Growing Love (Brookfield) (13 page)

Chapter One

Alyssa Duncan’s alarm clock beeped on the front desk, alerting her that it was her favorite hour in her book store. Closing time.

It wasn’t because she disliked owning The Reading Corner. No…quite the opposite. This was her time to be alone with all the books. She got to walk around and put each one back in its place. She rubbed her hands down the line of books on the shelves, making sure they were pushed all the way back.

Oftentimes, she would find a book she’d yet to read and would take it upstairs to her apartment. Alyssa was lucky. Her shop was one of the few stores left in Brookfield with an apartment above it. She loved living above her store.

Tonight Alyssa was in the mood for a historical romance. She wanted to be swept away to the 1700s. Perhaps she could read about a widowed duchess and a proclaimed rake. Those were always fun. She skimmed the titles until something caught her attention. One of her regular customers had been in last week gushing about it. Alyssa tugged it from its place and read the blurb.

It was perfect.

She did one last check to make sure everything was in order.  She went to the glass front door to see if she’d locked it, when someone across the street caught her attention. Connor Phillips sat in front of the town’s bakery, The Cookie Shop. A tall bombshell of a blonde was sitting opposite him, giggling. Alyssa could see Connor smiling. He had one of those movie star grins. A slight curl to the lips and it would instantly melt any girl’s heart.

Connor was a friend of hers. He had a secret that she bet none of these women who flocked after him knew. He was an avid sci-fi reader and gamer. The sexy playboy was a deep-down nerd. And that was the only reason he ever had anything to do with her.

Willing herself to look away, she pushed her feelings of jealousy deep within her.  She turned off the lamp on the front desk and left for her apartment. As Alyssa entered her home, she was greeted right away by her black cat Zoe. The cat rubbed against her legs and softly meowed.

Alyssa reached down, picking her up. “Did you miss me today?”

She waited a moment, but as usual, the cat didn’t answer. Zoe leapt from her arms and made her way to a corner, where she bathed herself.

Alyssa popped a frozen meal into her microwave and went to change into some sweatpants and an oversized T-shirt. She pulled her dark locks up into a messy bun. In the bathroom she removed her contacts and put on her glasses.
Ahhh,
now she could fully relax.

The microwave dinged. She used a potholder to get her meal and plopped down at the kitchen table. She’d begin her book as she waited on the food to cool. Flipping the book open, she read the acknowledgements as she always did. She liked to see who helped the author along the way. As she opened the book to chapter one, her phone chirped, letting her know she’d received a text. She decided to ignore it. She never liked to be disturbed when she read. But whoever it was didn’t want to be ignored, since her phone chirped again.

Alyssa groaned, dug it out of her purse, and read the two messages.

Can I come up? – Connor

Put the book down and let me in. *wink wink* - Connor

She giggled and wondered what he stopped by for, especially since she’d just seen him on a date. The new book he wanted didn’t come out until next week. She made her way back downstairs to the bookstore, where she saw Connor standing at the door, smiling while holding two paper cups she assumed was coffee. God, he was a sight. Dark, almost black hair that he always wore with that just-out-of-bed look, with ice-blue eyes that bore into one’s soul.

She unlocked the door and let him in. “Hey, Connor. What can I do for you?”

He handed her a coffee. “It’s Sunday evening and you’re closed tomorrow, which means you’ll be on a reading binge tonight. Figured you could use some coffee.”

She grinned. He knew her so well. Too bad he’d never see her the way she did him. “I picked up a historical romance.”

“Did you try the book I recommend yet?”

Sci-fi wasn’t for her. She had tried it, but couldn’t get into it. “Soon.”

“I don’t believe you. Maybe we should take a bet.” He leaned against the wall.

“A bet? Are you serious?”

“Dead serious. I bet by the end of the week you still haven’t read it.”

She took a sip of her drink. Ah, her favorite. Mocha with a splash of raspberry. “What are the terms of this bet?”

“If you have, dinner’s on me. If you haven’t, dinner’s on you. And I warn you, I have expensive taste.”

Alyssa’s heart fluttered. Dinner? A meal together? They’d never gone anywhere. In fact, she didn’t know if anyone knew they were even friends.

Connor reached out, touching her shoulder. “Do we have a deal?”

Oh God, she was supposed to speak. She wasn’t sure that part of her was working any longer. “Uh-huh.”

Connor grinned at her, a dimple forming on his cheek. “What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?”

No, a cat did not have her tongue. In fact, if a cat did, she was pretty sure she’d be screaming right about now, not being mute.

“You kinda threw me off, asking me to dinner.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Was that something you weren’t interested in?”

Ha ha
, there wasn’t a woman around who didn’t want to have dinner
and more
with Connor Phillips. She just never thought it would be her. “We have a deal.”

“Good.”

Alyssa wondered if this meant he might be interested in her. That he could possibly have eyes for her. As she stared at him with a God-knew-what kind of smile on her face, she didn’t notice at first the blonde bombshell she’d seen earlier was now standing outside waiting. Alyssa glanced back at Connor, who caught her focus and turned to glance at the woman.

“Crap, I forgot about her.”

Alyssa raised an eyebrow. “Date?”

“For this evening.”

Her heart sank. Connor wasn’t interested in her. She would never look like blondie out there. He wanted to take her out as a
friend.
That was it. It was time she realized it and the fact they would never be anymore than they were. And after tonight, the woman standing out in the cold would know the same thing.

“I guess I better get out there.” He took a sip of his drink and stepped away from the wall.

“Yeah, she seems a little mad.”

Connor leaned closed and whispered to her, “She’ll get over it.” He brushed a light kiss on her cheek. This was the first time he’d ever been that close to her.

The woman outside tapped on the door, obviously not liking what she had seen.

“You better go,” Alyssa said. “Besides, I think my dinner’s cold. I’d just taken it out of the microwave before you got here.”

“Enjoy your meal and the coffee as well.” He waved and then went back out the door, greeting the woman waiting for him.

Alyssa wanted to watch but didn’t. It was hard enough knowing the man she secretly fantasized about was once again out with another woman.