Harbor Lights by Sherryl Woods Read Free Book Online Page A

couldn’t converse with a man who was spending hours out of his day helping her put together bookshelves, it might not bode well for her ability to come up with small talk with which to engage her customers. That gave her a whole different reason to panic.
    She had to stop sitting here pretending to help him when he obviously no longer needed her to read the instructions. She needed to focus on some other task.
    Standing up, she announced to some point behind his left ear, “I’m going to start shelving books while you finish up, if that’s okay.”
    He didn’t even glance up. “Good idea. I can finish up these last few units by myself.”
    Shanna opted to start in the children’s section, which was as far from Kevin as it was possible to get without leaving the store. The shipment of picture books had come in at midmorning, so she started by unpacking those, her eyes lighting up as she studied the colorful artwork in each book before placing it on the shelf.
    She was exclaiming over each one until a shadow fell over the pages of the book in her hands. She looked up and saw Kevin grinning at her.
    “It’s going to be slow going if you stop to read every book,” he said.
    “I’m not,” she protested, then chuckled. “Okay, I am glancing through every one of them. The artists who illustrate these books are amazing.”
    “Thus all the excited exclamations,” he guessed. “I was hoping maybe you were back here looking at erotica.”
    Shanna blushed furiously. “I’d hardly have it anywhere near the children’s section.”
    “Good to know.” He studied her with obvious interest. “What sorts of books are you planning to stock, besides the picture books for kids?”
    “I figure people at the beach will want escapism, so mostly bestsellers, mysteries, thrillers, romances, as well as some nonfiction such as cooking, gardening and regional books. If people start asking for things I don’t stock, I’ll special order it for them. I think customer service is going to be critical if the store’s to be successful.”
    He hunkered down beside her and glanced at a few of the books spread around her. “Davy’s going to love coming in here,” he said.
    “Pick a book and take it home to him,” she encouraged. “I owe you at least that for all your help today.”
    “Nope,” he said flatly. “Any books I get from here, I’ll pay for. This is your business and it’s a new one. A few months, a year from now, if you offer me something for free, I’ll accept it graciously.”
    “I’ll make a note of that, then. On my first anniversary, you get your pick of any book in the store.”
    Kevin nodded. “That’ll work. Now, how about a break? I’m starving again, and we’ve been at this for hours. I’ll come back in the morning and finish up. In the meantime, why don’t we walk to Sally’s or one of the places along Shore Road and grab a bite to eat?”
    She glanced at her watch and saw with dismay that it was after seven. “I had no idea how late it was,” she protested. “Shouldn’t you get home to your son?”
    “I called and he’s already out like a light. He had a big day with my dad, apparently.”
    “He’s really lucky to be surrounded by so much family,” she said, unable to keep a wistful note out of her voice.She couldn’t help thinking about another little boy whose life was nowhere near as idyllic. Because despair lay down that path, she deliberately stood up and went into the back room for her purse. “I’ll have dinner with you on one condition,” she told Kevin. “I’m buying. It’s nonnegotiable.”
    “In that case, I should insist on going to Brady’s. It’s the most expensive place in town, next to the inn.”
    Shanna’s expression brightened. “I hadn’t even thought of the inn. Let’s go there. I stayed there last year, and the food is fabulous.”
    “I don’t think so,” Kevin said flatly.
    “If it’s the cost, don’t worry about it. And I think we’re dressed