The Falling Series Box Set Read online

  He hadn’t expected this question. “Four years. My mom had lung cancer.”

  “I’m really sorry,” Lucy said.

  Adam appreciated the sincerity. This woman was easy to talk to, and he’d barely met her. “I’m sorry too. I’m glad my dad is showing interest in another woman, although it’s strange.”

  “I get it,” she said. “I mean, I haven’t been in your situation. My parents are still alive ... and married. But I read a book about a woman whose dad remarried when he was eighty-two, and it really opened my eyes to different family dynamics.”

  Adam couldn’t help but smile. Her eyes had lit up when she talked about reading a book. “Do you like to read?”

  Her cheeks dimpled. “I love to read. Sometimes more than anything else.” She tilted her head. “When I saw the ad for a position here, I jumped at the chance.”

  “I’m glad you did.” He didn’t know exactly where that came from. They did need help, but there were other applicants coming to be interviewed. Which reminded him that he needed to email them all back and cancel their interviews.

  Lucy’s cheeks flushed. She really was pretty, Adam decided, and he suddenly wondered if she had a boyfriend or was married. A quick glance at her hand didn’t reveal a wedding ring.

  “I’ll just finish moving these books,” Lucy was saying, her cheeks still pink. “I think I’ll carry fewer books at a time, though.”

  “I’ll try not to suddenly appear at the end of an aisle and call out for my dad.”

  “That would be great,” Lucy said with a small laugh. She moved past him, and because the aisle wasn’t technically spaced for two people, her arm brushed against his.

  Vanilla, Adam decided. She smelled like vanilla.

  Lucy bit her lip as she heard the voices in the next room—well, the storage room that she caught a glimpse of. She wasn’t sure why there was a bed in there too. It wasn’t her place to be nosy, though. Mr. Parks had returned from the coffee shop, all smiles, and Adam had immediately said he wanted to talk.

  Lucy was left to man the store, again, while father and son talked about her behind the closed door. From what Lucy could discern, Adam didn’t sound upset, so that seemed to be a good thing, but their conversation was definitely vigorous. She was tempted to move closer to the door so she could decipher all of the words, but she refrained. It would be embarrassing to be caught eavesdropping.

  So, with a thumping pulse, she worked on cleaning up one of the front displays. She decided that less was more, and she removed all of the books except three. She chose the newest Simon Wood thriller to go along with a new Susanna Kearsley mystery. Then she added Jamie Ford’s latest historical. She wished the man would write more than one book every few years. But then again, his research probably took a while. She adjusted the Simon Wood book, one she hadn’t read yet. She had once listened to the author’s audible version of The One That Got Away when she drove to Santa Rosa to visit her sister. It had been a big mistake to listen to a serial killer book about a man who preyed on women in small towns. Or perhaps it was a testament to Wood’s skilled writing. Regardless, she avoided all restaurants in small towns on the way home.

  The storage room door opened, and Lucy tried not to glance over as the men came out. Apparently their conversation was over. Lucy wondered if she still had a job, but when Mr. Parks approached her with a smile, she knew she did.

  “Adam is contacting the other applicants right now to let them know the job is filled,” Mr. Parks said. “And I agree that having some part-time help will be good for the store.”

  “Great,” Lucy said. “I’m happy to be here, then.”

  Mr. Parks rubbed his hands together. “How about I show you around?”

  “All right,” Lucy said. Before Mr. Parks went on his coffee break, he’d shown her the basics of the cash register—which Lucy picked up on due to her previous job experience.

  Adam was at the register, typing on a laptop that she hadn’t seen there before. Maybe it had been under the counter or in the storage room. He was probably emailing the other job applicants that the job had been filled.

  Lucy looked quickly away. His dark hair, square jawline, and green eyes reminded her of one of those gothic heroes from a 1940s romance novel. Adam was far from brooding, although he seemed to be what she’d call a methodical thinker.

  She followed Mr. Parks to the front door and large front window.

