“Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.”
Jolie smacked the backspace key on her laptop. She didn’t need a hundred copies of the newest Diary of a Wimpy Kid, no matter how popular the book might be. Thankful she’d caught her mistake before placing the order, she carefully typed the correct number into the box and hit submit.
She’d made silly mistakes like that all week.
Yesterday, she’d ordered too much tea for the café. The day before that, Jolie realized two of her newspaper subscriptions had lapsed. She’d forgotten to pay her phone bill and totally spaced on her appointment with the dentist.
Corbin James was making her stupid.
And sleep deprived.
Not that it was his fault. He didn’t realize she practically thought about him 24/7. He was even starting to weave his way into her dreams.
They were very good dreams.
When she was dreaming of him, she didn’t worry about the intense physical attraction she felt for him. But when she was awake, those same feelings rendered her clueless and stupid and a little scared.
“You shouldn’t find me fascinating, Jolie.”
He’d certainly warned her, and Jolie knew she should probably heed his advice. Corbin James was a musician, and musicians rarely stay in one place for long. Sure, he was home now, but for how long? He was here to clear his head. To refocus. To find his voice again.
At least, that’s what his mom kept saying.
Jolie and Corbin’s mother had grown close over the past year. Maggie James was her most loyal customer, but even if she wasn’t in the mood to buy, Maggie still liked to stop by just to chat. Jolie would make tea and the two of them would huddle in the makeshift café and talk about anything and everything. Jolie missed her mom so much sometimes it was hard to breathe, and even though no one could ever take her place, she’d found a mother’s heart in Maggie James.
Their visits had been infrequent lately, and Jolie knew that was because Corbin was home. But when Maggie did stop by, she always mentioned her son, and Jolie would pretend to be nonchalant and uninterested when she was anything but.
What really drove her crazy was that she had no idea why.
Jolie had never been one of those girls. In school, she’d never been one to write silly love notes or scribble a guy’s name on her notebook. Even in college, she’d dated a few guys, but she’d never felt anything for any of them.
So why was she choosing now to become such a girl?
The past week had been unnerving. Wonderful, but unnerving.
Whenever her work schedule and the weather cooperated, Jolie and Corbin spent their afternoons at the river. She’d bring lunch one day. He’d bring it the next. And, because they both needed their security blankets, Corbin never arrived without his guitar, and she didn’t show up without a book. When they got tired of playing and reading, they’d talk about absolutely nothing for the rest of the afternoon. But, with each seemingly unimportant conversation, Jolie delved a little deeper in the heartbreaking yet fascinating mystery that was Corbin James.
Jolie could try to convince herself that she was simply interested in the man behind the lyrics, and there would be some truth to that. Five years ago, Corbin James was a rock star. An overnight success whose star burned out just as quickly. Within a few years, his talent was quickly overshadowed by his inability to stay out of trouble. Like everyone else in Riverview, Jolie had read the articles about Corbin’s drinking, the women, and his run-ins with the law.
Sex, drugs, and rock ‘n roll.
Musical history was filled with tales just like his.
But Jolie knew there was more to Corbin’s story, and she wanted to hear it.
Someday. Whenever he was ready.
So far, however, Corbin had stuck to safe topics. Music. Family. Books. Jobs. He’d had zero luck in finding something part-time, which didn’t surprise her considering Riverview’s economy was in the toilet. But even if he found a job, Jolie had a feeling he wouldn’t stay in town forever.
Just another reason why she needed to get her emotions under control.
“Jolie!”
The screeching voice made her jump.
Jolie hopped off her stool and rushed out of her office to find a beaming Rachel standing at the counter.
“I’m engaged!”
Jolie took a deep breath to calm her racing heart. “Wow, Rach, that’s—”
“Amazing! I know. Can you believe it?”
She proudly flashed the diamond.
“It’s beautiful, Rach. Congratulations.”
Suddenly, her expression turned wistful. “But . . . I have some bad news. Austin’s being transferred to Texas. He’s leaving next month, and I’m going with him. Please don’t be mad at me for leaving—”
“Rach, it’s fine,” she said with a smile. “Of course you should go with him. I’ll miss you, though.”
The girls hugged, and Rachel promised to send her a wedding invitation as soon as the date was set.
Ten minutes later, Jolie hung a help wanted sign in her window.
“Not good.”
Jolie stared at the computer screen, praying for the numbers on her financial statement to magically transform into actual revenue for her store.
