Chapter 14

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Annalee

The rest of the team might be used to keeping unusual hours but there was no way I could look at the computer screen in front of me for another minute. Eight hours was too much and my eyes were begging me for relief. I hoped this job came with something other than computer work because otherwise I was going to be losing my mind within a week. I loved a challenge but sitting behind a desk wasn't for me.

"You ready to get out of here for the day?"

I pushed my chair back and sighed in relief. "Yes! How did you know?"

"Mav might've mentioned your shoulders drooping more the last thirty minutes."

I rolled the body part we were discussing to relieve some of the stiffness. No wonder people with office jobs had such poor posture. It was hard to sit up straight all day and not be sore.

"Oh good, so I won't have to tell him that sitting behind a desk all day won't cut it."

Owen chuckled. "Don't worry, he knows that. He already mentioned having you do other jobs that will get you moving around more."

Thank goodness. I grabbed my small handbag and walked out the front door with Owen at my side. The little chime reminded me that everyone inside knew when people came and went. There was no such thing as privacy in that office.

"Did you want to head straight home?" Owen asked as we stepped outside.

I looked up and down Main Street. I wasn't ready to spend another evening alone with Owen in his one-floor house, but my options were limited. The sign for the bookstore caught my eye and I bit my lip.

What were the odds Owen wouldn't mind a little pit stop first? He was an avid reader, so surely he wouldn't be bored.

"Actually, do you mind if we stop at the Book Boudoir before we head home?"

His answer was to put a hand on my lower back and guide me that way. Excitement grew the closer we got to the building. Owen's collection of books was impressive for a man but I was itching to see what the store offered. Based on the name, I would think a majority of the titles would be romance but I was curious to see if other books were offered as well. I loved romance the most, but was willing to read just about anything.

A similar chime to the one at our office went off as we walked through the door.

"Welcome to the Book Boudoir!” a sweet voice yelled from somewhere in the back of the store. “Feel free to look around. I'll be out shortly to see if you need any help."

Okay, so maybe the bell wasn’t the worst thing to have. I just hated it in my place of employment.

"Wow, this place is gorgeous."

The blues and pinks from the sign outside carried over into the space. The shelves were bright in color and packed with thousands of books. Comfy-looking couches were spread out throughout the store. The entire atmosphere was both inviting and warming. It made me want to grab a book and curl up to spend the rest of the afternoon here.

"Yes, Bella has created quite the paradise for book lovers."

Bella. The name was very Beauty and the Beast and perfect for a book owner.

"Oh, hey, Owen! I didn't expect you today. Your order won't be in for another week."

Not only was Bella's name similar to the starring lady in Beauty and the Beast , but she looked like her as well. Stunning brown hair hung down her back in waves. The coolest greenish-brown eyes smiled with happiness and her alabaster skin was the cherry on top. The only thing the store owner was missing was the dress. Instead, Bella came out in a skintight pair of jeans and a yellow flow top that made her eyes pop.

"I'm not here for me this time. Bella, I would like to introduce Annalee. She wanted to stop in."

"Our newest resident. I've heard so much about you." I did my best to stop myself from rolling my eyes. I really needed to find a scandal that would put me as old news. "Are you a book lover like Owen here?"

It was good to see all those books in his house weren't just for show. Not that I thought they were, considering they looked well-read, but one never knew.

"I am. I figured I’d see what you carried."

"Well, let me show you around. It's mostly romance and I have a wide selection of both indie published authors and traditional published authors. Once or twice a year I try to get an author to come in for a signing. I'm hoping to make that quarterly and then even monthly but I'm not there yet." Bella laughed.

I followed her throughout the small shop as she pointed out the different genres. I loved that she had tables designated to the different tropes. It made it easier for me to find something I liked. I knew even before I made it several steps that I would be spending a lot of my free time here.

"Have you had the chance to meet any of these authors?"

"Oh, yes." Bella clapped. "I travel all over to attend signings. It's how I pick which books to sell. Some of the signings have great panels where the authors get to talk about themselves, I've found some great up-and-coming authors that way. And they’re always so nice and friendly. They want to meet people who help get the word out about their books. I have a huge social media following, so that helps."

