A Touch of Confidence by Jess Dee Read Free Book Online

contract.” Before Claire could say anything, he asked, “Mind if I ask what you’re planning for the shop?”
    Now look who changed the subject. Jack hadn’t even told her what the other leaser had said. “Not at all. I own a small, specialized children’s store. We sell kids’ books, toys and clothes.”
    “I? Or we?”
    “We. My two sisters and I. We have a shop in Clovelly, called Li’l Bits and Books , and now we’re looking to expand. The shop’s too busy. Business has grown since we added the clothing and toys to our inventory. We need more space and wider customer sales.”
    “Since you added clothing and toys?”
    Claire nodded. “We started out as a children’s bookshop, but with the explosion of eBooks and the collapse of the bigger book chains, stocking only print books just wasn’t keeping us in business. We either had to expand our product range or close our doors. We chose to expand.”
    “Successfully, I take it?”
    “More successfully than any of us expected.” Claire, Maddie and Julia were all blown away by the shop’s sales.
    “So now you’re opening up a second branch, also in the Eastern suburbs?”
    Claire shrugged. “Most of our customers are from Vaucluse, Rose Bay, Double Bay and Bellevue Hill. It makes sense to open up closer to them.”
    “Even if they’re willing to travel to Clovelly?”
    Claire nodded. “Even so.”
    Jack guided the car through the tunnel. “Wouldn’t it make more sense to open up farther away? A fifteen or twenty minute drive isn’t going to deter customers from coming to your shop if they really want something from you. But half an hour or more might.”
    “Our products are expensive. We’re targeting the market that could best afford it. A shop in New South Head Road is the perfect location.”
    Jack cocked his head to the side. “What about a shop a little farther out. Say, for example…across the bridge in Mosman. You’ll have a similar clientele, and driving out to Clovelly from there is just a little too far for the average shopper.”
    Claire almost laughed. “Our shop is doing well. But we’re not at a place where we can afford rentals in an area like Mosman. The cost would cut too deeply into our profits. Now, what happened when you spoke to — ”
    Jack suddenly leaned forward. “Damn, I love this song.” He turned the car radio volume up, making further conversation difficult, then proceeded to sing along with Coldplay at the top of his lungs.
    Damn it, he’d done it again. Changed the subject when she tried to ask about the lease. And what a way to change the subject this time.
    Claire couldn’t help her graceless snort as Jack’s voice filled the car. The G.G. might be built, gorgeous and supremely fuckable, but he was no vocalist. His flat, toneless singing was so off-key Claire could barely recognize the song.
    She slapped a hand over her mouth to prevent any further inappropriate responses, but couldn’t help snickering as he hit the chorus, out of tune and off beat.
    Jack stopped singing and looked at her. “Are you laughing at me?”
    Claire didn’t dare answer, nor did she dare move her hand away from her mouth. Instead she shook her head and stared straight ahead, refusing to make eye contact. She couldn’t risk letting the laughter that bubbled inside her out.
    “You are,” he accused. “You’re laughing at me.”
    Another graceless snort erupted from her nose as she shook her head again.
    He lowered the volume as he picked his way along Military Road. “Honestly? That’s how you respond to all the property managers you try to lease shops from? You laugh at them?”
    “Only the ones who sing at the top of their voices while they have potential renters in the car.”
    “There’s nothing wrong with my voice, I’ll have you know.”
    Claire nodded primly. “So, what did you do with the money?”
    His brow creased. “What money?”
    “The money your mother gave you for singing lessons.”
    His jaw