“Our second cash register went on the fritz, there’s a leak in the basement, a kid got locked in one of the restrooms upstairs this morning, and we had to call the fire department, and Andrew keeps burning pastries. If he burns another batch of cookies, I’m going to stick my foot in his ass.”
Andrew snorts. “Touch me and see what happens.”
“Oh, shut it. Get back to work,” she snips.
He flips her off as he sings the chorus to “You’re So Vain,” by Carly Simon.
She pokes her tongue out at him.
The next woman in line clears her throat. “Excuse me, miss, but I’d like to check out now.”
“So would I,” someone else grouses.
Magic chooses that moment to dash out of the window display and dart between someone’s legs. A small child squeals and chases the cat.
“Holy shit. This place is cool,” Jasper says. “Wahoo!”
I inhale a deep breath. Okay, so things are a bit messy at the store.
“How can I help?” I ask Jane.
She gives me a look. Assessing.
“I don’t think she likes you,” Jasper murmurs.
“She’s coming around,” I say back.
Jane cocks her head toward the kitchen. “Go bake some more cookies. We’re running low, since Emmy gave the firemen several dozen. They’re in the freezer, and directions are on the package. Set the timer, then come back out and work the back of the line. If you don’t know what that means, it means being nice to them and asking if they’ve found everything they wanted.”
Andrew huffs as he turns to the kitchen doors. “Jesus! You’re asking Graham? He’s a football player! Hey, Jasper, nice to meet you. I’m a big fan. You’re fucking awesome.” Andrew glares at his sister. “I’ll do the cookies. You two help Jane by working the crowd. I’m not sure she knows how to be nice to people.”
“Neanderthal,” she says under her breath as he goes into the kitchen.
Jasper leans in on the counter. “Your hero has arrived. What can I do for you, beautiful?”
“Jane, this is Jasper, my quarterback.”
Jasper gives her his killer smile and bats his lashes. “Hey.”
She pushes a two-foot stack of books toward him. “Do you know how to read?”
His charming demeanor vanishes. “Don’t throw shade because I’m a football god. I was cum laude at the University of Southern California”—he reads her name tag as if he’s forgotten her name—“Jane.”
“Congrats,” she says dryly. “Shelve these.”
He picks a few of them up. “Did people change their minds and just leave them here?”
She nods. “Sometimes.”
“I kinda feel sorry for the books that get left behind. Oh, look, here’s one about Romanian folklore. Maybe there’s a section on vampire tales. That’s my kryptonite. I’ll buy that one.” He moves it to the side.
“You’re into that?” I ask. It might explain the Gothic bed.
“You never asked. Tuck did. He asked me all kinds of things. That’s why he got the bracelet.” He gives me a pointed look. “My major was world history, with a minor in poetry.”
“No one cares. Can you shelve them now?” Jane asks, interrupting us.
“In a hurry to get rid of me?” Jasper says as he sets the books on the rolling cart.
“No, I just want you to clean the toilets when you’re done.” She smiles slyly.
Jasper sputters and throws me a look. “No way. Uh-uh. I came to meet your wife, not clean.”
I smirk, laughing. “That’s what friends do. We help each other out when things go south.”
“I draw the line at toilets,” he mutters as he picks up a book.
I step closer to Jane, behind the counter. “Hey, any Kian sightings?”
She nods. “I’ve seen him walk past the store five times since you’ve been gone. I’m keeping tabs, don’t worry. I hate that asshole.”
My fists tighten. “Five?”
“He left another bouquet of lilies, which Andrew found when he came in early one morning. She never saw them. Truthfully, he probably walks by here once a day, and I just don’t see him. FYI, I’ve been going to this axe-throwing place for fun. If he comes in, I’m ready.” She points to an axe she has under the counter. “I can be a badass too.”
I wince. “I can’t decide if you’re kidding or not.”
She blinks at me innocently. “Not.”