  “When you leave in the evenings,” he said, “Adam will be here most of the time to lock up, but there might be times that you’ll need to do it. We’re a bit old-fashioned, so we still use a flip sign. But it’s one of our shop’s appeals. At least that’s what I keep telling my son when he makes comments.”

  “I can hear you,” Adam said in a dry tone from across the shop.

  Mr. Parks ignored his son. “We flip this sign over to read CLOSED.” He demonstrated with a red-and-white sign that was perched in the windowsill.

  “Got it,” Lucy said.

  Mr. Parks moved to the door. “We have double locks, of course. Not one of those fancy security systems. Thieves now-a-days are more interested in electronics.”

  “And cash and gift cards,” Adam said from the counter.

  Mr. Parks lifted his brows but kept his focus on Lucy. “We do bank deposits twice a day, at least we used to until the advent of the ... the ...”

  “Debit card,” Adam supplied for him.

  Lucy glanced at Adam to see him smiling. He had abandoned his frantic typing for a moment. She gave a small laugh. “I think everyone’s lives were changed. No one carries around cash anymore, it seems.”

  Mr. Parks shook his head. “It’s a different world, I won’t argue that. But the nice thing about debit cards is the security of our accounting system. Although my son tells me there are a whole host of other security issues like identity theft going on now.”

  “Advancements bring different challenges, I guess,” Lucy said.

  “You’re so very right.” Mr. Parks motioned her over to the reading nook. “My wife set this up a number of years ago, but Adam thinks it needs to be updated. We’ve seen a lag in customers this past year with everyone buying those e-reader contraptions. I don’t know when the last time someone used our reading corner. What do you think we can do to make it better?”

  Lucy stilled. She could feel Adam’s curious gaze on her, and Mr. Parks folded his arms, as if he were ready to take her opinion seriously.

  She studied the nook. Two armchairs were pushed together; their peach and white print faded, but they were still in good condition. A small rocking chair was on the other side and was likely meant for a kid. Next to it was a pair of gaudy yellow plastic chairs that had seen better days. Two small shelves of books completed the nook, and it looked like most of them were children’s books. A couple of fake plants had been thrown into the mix.

  Lucy thought about the other bookstores she’d been in. They were larger bookstores, so they had children’s sections complete with miniature couches and brightly colored rugs. Some of them even had coffee and espresso bars for their adult readers.

  “Um ...” Lucy glanced over at Adam. He gave her a small nod but didn’t say a word. “Is this supposed to be for children or adults?”

  “Both,” Mr. Parks said right away.

  “I think you need to focus on one or the other.” Lucy rested her hands on her hips. “Do parents bring their kids in a lot?”

  “Not like they used to,” Mr. Parks said. “Now the kids all have those iPads and other gadgets.”

  “True,” Lucy said. “But every kid likes story time.”

  “That’s a great idea,” Mr. Parks said. “I just don’t know how to go about it.”

  “I think Lucy is volunteering,” Adam said.

  She looked over at him. “I could do it ... if you’re interested.”

  Adam stood from the desk and walked over to them. “I think it’s a great idea.”

  He stood only a couple of feet from Lucy, but
she felt his presence as if he were standing closer. There was something magnetic about him that she couldn’t define. Maybe it was her imagination as a result of reading one too many books.

  “What do you need to get started?” Mr. Parks asked.

  Lucy exhaled and looked from father to son. “You’re really okay with my idea?”

  Both said, “Yes,” at the same time.

  Lucy gave a nervous laugh. “Okay, I’ll look online for some decorating ideas. I think we could put in a few small wooden chairs painted in bright colors. A rug that the younger kids can sit on. Maybe even a couple of small bean bags.” Both men were still listening intently, so she continued. “There are garage sales every weekend this time of year, and I can search for stuff at them so it won’t cost a ton of money.”

  “My sister’s soon-to-be-ex-husband works at a furniture store,” Adam said. “I’ll talk to him.”

  “Won’t that be ... awkward?” Lucy asked.

  “Greg is always about the next deal,” Adam said in an ironic tone. “Money trumps family relations.”

