"But Lila White can handle it. Come on, that grand gesture at the end—"
"Oh, it was great. I'll give you that."
Alex had worked in Hazel Island Books, or HIB as the locals called it, since she was a senior in high school. The owner and manager, Max, had been a single man with no children, and he'd taken Alex under his wing. Although Alex had left the island for various jaunts around the world, she'd always returned to HIB.
When Max had become ill and unable to run the business, Alex had stepped in. Now, she was the official owner.
Island folk had been skeptical someone as flighty as Alex Gray would be able to run a bookstore. She was also still young, and despite her quick mind and ambition, she'd been inexperienced with the finer aspects of owning a business.
It didn't help that so much of the book world had shifted to digital. Although many of HIB’s patrons were loyal to buying and reading print books, the pool shrunk every year. And it wasn't uncommon for a previously loyal patron to return in the summer with a shiny new eReader in hand to read on the beach.
"How's everything going?" asked Gwen.
Alex hopped down from the ladder. "Good. We're having a reading for Lila White soon. Actually, I've been in contact with Lila’s people to see if she'd do a reading here on the island."
"Seriously? Do you think she'd come?"
"No idea, but you'll never know if you don't ask."
Inside the store were only two customers, and as Gwen wandered the store with Alex, she didn't see any more come in. Then again, it was the morning. Business would probably pick up later.
"So business is good?" said Gwen after one of the customers left without purchasing anything.
"Good? I don't know about that." Alex laughed a little. "It's not terrible. Let's just say anyone making a profit from a bookstore must have magical powers."
Gwen stared in surprise. "How are you paying yourself? Are you getting a salary?"
"Oh, that one is so good." Alex pointed to the mystery novel the other patron had just pulled from the shelf. "I highly recommend it. The twist at the end!"
Gwen knew when she was being ignored. Although Alex had never outright said the business was struggling, Gwen had no idea if it was even paying Alex a salary. How was she paying for her apartment? Gwen worried that her friend had gotten in over her head.
Once the store was empty, Gwen said frankly, "If you need help, you know you can always ask me, right?"
Alex blushed a little. "Help? You mean you want to come work for me? Bonuses are free books."
"Alex, be serious."
"I am. About the bonuses, that is." Then her shoulders sagged. "Look, I can take care of myself. I'll figure it out. I always do."
Clearly, Alex wasn't going to unload her problems. She had too much pride, Gwen thought, to admit when she was stuck. It was both commendable and frustrating. Gwen had a feeling Alex's stubbornness could get in her own way far too easily.
Changing the subject, Gwen said, "Your sister said something interesting last night, about Luke Wright. She seemed super hostile when I mentioned him."
Alex laughed. "If you're trying to get me to spill, I'll tell you right now, I know nothing." At Gwen's expression, she said, "No, really. Jocelyn has never told me why she hates the guy. Or the family. And you know I'm the best person to get someone to confess their secrets."
But you don't know mine, thought Gwen wryly. "She said I shouldn't trust Luke."
"Knowing Jocelyn, he was probably rude to her once in high school and she holds a grudge. She's like that. Once she decides she hates you—" Alex drew a line across her throat. "There's no coming back."
Alex peered more closely at Gwen. "Why should you trust Luke? I didn't think you two were friends." Her eyes widened. "Are you two dating?"
Gwen nearly choked on her latte. "Luke Wright? God, no." Not that he wasn't attractive, but he wasn't her type.
She couldn't help but think of Jack's dark eyes right then. No, Luke Wright was not a guy she'd want to date. He'd had life too easy, for one. What would Gwen do with a man who'd been born with the proverbial silver spoon in his mouth?
"Then why are you asking about him? Seems fishy." Alex poked Gwen in the shoulder. "What's going on?"
"Nothing. I just mentioned something offhand about the Wrights, and Jocelyn was there. That's all."
Alex didn't seem convinced but surprisingly, she didn't press the matter. "Well, I will say that if Jocelyn says he's shady, she probably has a good reason for it."
"You just said she could be holding a silly grudge!"
"She's my older sister. I have to roast her, duh."
Returning to work, Gwen couldn't help but mull over Alex's words. She probably has a good reason for it.
Did that mean Gwen should avoid getting a loan from Luke? But she was also confident that Jack wouldn't be friends with someone untrustworthy.
Jack might not know everything about his friend. Your friends don't know everything about you.
Gwen felt twisted up inside. Most of all, she wished people would just be transparent for once. But then she laughed at herself, because she'd been as opaque as anyone, what with her beating around the bush with Jack.
As if he'd heard her thoughts, Jack appeared next to her in the inn's kitchen. He looked like he'd been running, his breaths coming in pants.
"What in the world? Are you okay?" said Gwen.
"I need to talk to you."
Gwen looked around, but they were alone. But she still took him to her office for privacy's sake, closing the door behind him.
He started to pace, but her office was too small for pacing. Instead, he leaned over the single chair, gripping it hard. Gwen's anxiety shot up. Had something bad happened and he was trying to find the words to explain?
"I thought about what you told me, about your ex-husband." Jack said the word "ex-husband" like a curse, startling Gwen. "But most of all, I want to ask you one thing."
His eyes were blazing with fire. "Are you attracted to me? Because by God, I want you, Gwen. And I want to prove to you that you aren't broken."
To Jack's dismay, Gwen started laughing. "You're joking. Seriously? Who put you up to this?"
"No one put me up to anything."
Gwen just kept shaking her head. "You seriously came in here and would say that to me? Why? I told you that in confidence, but if you think it's all just a joke—"
Jack went around to her side of the desk and took her hands, squeezing them, forcing her to look him straight in the face.
"I'm not joking, Gwen." His voice was low, and he felt like his heart was going to explode out of his chest. "Why the fuck would you think I'd do something like that to you? Have I ever treated you like that?"
Her lower lip was trembling. "No," she whispered.
"Then tell me the truth: do you want me? Because when I almost kissed you that night, you wanted me. And don't try to lie to me. I can tell when you're lying."
That made Gwen scoff. "What, like you can read my mind? For all you know, I lie to you all the time."