Key Of Knowledge by Nora Roberts Read Free Book Online Page B

other things she hadn’t considered when she’d jumped into that dream of having her own bookstore. Just as, she was forced to admit, there were things she hadn’t considered when she’d, basically, told Joan to stuff it.
    Impulse, pride, and temper, she thought with a sigh. A dangerous combination. Now she was going to have to live with the results of surrendering to it.
    She stepped out of the car. Her stomach was still jumpy, so she rubbed a hand over it as she studied the house.
    It was a good place. It was important to remember that. She’d liked it the minute she’d stepped inside the door with Zoe. Even the downright terrifying experience they’d had inside it—courtesy of their nemesis, Kane—barely a week before, when Malory had found her key, didn’t spoil the feel of the place.
    She’d never owned a house, or any other property. She should concentrate on the very adult sensation of owning a third of an actual building, and the land it stood on. She wasn’t afraid of the responsibility—it was good to know that. She wasn’t afraid of work, mental or physical.
    But she was, she realized, very afraid of failing.
    She walked to the porch, sat on the step, and indulged in a good wallow.
    She was too mired in it to do more than sit there when Malory pulled up with Zoe in the passenger seat. Malory angled her head as she climbed out.
    â€œCrappy day, huh?”
    â€œDon’t come much crappier. Thanks for coming. Really.”
    â€œWe did better than that.” She gestured toward Zoe, and the white bakery box Zoe carried.
    Overcome, Dana sniffed. “Is it chocolate?”
    â€œWe’re girls, aren’t we?” Sitting beside her, Zoe gave her a hard, one-armed hug, then opened the box. “Chocolate éclairs. A big fat one for each of us.”
    This time, it was sentimental tears threatening to fall. “You guys are the best.”
    â€œTake a few bites, wait for the kick, then tell us about it.” Malory sat on the other side, handed out napkins.
    Dana soothed herself with chocolate, pastry, and cream, and the story tumbled out between bites.
    â€œShe wanted me to quit.” Scowling, she flicked her tongue at the corner of her mouth and licked off a bit of Bavarian cream. “It was some visceral animosity going on between us the minute we laid eyes on each other. Like, I dunno, maybe we were mortal enemies in a past life. Or, Jesus, married or something. It’s not just that she ran the library like it was boot camp—that’s bad enough—but she had it in for me, personally. And so did her little yappy dog, Sandi.”
    â€œI know it’s tough, Dana. Boy, do I.” Malory rubbed a sympathetic hand over Dana’s shoulder. “But you were planning to resign in a few weeks anyway.”
    â€œI know, I know. But I wanted to sort of ease out. Cop the little going-away party with the staff, so it all ended on a high note. And the fact is, even with the pay cut, the salary did come in handy. More than. I could’ve used the extra paychecks before I walked.”
    â€œTelling her to cram it should be worth the paychecks. She’s a bitch and we hate her,” Zoe said loyally. “And when Indulgence is up and running, and the bookstore’s the talk of the Valley, she’ll stew in her own envious juices.”
    Considering, Dana pursed her lips. “That’s a good one. I just panicked, I guess. I’ve always worked in a library. High school library, college library, then this one. And it suddenly hit me that that’s done, and I’m going to be the owner of a retail business.”
    She rubbed her damp hands on her knees. “I don’t even know how to work a cash register.”
    â€œI’ll teach you,” Zoe promised. “We’re in this together.”
    â€œI don’t want to mess it up. I don’t want to mess up the key deal either. It’s just