Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 82265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
I wait until she’s walked away before I turn to look at Sterling. “This is the best bookstore I’ve ever been in.”
“You’ve barely stepped through the door.” He grins.
“I don’t care. They’re set up perfectly. It’s so difficult to juggle all the books you want to buy and still shop. These crates are perfect for not bending the pages.”
“Well, what are we waiting for.” Sterling grabs a crate thingy and points to the elevators. “To the second floor, we go.”
I clap because I’m that fucking excited and lead us to the elevators. As soon as the doors open on the second floor, I’m like a kid in a candy store. I don’t know where to look first.
“Pick a side, Tink. We’ll work our way through them all.”
“That’s going to take forever,” I tell him.
“Good thing we’ve got all day then.” He winks, and I want to kiss him again. Instead, I settle for a tight hug before skipping off to the right side to do just as he said. I’m barely down the first aisle, books on both sides, and I have three books in my crate.
“I really need to redo my spare bedroom,” I tell Sterling. “My poor bookcase is going to be screaming from these new additions.”
“Let me know when you’re ready, and we’ll make it happen.”
I stop to look at him. “Soon. I need to start looking for the shelves. I want them open. I saw some online. Oh, let me show you.” I pull out my phone and pull up the screenshots of the shelves I want. “Something like this.”
“Nice.” He nods. “I remember you showing me these.”
I slide my phone back into my purse and keep shopping. I stop and point out books I’ve loved, ones I already have signed copies of from my favorite authors, and those that have been on my list to read forever. I’m selective about what I buy because I don’t want to break the bank, and I want this library idea to become a reality. Once it’s done, I can go wild, filling the shelves with my favorites.
We stop midway to grab coffee from the coffee bar, and by the time I make it to the last aisle, there’s a pretty significant stack in my crate. “Yikes,” I say, looking down at it. “I went a little overboard. I’m going to have to find some temporary places to keep these until my library in the spare bedroom’s ready.”
“Keep a few at my place if you need to. You have a shelf in your room there that’s pretty much empty except for a few you keep there for a just-in-case read.”
“Yeah, I usually have my Kindle, but I do love a good paperback read.” We check out, and almost two hundred dollars later, Sterling is toting two large bags of books and placing them in the back seat of his truck.
Once he’s behind the wheel, he turns to look at me. “I love that smile,” he says softly.
“It’s all you,” I admit. “Thank you so much for this. I’m sorry we were in there for—” I look at the clock on the dash. “—over three hours. Yikes!”
He chuckles. “This was the extent of our plans other than dinner, what sounds good? This is your day, so you get to pick.”
“Mexican.” My answer is automatic. He loves the Mexican restaurant here in Harris.
“Pick for you, Tink, not for me.”
“I’m craving a burrito California and some chips and queso.”
“You sure?” he asks.
“Positive.”
Sterling nods, pulls out of the parking spot, and heads to the other side of town to the restaurant. I watch his large hands grip the wheel, the corded veins in his arms. He could have anyone he wanted. He could have spent the day doing anything but this, something he enjoyed, or took time goofing off with one of his brothers, but he did this for me. He knew I would love it, and after the week I’ve had, it was everything I needed. Then again, I think the company did more for my spirit than the bookstore.
“Thank you for this.” I lean over and rest my hand on his arm. “Today has been the best day. Last night, and today, you turned my week around.”
Sterling reaches over and lifts my hand to his lips. “Good.” He rests my palm back on his arm as he navigates into the restaurant parking lot. Just as he always does, he opens the door for me and ushers me into the building with his hand on the small of my back. I look up to thank him and find him already looking at me. He leans down and kisses my temple.
I’m going to finish this perfect weekend with him as my best friend, and then I’m telling him that I’m in love with him. I just pray that I’m interpreting his actions and looks correctly and he loves me too. Not just loves me, but is in love with me.