On Monday morning, Erin storms into my office at Clancy’s and plops down on the sofa in my office. “We are so screwed!”

I look up from the e-mail I’m reading and try not to laugh at the tragic look on her face. “Why’s that?”

“The new Nora Roberts books didn’t come in on the truck today. Our customers are going to kill us!”

I smile at the expression of utter doom on Erin’s face. Even frazzled as she is now, Erin O’Connor is darling. Keeping her on as assistant manager was probably one of the best decisions I ever made when I assumed ownership of Clancy’s Bookshop a few months ago.

“It’s not funny, Beth!” Erin cries, throwing her hands up in the air. “We have four book clubs – count them, four! – coming in Wednesday to pick up their copies, and we have nothing to give them. Nothing!”

“Why all the drama, sweetie?” Sam says, walking through my office doorway carrying two cups of coffee from our downstairs café. He hands me one, a dark chocolate mint latte with whipped cream and chocolate curls on top. Heaven!

“Thank you,” I say, closing my eyes as I savor my first sweet sip of chocolaty goodness for the morning. It’s only ten in the morning, and I need extra fortification today. The holiday season is fast approaching, and I’m learning firsthand the joys of running a large retail establishment during the busiest time of the year. On top of that, I’m finishing up my first pair of online class as part of my MBA program at University of Chicago. If I survive the holidays, it will be a miracle.

Sam drops onto the sofa beside Erin and wraps his arm around her shoulders and pulls her close. “What’s wrong, cupcake? Tell Sammy all about it.”

Erin lays her head on Sam’s shoulder and sighs. “Our new Nora Roberts books weren’t on the truck this morning. We’re doomed.”

Sam glances my way and rolls his eyes. “Don’t worry, cupcake,” he says, giving her a reassuring squeeze. “The boss will figure something out.”

“Me?” I say, raising my eyebrows.

“Yes, you,” he says. “You’re the boss. Do something to fix this disaster before cupcake has a coronary.”

I sigh. “All right.”

My phone rings then, and I check the screen. It’s Shane, thank God. “Hi, honey,” I say, brightening as I take his call. Hearing his voice over the phone while I’m at work is definitely the highlight of my day. “What’s up?”

“I can’t talk long – I’ve got a meeting in two minutes. I just wanted to ask if you can fit me in for lunch today. Can I pick you up?”

“Yes! I would love that. Eleven-thirty?”

“I’ll be there.”

“I’ll be ready. I love you.”

He chuckles. “I love you too, sweetheart.”

I end the call and look at the two seated on the sofa. Erin’s looking at me with a hopeful expression on her sweet, freckled face. “All right,” I say, making a quick executive decision. “Erin, call the distributor and have them overnight the books to us. We’ll have them here first thing in the morning. Is that suitable?”

Erin’s blue eyes widen. “Oh, my God, you realize that will cost a fortune, right?”

I nod. “Yes, I do. Don’t worry about it.”

“Oh, thank you!” She rises from the sofa and rushes over to hug me. Then she straightens, taking a deep, calming breath as she smooths down her skirt. “I can survive the day now.”

Erin walks out of my office with her head held high, and Sam props his chunky boots on the coffee table. “Well, you made her day. Good job, boss.”

I smile at him. “She’s right, though. It’s going to cost a fortune. Our profit margin just went up in smoke.” I make a poofing action with my fingers. “In fact, I’m sure we’ll lose money on these books.”

“That may be so, but at least Erin and the book clubs will be happy, and that’s what matters. A depressed Erin O’Connor is a sad thing to behold.”

* * *

I have an hour and a half before Shane arrives to pick me up for lunch, so I head downstairs to mingle with customers and help straighten up the shop. No matter how hard we try to keep things neat and organized, it’s a losing battle. The displays get messed up in no time.

Sam is my shadow, as always. Ever since Lia was reassigned as Jonah Locke’s bodyguard, Sam’s been my primary bodyguard. He picks me up at eight o-clock very morning at the penthouse, brings me here, and he’s with me all day until he drops me back off at home at five-thirty.

Sam’s an excellent bodyguard, plus he’s fun to be around. I’ve told Shane over and over that I don’t need a personal bodyguard here in the bookstore, but he insists. He says that as his girlfriend – fiancée, rather – I need protection. Personally, I think he’s overreacting. Howard Kline is gone from this Earth, thanks to Shane. To my knowledge, I have no other mortal enemies lurking in the shadows waiting to pounce. But Shane still insists I have protection whenever I’m in public.

With the holiday season fast approaching, the store is bustling with shoppers. Erin’s already putting up holiday decorations and displays, and the customer lines are getting longer and longer each day. Since taking over the store, I’ve added four new check-out lanes to help keep the lines moving smoothly.