She hadn’t made a profit in months.
The first year had spoiled her. Turn the Page had opened with enough fanfare to make the front page of the regional newspapers. Enthusiastic tourists and loyal locals had turned her little bookstore into a thriving business. But then, like everywhere else, the economy tanked. Jolie’s customers suddenly had mortgages they couldn’t pay, and buying the occasional book or musical instrument became very low on their list of priorities. Naturally, sales plummeted, and Jolie had spent the past year struggling to stay in the black.
She’d need to start turning a profit soon, or she wouldn’t be able to pay her mortgage, either.
Jolie was just getting ready to head home when she heard the chime of her shop door. Stepping out of her office, she headed toward the counter. Jolie stopped in her tracks when she saw Corbin standing there, and in an instant, her heart began thundering in her chest.
I’m such a girl.
“Hi, Corbin.”
“Hey. I’m surprised you’re still open.”
“I’m not really. I was just doing some paperwork in the back. Guess I forgot to lock up.”
Corbin frowned. “Is that safe? I mean, you being here by yourself at night?”
“Why? Because Riverview’s such a hotbed of criminal activity?”
“You never know,” he said with a shrug. Then his face grew serious. “But honestly, you should at least lock the door at night. Someone could just walk right in.”
“Someone like you?”
“Someone exactly like me.”
“I’ll take my chances.”
They smiled at each other.
“Speaking of chances,” Corbin said, leaning against the counter. “What’s the chance you’re free for lunch tomorrow afternoon? The weather’s supposed to be nice.”
She sighed heavily. “Zilch. Rach quit today.”
“I guess that explains the help wanted sign in the window.”
Jolie nodded. “I’m afraid our lunches will be few and far between until I hire someone.”
Corbin turned toward the shelves and walked toward the biographies.
“Did you know that Johnny Cash proposed to June Carter while they were singing a duet on stage in Ontario?”
Wow, Jolie thought to herself. Talk about a change in subject.
“I didn’t know that.”
He nodded and made his way to the children’s fantasy section.
“Did you know that Hermione and Ron finally hookup at the end of Harry Potter?”
She laughed. “Actually, I did know that one. The question is, how do you know that?”
“Once upon a time, I was a pretty avid reader.”
He then headed over to the local reference section and began spouting off names and dates and historical facts about Riverview. But it was when he made his way to the music section that Jolie finally realized what was going on.
Corbin James was auditioning . . . for a job.
She walked around the corner and met him at the shelf.
“Corbin, it’s just part-time.”
“I know.”
“You’d barely make minimum wage.”
“Which is more than I’m making now.”
Jolie swallowed nervously. Corbin needed a job. She needed an employee.
So tempting.
So frightening.
Temptation won out.
“When can you start?”
Corbin suddenly pulled her into a massive hug, wrapping his arms tightly around her. Jolie melted against him, loving the warmth of his embrace. They stood there for what seemed like forever, neither of them in a hurry to let the other go. Hesitantly, she laid her head on his chest, and she felt a soft sigh escape his lips as he nuzzled her hair.
“Thank you, Jolie.”
“You’re welcome.”
Reluctantly, she forced herself to let him go. She chanced a glance at him and immediately wished she hadn’t. Corbin’s brown eyes were dark and tortured, and suddenly, she bowed her head, feeling embarrassed and a little rejected.
“Sorry about that.”
Corbin lifted her chin with his finger. “I should be the one apologizing. I hugged you.”
“It’s okay,” she mumbled, mortified that she’d loved touching him so much, when it was obvious he hadn’t enjoyed it at all. She walked back toward the register. “You can start tomorrow. We open at nine.”
“I’ll be here.” Corbin shuffled his feet for a few more minutes before clearing his throat. “I guess I’ll head home. Just . . . please lock up when I leave?”
“I will. See you tomorrow.”
Jolie could see the internal battle in his eyes. He wanted to say something. He always wanted to say something. But like always, he remained speechless.
“Thanks again,” he said. “I promise you won’t regret this.”
Jolie followed him to the door. As soon as he stepped outside, she gently turned the lock.
“I’m afraid I already do,” she whispered.
Insomnia sucks.
That was Corbin’s first thought when his eyes flew open the next morning. He’d slept a total of two hours—two restless hours filled with bitter nightmares from his past and sweet dreams from his present.
