Total pages in book: 17
Estimated words: 15210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 76(@200wpm)___ 61(@250wpm)___ 51(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 15210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 76(@200wpm)___ 61(@250wpm)___ 51(@300wpm)
By the end of the night, I have no doubt that my parents love Maddie. Throughout the evening, I watched her charm them. My dad’s words from earlier run through my mind, and I start making plans to keep Maddie forever.
CHAPTER
TEN
MADDIE
Over the next few weeks, my things begin to migrate over to Fischer’s apartment, and we spend every available moment together. I haven’t slept in my own bed since our first night together. “Why don’t you move in with me?” he asks me one morning over breakfast. “Officially.”
“Because I have a lease,” I remind him as disappointment cuts through me. I know we haven’t been together long, but I’m ready to make our relationship permanent. “And I don’t want the landlord to sue me.”
“I happen to be on good terms with the landlord.” Fischer shrugs and pulls me into his lap for a kiss. “I bet he’ll let you out of your lease.”
“Really?” I refuse to get excited until I know for sure we can make it happen.
“Jude Despora owns the building.” Fischer smiles down at me. “I’ll talk to him this morning.”
Later that morning, my phone vibrates in my pocket while I’m unpacking a box of books. I almost skip around the store when I read Fischer’s text.
Jude is letting you out of your lease
We can move your stuff in this weekend
Love you
I squeal like a little girl and text back.
I can’t wait
Love you 2
“I hope you’re not sexting with my brother while we work.” Allie does one of her fake shudders. “My poor mind can’t handle the horror.”
“Just a little.” I wiggle my eyebrows and watch my partner act like she’s gagging. “Seriously. We’re moving in together,” I blurt out. Shoot. I hope Fischer doesn’t mind me telling his sister our news.
“That’s great.” She rushes over and hugs me. “I already love you like a sister, and now you’re going to be my sister for real.”
“We’re just moving in together.” I sigh, wishing there was a ring to go with the invitation to live together. “Not getting married.”
“You will be soon,” Allie assures me. “Mackenzie men don’t let the grass grow under their feet.”
Allie and I soon discover that we’re going to need help. Our little bookstore is a hit, and we can’t keep up. Working six days a week without breaks is starting to get old really fast. Plus, I’m missing Fischer. Between our two busy jobs, we’re like ships passing in the night.
“I have two interviews set up for tomorrow.” Allie locks the front door and walks over to drop into the desk chair. She kicks off her shoes and sighs. “Unless they totally suck, I’m hiring them both.”
“Thank God.” I agree, “I could use a day off.” When we planned our business, we thought one person would be able to handle the store, but the response has been crazy. It takes two people working non-stop to keep things moving smoothly.
“I could use a week off,” Allie grumbles.
Fortune smiles on us and both applicants are winners. We hire Scarlett and Corinne on the spot. With the extra help, we plan to each work more normal hours.
CHAPTER
ELEVEN
MADDIE
Things settle down after Scarlett and Corinne start working at Gatsby Books. We also find a high school student, Kasey, who wants to work a few hours every day after school.
Things are going great until we have an unexpected visitor at the bookstore. “I want to talk to the manager.” I hear a voice roar and rush out of the back room to find a tall, thin man with greasy, balding hair yelling at Scarlett.
“I’m Maddie Martin.” I step around her and glare at the jerk. “One of the owners.”
“One of the thieves.” He towers over me. “Who stole my store.”
“Excuse me?” Man, I wish it wasn’t Allie’s lunch break. Fear cuts through me as I notice the vein pounding furiously on his forehead and his glassy, red-rimmed eyes. “We bought this business from the Silver Spoon Falls National Bank. If you have any questions about the transaction, I can give you my attorney’s name.” I hope Fischer doesn’t mind me using him to threaten this guy.
“The bank stole it from me, and I want it back.” Customers begin to leave as he shouts at me and slams his hand down on the glass counter. Thank God, the fragile countertop doesn’t shatter. Quickly, I realize I might need to call the police.
“Sir, this is between you and the bank.” I point at the door, praying he leaves. “I’d like you to leave.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” he stubbornly insists, and I’m debating my options when Sheriff Armstrong strolls through the door.
“I heard there was a problem in here.” The sheriff walks over and stands between the irate jerk and me. “Nelson, you shouldn’t be in here.”
“It’s my goddamn store,” he roars, and I almost gag as spit flies from his mouth. “Gatsby Books has been in my family for generations.” Oh, man. I finally realize this is Nelson Gladstone, the former owner of the bookstore. When we bought the business, we heard a rumor around town about the previous owner’s problems. The unmarried loner had lived with his mother up until she died last year. Within a few months, he’d gambled away all of his inheritance and had even mortgaged the store to fund his addiction. When he fell behind on the payments, the bank foreclosed and eventually sold the bookstore to us.