  His comment seemed to carry a deeper weight, but now wasn’t the time to ask personal questions. Apparently, Adam had a sister going through a divorce.

  “I could put up fliers,” Mr. Parks said. “And Adam could post about it on our blogthingamajig.”

  “Website, Dad,” Adam said. “Mom created a blog, but I converted everything into a website. It’s easier to navigate.”

  “Right,” Mr. Parks said. He looked at Lucy. “When should we start?”

  Lucy thought quickly. “Uh, two weeks?”

  “That’s quick,” Adam said.

  She felt a blush grow. She didn’t know why she was blushing. “I have some extra time. This is my only job right now. Besides, we’d probably have better luck getting this established during the summer months. Moms are always looking for something to do with their kids during the summer.”

  Adam raised a brow, but Lucy wasn’t about to fill these men in on her stint as a nanny last year, when she cared for a three-year-old and six-year-old. She’d loved the kids, but when the husband started coming home earlier and earlier before his wife did to “hang out” with Lucy and the kids, she grew uncomfortable.

  “Sounds good to me.” Mr. Parks looked at his son for confirmation.

  “Two weeks it is, then,” Adam said. “Should we give it an official name?”

  “Story Time at Parks?” Mr. Parks offered.

  “How about Story Time with Lucy?” Adam said, his green eyes settling on Lucy.

  Her skin grew hot again. She really needed to stop blushing. “I’m not so sure. I mean, what if you fire me one day, and then the new person is named Debbie or something?”

  “Who’s Debbie?” Mr. Parks asked, clearly confused.

  Adam laughed. “I think Story Time with Lucy is fine.” Then he winked.

  Lucy’s heart thumped.

  He turned from her as if he hadn’t just altered her world and walked back to the desk. “I’ll post it on the website right now. What day and time should we put?”

  Lucy exhaled. “Uh, Saturdays? Morning? Not too early, but not too late in case the kids have sports or dance or something.”

  “Good thinking.” Adam clicked away on the laptop. “Let’s say ten a.m. on Saturdays?”

  “What if we offer free coffee for the adults?” Mr. Parks said.

  Adam nodded his agreement while he continued working on the laptop.

  “And what about the parents?” Mr. Parks asked. “Where will they sit?”

  “They won’t,” Lucy said. “The parents will wander the shop while their kids are being entertained. It will give the parents a chance to browse, which will in turn lead to some sales.”

  “Brilliant,” Adam said without looking up.

  It turned out that Lucy could blush without Adam even looking at her.

  “I think Lucy has been our best hire,” Adam’s dad told him the morning of the first story time event.

  “She’s been our only hire,” Adam said.

  “Exactly.” His dad chuckled and crossed to the front door of the shop, where he flipped the sign to OPEN.

  They were hoping that a group of parents would show up in an hour, bringing their kids along and making the morning a success.

  Lucy usually worked afternoons, but on Saturdays she would now come in early for the story hour.

  With the help of Lucy, Adam and his dad had spent the last two weeks making changes in the store to accommodate the new story time area. Lucy had painted the chairs Adam had picked up from Greg’s furniture shop. She’d also found a multi-colored rug on clearance at a local store. Adam had to admit that the reading nook looked great.

  Adam’s job today was to keep the coffee maker going, his dad would be helping customers, and Lucy would be running story time. Adam turned on the coffee maker and set out cups and napkins on a table they’d cleared off. He was a bit nervous about this idea, but both his dad and Lucy assured him that they didn’t expect large cups of coffee to be dashed on the floor or dropped onto a brand-new hardcover book.

  The back door opened, and Adam turned expectantly to see Lucy.

  She looked ... like Alice in Wonderland.

  Lucy smiled as Adam gaped at her. Then she did a slow spin, making the pale blue dress and its white apron flare out above her knees. “What do you think?”

