settled onto the couch before cracking the book open. There was a stamp inside the front cover.
Sold with love by Pemberley Books
