I closed my eyes and drew in a deep breath before I opened my eyes again. I brought my hand up to my mouth and almost started to giggle like a teenage girl who’d just been asked out for the first time. If this was what people meant by floating on cloud nine, then I was set adrift and enjoying the ride.
The bell on the door to the bookstore rang, and I glanced up to see Candace walking in with a shit-eating grin on her face. I braced myself for a million questions about my dinner with Hudson last night.
Instead, she grinned and waved as she said, “Hey, Greer.” Then, she walked past me and headed straight back toward my office.
With a frown, I watched her until she disappeared into the back.
“Hey, Greer!”
I spun around and yelped before throwing my hand over my mouth. Willa Turner stood before me, clearly surprised by my reaction.
“My God, Willa! You scared the crap out of me,” I whispered, glancing over my shoulder to see if anyone had just witnessed my behavior.
A smile appeared on her face and she chuckled. “What has you on edge, Greer?”
I shook my head and then quickly glanced over my shoulder to see if Candace was coming back. “Nothing. I just didn’t hear you come in.”
“Are you and Candace free for lunch today? Arabella is, and so am I.”
I tried not to bounce on my feet in excitement, but I had a feeling I knew why Willa wanted to go to lunch. She was going to drop some baby news on us. “Yes, Candace just got here, so let me ask her, but I can totally meet you guys.”
“Perfect! The Coffee Pot in, say, fifteen minutes? I think Arabella should be there by then.”
“I’ll be there.”
With a brilliant smile that lit up her face, Willa rushed over and hugged me before heading for the door. “Great! See you in a few.”
As Willa walked out the door, Candace made her way to the front again.
I turned and walked behind the counter, clicking on the computer to act like I was working on something. “Willa and Arabella want to meet for lunch. Did you want me to close the bookstore so you can join us?”
Candace reached down and grabbed the duster. “Oh damn, I ate before I got here. You go on—no sense in closing the bookstore.”
“Are you sure?”
She nodded. “I’m sure; I’m going to go dust the shelves.”
When she walked away, I stared after her. “Wait, you’re not even going to ask me how last night went?”
The corner of Candace’s mouth twitched as she gave me a look that said I had fallen right into her trap. “Last night? What happened last night?”
I rolled my eyes and put my hands on my hips. “You know damn well what last night was, Candace!” I whisper-hissed.
“Oh, right. Your date.” She chuckled. “I was wondering how long you’d last if I didn’t say anything.”
I shot her a scowl. “Why are you my best friend again? And, for the record, it wasn’t a date.”
“Mmm-hmm, okay, then your dinner with the hot author. Who, by the way, stopped by here before he went up to your place to see if I could make sure you had Saturday afternoon off for your birthday. First of all, how hot is it that he knew it was your birthday?”
“I told him about it the other night.”
She waved me off. “Second, how much hotter is it that he made plans to spend the day with you?”
I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face. “It was pretty sweet of him. Are you sure you don’t mind? I’ve taken off early the last two nights, and I don’t want to take advantage of you. Kandi will also be here tomorrow afternoon and was scheduled to close with me.”
The last few years, I had made it a habit to always have two people scheduled at night in the fall and winter when it got darker out. Not that Boggy Creek wasn’t safe, but one could never be too careful.
Candace waved me off. “Please, it’s fine. I’m just glad you’re actually taking some time off for yourself.”
“I take plenty of time off for myself.”
She raised one of her brows. “When was the last time you took a day off other than Sunday when the bookstore’s closed anyway?”
I opened my mouth to answer her, but then quickly shut it. I honestly couldn’t remember the last time I had taken a day off.
She pointed at me. “See, you can’t even think of your last real day off. Greer, you know you can take time off when you want. I’m very capable of taking care of the bookstore. I take plenty of time off.”
“Of course I know that. I just haven’t had the desire to take any time off. What am I going to do? Sit up in my place and binge watch TV?”