  “Uh.” Adam tried to collect his thoughts. He’d never seen Lucy in anything other than jeans, a regular shirt, and some sort of ponytail or bun. Her dark blonde hair was curled into waves that reached her shoulders, and her makeup accented the shape of her lips and made her eyes look bigger than usual. Her dress might be a costume from a children’s story, but it did nothing to hide her curves, and the way her waist tapered before the full skirt took over.

  He quickly looked back to her face. “You’re Alice.”

  She laughed, a laugh he was well familiar with by now. “I am. I thought the kids would be more captivated if Alice told them stories.”

  “I don’t doubt you’ll have their full attention,” Adam said. If he were a little boy, he wouldn’t be able to take his eyes from her ...

  “What a wonderful idea,” his father said, emerging from the front of the shop. “Alice in Wonderland! The kids will be enchanted.”

  Adam couldn’t agree more, but he really should get back to his job. Something with coffee.

  “Thanks,” Lucy said. “I’ll set up for the story time.”

  While Lucy moved chairs around and picked out books that Adam knew she’d already decided on, he kept stealing glances at her. They’d been working together for two weeks now, and having her around had made a big difference to the organization of the shop. His father was also less stressed because Lucy took care of so many small things that had been taking up his energy, leaving more time for his dad to chat with customers. It was clear that his father liked having Lucy around.

  Adam admitted he liked having her around too. But he felt like he barely knew her. She never talked about her family or personal life. She’d talk anyone’s ear off about a book she’d read, but that was as far as her conversations went.

  Adam needed to stop watching her and get back to work. He returned to his laptop and did a quick search on the website to check the Google analytics for the page views over the past couple of days. They were up from the week before, and Adam hoped that meant that word was getting out. He’d emailed a reminder through their newsletter last night, even though he hated to send out two newsletters in the same month.

  The front door of the shop opened, and a woman came in with two children. His dad greeted her.

  “Is this where the story time is?” she asked, glancing at her phone.

  “Yes, this way.” His father motioned toward the reading corner.

  The woman nodded, then said, “I’ll be back in an hour.”

  Adam left his spot behind the desk and walked toward the woman when his dad said, “I’m afraid that we aren’t
licensed for babysitting. All parents have to remain in the store while their children are here. You’re welcome to have coffee while you wait.”

  Bravo, Dad. Adam slowed his step as Lucy approached.

  Lucy bent down, her hands on her knees, as she looked the two kids in the eye. “Are you here for story time?”

  Both of them nodded emphatically.

  “Great! Is that okay with your mom?” Lucy asked.

  The kids looked up at their mom. “Can we stay?”

  The woman looked from the kids to Adam’s dad, then to Lucy. “All right. I guess I can do my errand later.”

  Lucy smiled. “Come with me, then. Your mom can join us or look at other books while she waits.”

  The woman still had a grudging expression on her face while Lucy led the kids to the reading corner. But Adam’s dad wasn’t deterred and offered her a cup of coffee. Adam almost sighed with relief when she took it. He hadn’t expected this sort of complication.

  He looked over as the front door opened again. A couple with a young boy came in. Adam’s dad was quick to greet them in his usual friendly manner, and just like that, story time was becoming an instant success.

  Lucy spent the time leading up to ten a.m. showing the kids the different books she was going to read and telling them why she liked those particular authors. Even though some of what she said must have gone over their heads, they watched her with fascination. She’d made a good call on the Alice dress, although Adam sensed she’d be just as successful in regular clothes.

  By the time Lucy officially started, there were fourteen kids in the reading corner. As she read them book after book, the parents browsed, visited, and drank coffee. Adam wished he could sit in one of the kid chairs and listen to the tales along with the children. But he dutifully worked the register as some of the parents bought books.

  Adam kept an eye on his dad in between customers. He was beaming and enjoying the interaction. The store hadn’t been this busy since last year’s Christmas season, and it was now the end of July.

  Adam wanted to laugh when several of the kids asked to take a picture with Lucy—or, rather, with Alice. A small line formed at the register, and Adam cheerfully rang up the purchases. When the crowd had dwindled to one lingering family, Adam looked over to see Lucy cleaning up the reading corner.