“Other than the pleasure of seeing you after my run? Just want to say hi. Is that fine? Did you know there’s filming up the street?” He chuckles, pulling a coffee from the tray and sliding it over to me. “Here. You need this. Clearly. You never used to be such a crank.”
“I wonder why,” I say drily, sipping my coffee.
Eli gazes around the store, looking impressed at the sight of the crowd of customers. “This is a good sign.”
“Maybe.”
It’s too much to hope for good signs or anything else. Hope hasn’t done me much good, to be honest.
When Gemma arrives a couple of minutes later, she practically swoons as Eli passes over a coffee. To her credit, she’s on time, but there are shadows under her eyes. Who knows what time she went to sleep.
“You’re an angel.” She raises her cup to him.
A customer comes to the till, and I focus on her. She’s taking stock of everything. She’s middle-aged, dressed head to toe in linen, with a long floral scarf in dilute pinks the only color she wears. She peers at me behind the counter with Gemma, then Eli. She picks up a business card, reading it carefully:Barnes Books—New, Used, and Collectibles.
“Is this like Barnes and Noble?” she asks, frowning. “Owner: Aubrey Barnes.”
“That’s me,” I say.
“You look young to own a shop.” She looks at Eli, brightening. “Are you Mr. Noble, then?”
“No. This is definitely not like Barnes and Noble,” I assure her. My balance sheet guarantees that. “And that’s just Eli. He’s fake news.”
He unleashes a devastating grin that no reasonable person can resist and she blushes. “You’ll have to forgive Aubs. He hasn’t had enough coffee. Plus I broke his heart, so.”
“Oh,” she manages, startled.
I frown at him. It’s old news now, but hardly fodder to fling at innocent bystanders out of nowhere. “Don’t scandalize the customers. Behave yourself.” I focus on her. “How can I help?”
“I’m looking for green books,” she says crisply, down to business. “Preferably forest green, leather-bound, or with gilt lettering or some such.”
I purse my lips. Gemma’s already pretending to look busy and hiding a smile.
“Is there…an actual subject you’re interested in? Like, say…horticulture?” I ask.
“Oh no, subject’s irrelevant. I’m looking for something purely decorative. Something that will look striking on the mantle, you know. Eye-catching.”
Out of the corner of my eye, Gemma’s smile is unmistakable. Eli is blatantly intrigued.
Taking a deep breath, I gesture vaguely at the shelves, pained. “If you just want…green books…you will see them out there on the shelves with their…green covers.”
It practically kills me to say the blindingly obvious.
“Well, I just want green bookstoday,” she clarifies. “I’m decorating with books by color. Last week was oxblood. Next week could be blue. It’s all about the look, you know? Who actually has time to read these days?”
A strangled sound escapes me.
Eli gives her a sympathetic look. “Let me help you.”
He takes her arm and she blushes brilliantly, all too happy to have Eli’s devoted attention. Of course the arsehole would help her pick books by color.
Traitor.
When I look at Gemma, her eyes are bright with suppressed tears of laughter. “That was fucking hilarious,” she manages, dabbing the corners of her eyes with a tissue. “Your face. Brilliant. Makes up for the hangover.”
I gulp down some coffee, trying to refocus. Eli’s right that it’s good that there are plenty of people in the shop this morning. So far, however, there are a lot of morning browsers but not buyers. Probably shoppers seeking refuge from Oxford Street.
She winks. Soon, she’s flagged down to help a customer. I focus on my coffee. I’m probably not winning at sparkling customer service. Eli’s new friend is engrossed as he shows her books. It’s only a matter of time before they circle back to the Classics and Collectibles section behind me.