I see Erin operating one of the check-out terminals now and give her a wave. She waves back with a smile on her face, looking like her usual happy and relaxed self now that the book club crisis has been averted. Our head of security, Mack Donovan, is lurking behind the sales counter not far from Erin’s side.

Erin says something to Mack, and when he smiles down at her, she blushes. And I do mean down at her. Mack’s about six-four and built like a tank – all solid muscle – and Erin’s just a couple inches over five feet. He looks like a giant beside her.

I glance at Sam. “Do you think Erin has a crush on Mack?”

“Sorry, what?” Sam looks up from the muscle builder magazine he’s holding. I’m not sure if he’s reading the articles or staring at the ripped bodies in the photos. “Do I think Erin has what?”

“A crush. On Mack. Do you think she does?”

He gives me a tight smile. “Sorry, princess, my lips are sealed.”

“Oh, my God! She does, doesn’t she? Does he know?”

Sam shrugs. “I don’t think he does. I mean, he’s what... at least ten years older than she is.”

“I think it’s more than that. She’s only twenty-two. He’s got to be at least Shane’s age.”

“Okay, thirteen years then,” Sam says. “When Erin started kindergarten, Max was a senior in high school.”

Mack gets called away by the front door security guard, and Erin watches wistfully as he walks away. The expression of longing on her face is undeniable.

“Oh, dear,” I say. “This could be bad.”

* * *

I wander around the store, chatting with employees, most of whom I inherited from Fred Clancy when I took over the store. They’re a great group of people, and I really enjoy working with them. Since taking over as manager, I’ve made some changes, starting with giving everyone a ten percent raise and implementing paid sick and vacation leave for all of the employees, both full-time and part-time. The store is privately owned – by yours truly now – and it’s very profitable. I can afford it.

As I walk through the magazine department and turn the corner into stationary and journals, I stop dead in my tracks. Luciana Morelli is standing not ten feet from me, perusing day planners. She hasn’t seen me yet, and I’m tempted to turn around and slink out of sight before she does. My pulse starts racing, thudding painfully in my chest at the sight of her. What is she doing here? She has to know I’d be here.

Sam bumps into me from behind, his hands landing on my shoulders as he steadies both of us. “What’s wrong?” he says.

I swallow hard, and my vocal chords are paralyzed.

Sam squeezes my shoulders. “Beth?”

I shake my head, not daring to speak, instead wishing I could just disappear. I don’t want to see her. I don’t want to talk to her ever again. I take a couple of steps back, pushing Sam back, and he moves with me. And just as I’m about to turn away, Luciana turns in my direction and stares right at me. If looks could kill, I’d be in serious trouble.

 “I heard you work here,” she says, walking toward me, looking as haughty and gorgeous as ever in a form-fitting emerald green sheath dress. “Frankly, I found it hard to believe, so I thought I’d come see for myself.”

“What are you doing here?” I say.

“Excuse me, ma’am,” Sam says indignantly, speaking right over my head. “Can I help you?”

Luciana can’t be any older than Sam is, at twenty-eight, but the way Sam said ma’am made it sound like she was well past middle age. I have to bite my bottom lip not to chuckle. Sam’s the perfect guard dog.

Luciana glances past me at Sam. She studies him for a moment, eyeing him like he’s a piece of meat and she’s hungry for protein. “I might be tempted to let you try, stud.”

Then her gaze returns to me, calculating and cold. “He’ll tire of you soon enough, you know,” she says, and I know she’s not talking about Sam. “It’s his pattern. When he tires of his current plaything, he moves on. Every. Single. Time.”

My heart is in my throat, and I feel sick again. I’m so tempted to have her thrown out of the store. All I have to do is say the word, and Sam will have her out the door in a flash. But I don’t want to give her the satisfaction of knowing how much she’s riled me.

“If you’ll excuse me,” I say, giving her what I hope is a calm, professional smile. “I have to get back to work.”

* * *

As I walk away from Luciana, Sam is right on my heels.

“What the fuck was that all about?” he says, coming up beside me. “Wasn’t that the bitch from the club the other night?”

I nod, not trusting myself to speak.

But Sam is determined. “Who is she?”

I huff out a breath. “Her name is Luciana Morelli. She’s an ex-girlfriend of Shane’s.”

“Whoa,” he says. “I’ll admit she’s hot, but what a bitch!”

Sam’s assessment makes me chuckle. “We had an unpleasant run-in a few months back, and Shane had to intervene. Honestly, I’m surprised to see her here. Surely she knows I own Clancy’s now – it’s been in all the papers. Why would she come here?”

“To cause trouble, no doubt.”

I catch myself absently twisting my engagement ring. I look down at the thin gold band with its small diamond and smile. Shane knows me so well.

“I’m guessing Shane wouldn’t be happy if he knew she was here,” Sam says.

I laugh. “That’s putting it lightly.”