Wow. I never thought a small town could have such an impact.

"Are you originally from Willow Creek?"

"I am." Bella beamed. "I know it seems crazy to think someone from a small town can do so much but social media has really changed the world. I started out blogging and reviewing for authors. That turned into this." With her arms spread wide, she showcased the results of her efforts.

"That's fantastic."

I was a little envious of this petite woman. She looked to be around my age but she certainly had her shit figured out. I couldn't say the same for myself. I was too busy flitting from job to job to ever know where I wanted my life to take me.

It never bothered me before, but now that I was starting to see all these successful women around me, it got me thinking about how I saw my future going.

In reality, I never needed to work another day in my life. I didn't need the money my father left me because of my inheritance from my mother, but just the fact that Seraphina wanted it, despite my father's wishes, I would fight to respect his will.

Did that mean I could be lazy?

Nope.

I didn't know how not to work. I just never found something that interested me long enough to stay someplace.

Which brought me around to my current predicament. How long would it be before the receptionist position didn't satisfy me any longer? What would I do then? I was uprooting my life to this small town where I doubted there would be a lot of opportunities to find more work if this one no longer worked out.

Shit, I was starting to see the flaw in my escape plan.

Now I was standing in the middle of a bookstore, spiraling. I needed to turn things around before Bella or, God forbid Owen, figured out what was going on inside my mind.

"I'm going to look around for a bit."

Bella smiled, none the wiser to my mental freak-out. "Take your time. Let me know if you need anything, and if there's an author I don't carry, just let me know. I'll be happy to get it for you."

Yes, she mentioned that Owen’s order would be here next week. I wondered how often he placed orders or if they were new releases that just hadn't come in yet. Bella seemed like the type of attentive business owner who would know her customers well enough to anticipate future purchases.

I was looking through some dark romance reads when Owen slid up next to me. "I know you haven't said anything, but don't think I haven't noticed how small that suitcase you brought with you is. At what point were you going to ask about shopping?"

Ha. Truth be told I forgot all about it. I remembered each morning and night when it was time to get dressed, but during the waking hours, it slipped my mind.

"How about now?"

Owen gave me a lazy smile. "I'm not sure what kind of shops you’re used to, but there's a clothing boutique next door. We passed it on our way in."

I'd been too focused on the hand on my back to pay attention to which stores we passed. A clothing boutique sounded fabulous even if I wouldn't be able to get much. The cash I had on hand was running low and using my cards was still off-limits. I needed to find a way to access my inheritance without leaving a paper trail until I got my first paycheck.

Which reminded me I needed to speak to Maverick about that. It wasn't as if I could work for him on the books. I never filled out paperwork, but it didn't sound like a good idea for me to do so.

"Sounds perfect."

"Grab a few books and we can head over before it closes."

I grabbed books from two of my favorite authors and another two that I’d never read but were in the same genre. The blurbs sounded good and I was always willing to try someone new.

When we got to the cash register, Owen refused to let me pay, stating he knew how important it was I stayed off the grid and I could pay him back once I got my first paycheck. Something told me he wouldn't let me pay then either but that was a fight for another time. Not something I wanted to do in front of Bella.

Our next stop was the clothing boutique, and damn, how the hell did I miss that the first time? Obviously Owen took up more headspace than I realized because this place was definitely my kind of store. The mannequin in the window showcased a gorgeous dress that weeks ago I would've died to own. I still would, but now I needed to wait until I could actually afford it. I was tempted to dip into my inheritance but I knew better.

At least I did until we walked inside the store. Then all bets were off and I nearly swallowed my tongue.

"Welcome to Sophisticated Sheen. My name's Valerie. Let me know if I can help you find something today."

The woman was easily ten years older than me but looked amazing in a plum pantsuit set with hints of silver in her jet-black hair. Everything about her appearance was elegant but with soft eyes. She was the kind of woman who looked like she should be sitting across from her country club friends while they drank tea. But really, those friends were just there to pretend they were high class, when in reality they were down to earth. I can't say why I was getting that vibe from her but something about her demeanor didn't match her outfit.