Sweet dreams that smelled like strawberries.
Closing his eyes, Corbin allowed himself to remember the way Jolie had felt in his arms. She’d melted against him, molded to his body with so much warmth and perfection that it amazed him just how right she’d felt in his embrace. And, when he’d buried his nose in her hair, Jolie’s sweet scent flowed through him and weaved its way into his memory.
Corbin had been disappointed when she stepped away from him, but it was the smart thing to do, because he’d been incapable of letting her go.
He felt thankful when she pulled away.
He felt empty when she pulled away.
The conflicting emotions were driving him insane.
But now she’s your boss. You have to keep things professional.
He wasn’t sure how that was going to work, considering his dreams had been filled with a certain green-eyed beauty with long blonde hair who smelled like strawberries. But he was determined to find a way.
Despite his inner turmoil and lack of sleep, Corbin woke up feeling creative, so he climbed out of bed and grabbed his guitar. He played for a while, and before he knew it, he had the first verse and chorus of a new song. He only stopped playing when his alarm rang.
Time to go to work.
Corbin all but sprinted to the shower, more than eager to start his first day at the bookstore. When he finally made it downstairs, his mom was waiting for him in the kitchen. She smiled knowingly as he grabbed a piece of bacon.
“Suddenly you’re a morning person.”
He grinned and took a bite of toast.
Maggie brought two mugs of coffee over to the table and joined him. Corbin tried to ignore the way she gazed at him while he ate. Her eyes were wistful. Almost proud.
“Something on your mind, Mom?”
“Yes, there’s a lot on my mind, actually.” Always a mother, Maggie straightened his collar before running her fingers through his hair. “Never could do anything with that mop of yours.”
Corbin rolled his eyes. “I know you don’t want to talk about my hair.”
She smiled softly. “You’re right. I don’t. I just want to say how proud I am of you.”
“It’s just a part-time job.”
“No, it’s much more than that. It’s you, making an effort. Jobs are hard to find in this town.”
He shrugged. “Just lucky. Rachel quit. It was perfect timing.”
“Still, you’re willing to take a part-time job until something else comes along. And that means you’re staying home for a while, which I love.”
Corbin grinned. “Thanks, Mom.”
“I’m grateful to Jolie, too. She’s a sweet girl.”
“I know.”
“Do you?” Maggie asked gently as she searched her son’s face. “Corbin, she’s not like . . . other girls. You know that, don’t you?”
Other girls. Like the women he’d met on the road. Girls who were slutty and dirty and disposable. For just a moment, Corbin was insulted that his mom would even think that he compared Jolie to those women. But he reminded himself that he had to be patient . . . just like his parents had to be patient with him. He’d destroyed a lot of trust. It was going to take time to rebuild it.
“I know she’s special, Mom. Don’t worry.” Still, her protectiveness made him wonder about their relationship. “Are you two close?”
“We are.”
“How close?”
“Close enough that I’m asking you to be gentle with her. And the next time I see Jolie, I’ll ask her to be the same with you.”
Corbin’s eyes locked with his mother’s, and in that moment, he realized that he was still incapable of hiding anything from her. Through the years, Maggie James’ uncanny ability to see straight into her son’s soul had always freaked him out. After all, how could she possibly love him if she knew every mistake he’d ever made?
But she always did, even when he didn’t deserve it.
“Go on now,” Maggie said softly. “I don’t want you to be late on your first day.”
Corbin kissed his mom’s cheek before grabbing his keys and phone and heading out the door.
Corbin arrived about ten minutes before opening, so he was surprised to find the door already unlocked. When he didn’t see her behind the register, he headed back to her office to let her know he was there. As he looked through the glass window, Corbin stopped when he saw that she had company.
If the look on her face was any indication, the visit wasn’t a friendly one.
The guy looked familiar, but Corbin couldn’t place him. Suddenly, their conversation grew louder, and Corbin was just about to let his presence be known when Jolie’s heated voice shook the glass.
“Get the hell out of my shop, Gavin!”
Gavin Massey. The biggest jerk to ever walk the halls of Riverview High. Arrogant. Cocky. And the richest kid in school. He’d been easy to hate, and everybody did. Except the girls. The girls loved him, because he said all the right things and did all the right things until they finally slept with him. Then he dumped them.
Gavin tossed a piece of paper onto her desk, which Jolie promptly picked up and ripped to shreds right in front of his face.
