My Ex's Baby (Crescent Cove 8)

The two other women were obviously listening as they dug through the pile of jeans.

“Sorry, Kin. Not like you want us to shout to the rooftops that we read tarot cards.” Luna’s wide smile said she was less than repentant about it.

“Actually, would you guys be into doing a tarot night here at the shop? Maybe we can do a little class on crystals and incense. Then maybe you can do some readings?”

Before Luna could open her mouth, the two women on the other side of the table practically shouted, “Yes.”

I laughed. “Looks like we might have a little bit of interest.”

The redhead held up a finger. “I, for one, have a whole book club who would be into it.”

“Oh?” Luna turned toward her with a tilt to her head. “What do you read?”

“Sexy romance novels and drink lots of wine.”

Luna reached out and touched her arm. “Tell me more.”

The two of them started chatting animatedly about a half dozen books and authors I’d never heard of. Then again, I didn’t have a lot of time to read between the store and my own projects—and August.

I shook myself out of my stupor. “Can I unlock a dressing room for you?” I asked the reading club girl’s friend.

“That would be great.”

“Ry, I’ll be right back.”

Ryan waved me off. “I have plenty to keep me entertained.”

It was even more obvious I needed to get some assistance in the store. Even if they just ran the register while I took care of the floor, it would be a huge help. Foot traffic would only be increasing with the nicer weather and the monthly farmer’s market that cycled into the park this summer. I just hated to spend money on the business that didn’t include merchandise for the floor.

But then there was Luna right there. As if I’d asked the universe for her.

I made small talk with the short-haired woman and set her up with a glass of lime water. Then it was a mad rush to check out people and I had to SOS August to help me take down the chandelier Cathy wanted. There was no way I could monkey my way up there with the now ten customers in the store.

I was ringing out the book club girls—who were holding business cards from both my counter and Ryan’s stealthy pass—when I heard the chimes of my door again.

Instead of a customer, August’s wide shoulders blocked the streaming rays of late afternoon sun. I stood up straighter and the exhaustion and overwhelm dissipated when he smiled at me.

Ryan gave me a narrow-eyed glance then followed my eyeline. Her eyes widened and a slow smile spread across her face. “Huh.”

I looked back down at what I was doing and refolded the table runner that I’d turned inside out. Goddess, he was a distraction.

He stopped at the desk and flipped his baseball cap around backwards. August in work mode. That shouldn’t be as hot as it was.

He nodded to the line of people with a slow smile. “Ladies.”

The immediate response of at least half of them made my toes curl in my shoes. Dammit, what were they looking at?

“Which chandelier did you need help with?”

Cathy raised her hand. “I can show you.”

“Can I have a store helper like that?” Came a voice from the back of the line.

I cleared my throat and kept ringing people out. Ryan moved out of line with Luna and April. I tried to ignore the fact that they were obviously conferring. They could only guess what was between me and August. Okay, maybe more than guess since my stupid skin was flushed.

I just focused on one customer at a time.

He came around the back of the desk a few minutes later and muscled the heavy fixture into the back room. He’d helped me before when it came to some of the larger things in my shop, so I knew he was capable. Even if the control freak in me wanted to go check on him.