First Edition Romance

Chapter 4

Lauren waited until she was an acceptable distance away from Turn the Page before she stopped and took a deep, calming breath. Ollie had been right. Ainslon’s Irish accent was a thing of beauty. When Ollie first suggested the bookstore a couple of months back, Lauren had kept putting it off, but when the other two stores in the area couldn’t find the book she wanted, she didn’t have any another choice but to go to Turn the Page. Why had she waited so long?

The temperature-controlled room and Ainslon’s professionalism told Lauren all she needed to know about how much Ainslon valued her business. Only a true collector could appreciate such a room and it told her it was a serious venture.

Even though she felt Ainslon could use a crash course in fashion, her clothing attire didn’t detract from her beauty. Long black hair framed a sharp jaw line and eyes so green, she knew if she stared into them long enough, she’d drown. The flirting surprised her, but it was always nice to grab someone’s attention. She seemed a bit young, but there was no harm in looking.

Getting her thoughts in order, her attention turned toward the crosswalk when she spied a tall woman headed in her direction.

Besides being a friend, A.J. was also the photographer for her new marketing campaign. The brochures would highlight a new line of custom and European chocolate. The possibility was there to add a coffee bar featuring a wide array of international coffees, but she hadn’t made her mind up yet.

After two years, she’d worked out a contract with a supplier in Switzerland that had made her chocolatier, Noe, happy. Luck was on her side when she’d lured Noe, only one of five true chocolatiers in France, two years ago with the promise that he would be able to create to his heart’s desire. It had been the selling point for him moving to Garriety. His work didn’t come cheap, but since he’d come on board, they’d won three competitions in Vegas, and their mail order business had tripled their overseas customer base. His work was impeccable, and she had no intention of letting him go.

“A.J.” Lauren accepted A.J.’s kiss to her cheek. Since their first meeting, A.J.’s sense of humor captivated Lauren and the two quickly hit it off. In the past, Lauren had asked her out, but A.J. had explained that she still grieved the death of her wife and it wouldn’t be fair to either one of them. Her focus needed to be solely on her three-year-old daughter, Rosy. After that, they moved into a comfortable friendship. Lauren slipped her arm into A.J.’s and steered her to the crosswalk.

“I’m glad I caught you,” A.J. said. “I planned to call later, but I have an opening for tomorrow morning. I’ve already cleared it with Leo, and she’ll bring someone with her so I can get the shoots of the exterior I need without pedestrians marring the photos. All she asked for was money for pizza and beer. I’m working it into your bill.”

Leo, Lauren knew, was a friend of A.J.’s and a police officer that helped her with photo shoots from time to time. “Of course. Is there anything you need me to do?”

“No, we’ll be here at around eight thirty. That way I can get plenty of photos without anyone in the store. I’ll take all the exterior ones, then the interior, your office, and the kitchens. I’ve got a few projects ahead of yours to finalize, but I should have everything ready by the end of the month. You worked it out with Noe, yes?”

“Yes, I did. Tomorrow would be wonderful.” Noe acted like a bear when Lauren had asked him to be in a few pictures. He had agreed when Lauren said he wouldn’t have to give any on stage demonstrations at the Garriety food festival. C and C was one of the platinum sponsors and would have a booth set up with a menu of not only their usual offerings, but also a few Puerto Rican staples. It was important to her for others to get a taste of her heritage, no matter how small.

“If you have a minute to spare, I’ll have someone put together a bag for Rosy.”

A.J. chuckled. “I see how it is,” she said as she guided Lauren across the street to C and C. “All for Rosy, none for me.”

Lauren arched her brow. “She is my favorite.”

“She’s mine too.”

Once inside, Lauren instructed George, an employee, to get A.J. a bag together, then climbed the stairs to her second-floor office where Ollie should be waiting for their lunch date. She’d known Olivia Markinson for close to twenty years. Lauren loved Ollie’s three children like they were her own and spoiled them rotten. She would do just about anything for all four of them. Including paying an exuberant amount for Colin’s birthday present. He still hadn’t taken the Lego set she gave him for Christmas out of the box and she knew he would take care of the book. She’d also bought him some art supplies for his newly shown talent.

Lauren walked into her office, shut the door, and noticed Olivia in her office chair.

“You know,” Olivia said, looking up from a magazine. “When you said lunch at twelve thirty, that’s what time I expected you here.”

Lauren rolled her eyes and set her purse on the floor by her desk before picking up a small box and placing it on the desk next to Ollie. “Really, Ollie? I’m only,” she glanced at her watch, a gift from her grandma, “two minutes late.” She sat in one of the chairs in front of her desk.

“You better have a good reason.” She stopped mid-flip in her magazine, pushed it to the corner of the desk, then picked up the box, gently opening the lid. “He’ll love it. He’s been practicing with the book you left him.”

“Good.” For the past three months, Lauren had taught Ralph, Ollie’s eldest son, the art of Origami. She first took up the practice in college. It brought her satisfaction to finish a piece and taught her patience. “As for why I’m late, I stopped by Turn the Page for Colin’s birthday present.”