“You’ll call,” Gavin said, opening the door.
“Like hell. Get out!”
He was grinning as he walked out of the office, but his face turned to stone when he saw who blocked his path.
“Well, well. Corbin James. I heard you were back in town.”
“You heard right.”
“Good to see you. We should grab a drink sometime. Oh wait. You can’t do that anymore, right? Rehab and jail really put a damper on partying, don’t they?”
“I see nothing’s changed. You’re still the same rich asshole you were back in school.”
“Not true. I’m a richer asshole now.”
“Good to know. I think it’s time for you to leave, like the lady asked.”
Gavin smirked, but he didn’t say another word as he walked past. Corbin waited until he heard the chime of the door before walking into Jolie’s office. She was slumped in her chair, holding her head in her hands. Corbin kneeled on the floor in front of her.
“Jolie?”
She looked up at him with teary eyes. “How much did you hear?”
“Not much. What’s going on?”
Before she could answer, they heard the door.
“There’s a customer,” she said softly, hurriedly wiping her eyes.
“I’ll go.”
“You don’t know how to work the register.”
“I’ll figure it out.”
She nodded, and he rushed out to the counter, where an old man and a little girl were looking through the postcards.
“Good morning. Looking for anything specific?” Not that he could really help them, since he had no idea what kinds of postcards were actually on the rack. But it seemed like the customary thing to say.
The man chuckled. “My granddaughter’s never looking for anything specific. She has to hunt through each and every one of them until she finds one that catches her eye.”
Corbin smiled. “Let me know if I can be of any help.”
About a hundred postcards and twenty minutes later, Jolie finally came out front. She forced a smile and said good morning to her customers.
“Hi, Jolie,” the little girl said with a shy grin.
“Hey, McKenna. Looking for a postcard for Mom?”
Jolie bragged on the girl’s sundress before turning her attention to the postcard display.
The man turned to Corbin. “You know, son, you look familiar to me.”
“I’m Corbin James.”
“Thought so. You working here now?”
“Just started today.”
“No more singing?”
“Not right now.”
“Well, you’re a young man. You’ll get back to it someday. In the meantime, you won’t find a nicer boss than Jolie. Our granddaughter’s spending the summer with us. About twice a week, we come down here and pick out a postcard to send to her folks in Cleveland. McKenna thinks the world of Jolie. Everybody does.”
Corbin had no trouble believing that.
When McKenna finally chose a postcard, Jolie led Corbin over to the register and showed him out to ring her up.
“Your first customer,” Jolie said after they left. “Congrats.”
“Thanks.”
Her face turned solemn. “Thank you, Corbin. For earlier.”
“I didn’t really do anything, but I can. Is Gavin giving you a hard time?”
She shook her head. “It’s my problem. I’ll deal with him.”
“Jolie—”
“Let me show you the stockroom.”
With a heavy sigh, Corbin followed her to the back of the store. The stockroom was small and cramped, but Jolie naturally had a system. New arrivals were in the front. Older books were arranged by genre and author along the stockroom walls.
“We get shipments every Thursday. Deliveries come to the front because the back door is heavy and impossible for me to close. New releases need to be displayed by Tuesday morning. We restock throughout the week, as needed. The touristy stuff goes quick. Local maps. Postcards. We’re constantly refilling those, especially during the summer. Could you grab that box of books? They go in Travel.”
“No problem.”
Corbin thought she seemed nervous and couldn’t get out of the stockroom quick enough.
Surely she trusts me, doesn’t she?
He spent the next few hours arranging the new books and organizing the ones already on the shelf. It was tedious and boring, and by the time he was finished, Corbin vowed to himself that, in the future, he’d always return items to their proper place on a store shelf.
Customers slowly streamed in and out throughout the day, but more often than not, they simply browsed or bought a magazine or something inexpensive. Regardless, Jolie thanked them for stopping by and treated each and every customer like they were her best friend.
Things slowed down after lunch, and while Corbin knew it was probably bad for business, he couldn’t deny he was grateful to have the chance to really watch Jolie as she worked. He saw the adoration on her face as she gazed at the books on her shelves and in the sweet smile she offered to all her customers. From the gentle music that streamed through the speakers to the colorful displays in the windows, every detail of the little store was planned with precision.
It was obvious. Turn the Page was the love of Jolie’s life.
Corbin almost felt jealous.
Almost.