I walked straight over to the mannequin in the window and fingered the satin dress.

"That color would look amazing with your skin tone and the caramel highlights in your hair."

Valerie knew her stuff. The russet color of the dress was one of my favorites because it did in fact look great against my skin and made the color in my hair pop.

"Go ahead and try it on."

"I have no need for a dress like this. I came in because I recently moved to town and wasn't able to bring a lot with me. I need a few staple pieces so I can stop wearing the same thing over and over."

Valerie wasn't hearing any of it. "You don't need a reason to wear a dress that looks good on you but I can see this is important to you, so how about I make you a deal? Tell me your sizes and what kind of style you're looking for, and I'll pull a few things while you try that beautiful dress on."

I bit my lip and avoided eye contact with Owen. I didn't want to know what he thought about the dress.

Liar!

Of course I was lying to myself. It was the theme of the day. I was in denial about plenty of things, my future being top of that list.

So why the hell stop now?

"Oh, why not?" I rattled off answers to the questions she’d asked before accepting the dress. I knew without even trying it on that it would fit perfectly. It was like the dress was waiting for me.

Valerie escorted me to the dressing room but didn't wait around. That woman took her deals seriously. I could see her flitting around the shop pulling pieces at random. A few caught my eye and it was clear Valerie knew my style. I had a feeling I was going to be leaving with quite the wardrobe. In a manner of seconds, the woman already had an armful of things.

"You planning on trying that on sometime this evening?"

I glanced over my shoulder to find a smirk on Owen's face. Damn dimple and all. He probably thought it would keep him out of trouble.

Let's be honest. It would.

I stomped into the dressing room without answering him. The laugh that followed me only further put me in a rage. I unzipped the back of the dress and hung it on the fancy clothing rack. The dressing room was nothing like what could be found in department stores. There was the cutest fabric bench seat in the same teal as the store logo. A bejeweled coat rack sat in one corner and a heavy drape was the only thing separating me from the rest of the store.

I shed my clothes in record time and slipped the satin material up my body. The fabric felt like heaven against my skin. I twisted myself into a pretzel to reach the zipper, only to find it stuck.

Just my luck.

Taking a big deep breath, I tried again but it was no use. Unless I wanted to rip the beautiful material, I needed help.

I dropped my head back and looked up at the ceiling. With my arms dropped down to my side, I took one second to throw a mini tantrum. The kind with a full-body shake and one stomp of the foot.

I finally called out. "Valerie?"

Unfortunately, with the way my luck was going, it wasn't the store owner who answered.

"She ran in the back because she had something back there she thought would be perfect for you. What do you need?"

To restart the day.

Actually that wasn't true. Waking up in Owen's arms felt good even if it was wrong on so many levels. My trip to the bakery was the highlight of my day. It was just in the past hour that things went south and that was only because now, I was stuck in my head and didn't know how to get out of it.

"The zipper is stuck. Can you ask Valerie when she comes back out to help me, please?"

I didn't even get to finish my sentence before the heavy drape was being pushed aside.

"What are you doing?!" I all but shrieked.

My hands had a mind of their own and rushed to cover my boobs even though they weren't exposed. The dress had thick straps and a V-neck in both the front and the back. I should've been more worried about the swell of my ass considering the zipper started there.

"You need help with your dress and I happen to be available."

His fingers barely grazed my ass as he pulled the fabric away from my body enough to tug at the zipper. But it was just the right amount to send shivers up my spine and to give him a nice view of my granny panties. They were the only kind Dennis didn't get his fingers on.

The zipper was no match for Owen, and before I knew it, the dress hugged me perfectly. However, I couldn't focus on the way it looked. Not when Owen's hands were resting on my shoulders and his gaze was holding mine captive in the mirror in front of me.

"Valerie was right. This dress looks amazing on you."

I didn't know what to say. My mouth felt like a million cotton balls were stuffed inside it, soaking up all the saliva.

"Get it and whatever else Valerie picks for you. Then we can go home for the night."

Owen unzipped the dress and stepped back through the curtain before I could say anything in return.

Home.

His place was starting to feel like that, and I wasn't sure what that said about me.