Life, Etc. -- Six

          Thursday morning found Megan in deep concentration as she worked to shelve her newly-arrived book shipment when she heard the front doorbell tingle.

 

          She walked around a row of shelves and saw a man glancing at the 50% off table.  Where did he come from?  He’s cute!

 

As Megan approached and smiled her greeting, the man looked up and returned the smile.  “Hi, I’m Stephen Forbes.  I moved into town a few months ago and everyone tells me this place is a must!  I’m ….”  Just then the phone rang.

 

          “Sorry, I’ll be right back to help you.”  Why, when the most handsome guy I’ve seen in years walks into my shop, does my phone have to ring?  It’s been silent all morning!

          As soon as Megan heard the voice at the other end, she sighed.  I’m not ready for this, but I guess I’d better get it over with.  “Hello, Mr. Fisher.”  Megan tried to sound cheerful.

   

          Roland Fisher didn’t seem to notice the cheer as he began one more tirade.   “You have no right to contaminate minds!  These books are the work of the devil! etc. etc…”  Megan could feel a tingling in her temples—her first sign of a migraine.

 

          “Mr. Fisher, I can see you at 10 o’clock tomorrow morning.  Please come to my shop then.”  She quickly hung up and looked over toward her new customer who was wearing a mischievous smile.

          “Hmm, sounds like you have an irate customer!”  He had the most beautiful light blue eyes circled in a deep navy.  His dark, wavy hair hung just the right length over the edging of his positively gorgeous brandy colored sweater.

 

          “Yes, I guess there’s at least one for every business.  And may I help you find anything?”  O please let him find something marvelous that he can’t get in another shop!  And may he be so thrilled that he’ll return again and again...  Whoa, Megan, slow down.  This guy’s probably married with a beautiful model of a wife and three kids that he worships—though he isn’t wearing a wedding ring.

“I’m looking for a book on travel in Italy.”

 

Hmm, he likes to travel.  I’ll offer to be his tour guide!   “Well, I have a good selection on the Travel shelves.  Italy is a pretty popular place right now.  By the way, my name is Megan Meagher-Levy and I own this shop.”

Mr. Gorgeous put out his hand.  “As I said before, I’m Stephen Forbes.  How long have you owned the Book ‘n Brew?”

“A little over two years, my daughter and I”—might as well let him know I’m without spouse— “moved here from Los Angeles.”

Just then two customers walked in the door and immediately greeted Megan.   Damn!  What awful timing!

   

They were both looking for the book Megan had talked about at the book club, so she pointed out the display.  Then the phone rang and when she looked again Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome was gone.  Damn!

 

As Marge and Sophie paid for their purchases, Sophie said, “I see you’ve met the pastor of Sunset Baptist Church?”

Megan looked incredulous!  “You’ve got to be kidding!  That man is a pastor?”

“Yes,” replied Marge, “and he’s single.  Guess his wife left him.  It was a big scandal in some little town in southern Colorado.  What was he doing in here, Megan?”

“Looking for books, I suppose, although, according to Mr. Fisher, my books are of the devil!”

“Megan, I hope you’re not taking Mr. Fisher too seriously.  He’s been a pain in the ass since he moved here—thinks he’s on a mission to clean up the world.”

Soon after the women left, Chris came in.  “Hello, my Slave,” Megan greeted him with a twinkle in her eye.  “You get to finish shelving the book order that just came.”

“Megan, you think you’re giving me an awful job, but what you don’t know is that I grab a latte and sit back in the corner and read when you’re not looking.”  Christopher smiled and winked as he headed toward the cart of books.

To be continued...