Ollie stopped unpacking their food and sent a disbelieving look her way. “Just now? I told you about that store months ago.” She tsked and kept unpacking the food.

“Yes, well, could you blame me? One of Turn the Page’s display windows is ducks and the other one is dragons.” Lauren fidgeted in her seat. “The other stores looked more reputable, but they couldn’t find the book I wanted. People’s incompetence never fails to astound me. These people are supposed to be professionals. Ainslon promised to endeavor to find the book I want before Colin’s birthday.”

Ollie pushed a sandwich her way. “You’re really cutting it short. She may not be able to find it.”

“She said she would give it her best shot.”

“Really?” Ollie smirked.

“Don’t start.” Lauren took a bite of her turkey and Swiss on rye with honey mustard. Lauren wouldn’t be surprised if Ollie had roasted the turkey herself instead of buying it already pre-packaged. Ollie really did make the best sandwiches. Owning one of the largest real estate companies in Garriety afforded Ollie the means to hire the best nannies and cooks, but Ollie took her children’s well-being seriously and tried to be there in every aspect of their lives. Including making their lunches.

“It’s all right to be attracted to someone. She’s beautiful with a killer accent and the sharpest jawline I’ve ever seen.”

“Then why don’t you ask her out?” Lauren took a sip of her water.

“Don’t be silly. When would I have the time?” Ollie waved off the suggestion.

“Of course. Silly me.” Ollie’s life revolved around her children and her career, but Lauren wished she would spend some time on her own love life.

“When she finds your book—”

“If.”

Ollie pursed her lips. “When. Ask her out. No harm done.”

“You only mentioned the place in passing. How do you know it so well?” In fact, she’d mentioned it a lot in passing.

“Ralph and Colin compete in their game nights and Heidi enjoys the book readings. I always make it a point to speak with Ainslon and Justin when we go. I believe I’ve told you that before.”

“I don’t know.” She patted her lips clean with a napkin. “I’m too old for her and don’t even know if she’s a lesbian.”

“Thirty-four and she is. Her last name is O’Neil, in case you were wondering. I was at the festival’s board meeting when she gave her presentation and stated in said presentation that she was a lesbian.”

“Huh. Thirty-four?” Lauren raised an eyebrow.

“Thirty-four is only a ten-year difference. Completely doable. Stop trying to get out of it. You’ll make some woman a fantastic partner.”

“I suppose.”

Lauren glanced at the sign above the door to her office. The original C and C sign. When her great-great grandparents had immigrated from Puerto Rico, her great-great-grandfather had opened the first C and C. It lasted fifteen years before business slowed and they had to close shop. Thirty years later, her great-grandfather opened the second C and C and used the sign, but a short ten years later he had to close shop also. Her grandpa tried a third time and opened C and C again, but it too failed. When she decided to open the latest incarnation, her grandmother had taken her into the attic and had uncovered the original sign. Weathered over the years by the elements, Lauren had the sign preserved. The sign hanging outside the store was an exact replica of the original one she had in her office.

“Earth to Lauren.”

“Sorry.” She shook her thoughts away. “If the book doesn’t come in time, I have a back-up-plan. No worries.”

“I’m not worried.” Ollie gathered her trash up and threw it in the nearby small trashcan before picking up her purse and walking to the door. “In all honesty, Lauren, if the woman has you this out of sorts, after only meeting her once, you need to think about why. By the way, I love it when you wear your hair like that.” Ollie blew her a kiss, then walked out the door.

Today, rather than straighten her hair, she’d decided to style her natural curls before leaving the house. If Ainslon’s reaction was anything to go by, she would let her curls out more often. Lauren stood and plopped herself down in her office chair. She would take Ollie’s words to heart, as always. If, upon their second meeting, the pesky feelings continued, she would, maybe, do something about them. Maybe.

She enjoyed being in a relationship and her last one had ended on a good note, but she hadn’t wanted to get back out there. Casual dating had its moments but turned stale after a while. Settling down with someone and planning a future together filled her with warmth, but the thought of putting herself out there held no appeal.

She opened her laptop and did a quick search of Ainslon O’Neil. There wasn’t much. Seemed like Ainslon stayed out of the limelight, considering her business partner, Justin Bishop, did most of their PR. She clicked on one of Ainslon’s pictures found on their store’s i********: page. In it, she was sprawled out in a picture window with a scarf around her neck and wearing glasses. Lauren didn’t think she could get any more attractive. She was wrong. The glasses added a whole other dimension. Ainslon certainly was photogenic.

Lauren exited out and shut the screen. There would be time for pointless daydreaming later. Right now, she had a business to run. Ollie had asked her to sit in on the board for the food festival, but due to the demands of her business, Lauren had turned down the invitation. However, she had donated a substantial amount of money to become a platinum sponsor.

The festival board projected at least forty thousand visitors for their third year. Feedback on how well festival goers received their new recipes would determine if they converted part of the store into a coffee bar. Besides her family, her heritage meant the most to her, but at the heart of everything, she was a businesswoman and wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize her business. She vowed to not fail where her ancestors had.