Between The Lines (Main Street Merchants Book 5) Read online

  Main Street Merchants

  Book 5: Between the Lines

  by Paige Timothy

  Cover design copyright © 2014 by Jenni James

  This is a work of fiction, and the views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author. Likewise, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are represented fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events or locales, is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means whatsoever without written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  Copyright © 2014 by Paige Timothy

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Links

  Chapter One

  Regan hadn’t been in a good mood for days. Okay, to be honest, she hadn’t been in a good mood for a few months, ever since her roommate Cara got engaged. It’s not that she wasn’t happy for Cara—she was ecstatic to see her good friend so happy. But just before that, her roommate Morgan had gotten engaged, and right before that, it was her third roommate, Laurie. It was like a disease spreading through their apartment, and Regan didn’t want to catch it.

  She wasn’t anti-romance. She was madly in love with Mr. Knightley and Rhett Butler and Gilbert Blythe, and of course Mr. Rochester—when he wasn’t acting like a lunatic. Romance was awesome when it was kept where it belonged, which was in books. Romance in the real world just didn’t exist.

  She had to admit that her roommates’ fiancés were all really great guys, but Regan couldn’t imagine meeting anyone that amazing for herself. She’d given it her best shot, and she’d been burned. Badly. These days, she was more than happy to spend her evenings curled up with Mr. Darcy or Romeo and avoid the dating scene altogether. Now if she could just get her roommates to stop trying to set her up on blind dates—they seemed to think she should get married too. Whatever.

  She looked up from her new copy of Wuthering Heights—she’d read the old one to pieces—as Cara tapped on her bedroom door. “Hey, you’re home,” Cara said.

  “Yeah, I got off about an hour ago.”

  “Well, I’ve got a great idea.” Cara sat on the edge of Regan’s bed, looking for all the world like an eager little puppy hoping for a nibble. Regan knew that look, and she didn’t trust it. On puppies or people. “So, you know how Alex invited us to the opening of his art gallery, and we’re supposed to bring dates, right? Well, I’m taking Brennan and Morgan’s taking Rory and Laurie’s taking Logan, of course, and that leaves you without a date.”

  Regan lifted an eyebrow. She knew this conversation was heading nowhere good. “I’m not letting you set me up again.”

  “But you need a date for this event.” Cara said this like it was the most obvious, reasonable thing in the world.

  How could Regan put this in a way Cara would finally understand, but without hurting her feelings? “I don’t know why the opening of an art gallery requires a date. Would a date help me appreciate the art more? I don’t think so—in fact, I think he would be a distraction. He’d take me out of my art-appreciation zone. The whole evening would be lost on me.”

  “You have an art-appreciation zone?” Cara looked skeptical.

  “Of course I do. Everyone does. And a guy would keep me from entering it. I think that as a personal favor to Alex, I should remain dateless so I can fully enjoy the experience.” Regan gave a nod, satisfied with her argument.

  “And I think that’s an elaborate way of saying that you’re tired of us setting you up on blind dates.”

  Regan allowed her mouth to fall open in shock. “Oh, my gosh! I think she finally understands!”

  Cara shook her head and put on an expression of extreme patience. “Come on, Regan. You can’t blame us—we see you sitting here in your room all the time, surrounded by even more books after working in the bookstore all day, and we want more for you.”

  More? What more was there? “Um, may I point out that working in a bookstore and then coming home and reading books is actually a dream life for many people, and I’m one of the few who actually get that life? Why are you trying to mess with my Utopia?” Regan reached off to the side and picked up her grocery store sack, plopping it on Cara’s lap. “And look—I have chocolate. Lots and lots of chocolate. This is the dream, Cara—embrace the dream.”

  Cara reached inside the sack and pulled out an Almond Joy. “But aren’t you ever lonely?”

  “When the three of you get married and move out and I have to find new roommates, yes, I’ll be very lonely. I’m not looking forward to that at all—what if one of the new people tries to set the place on fire or something? But if you mean lonely for a man, I’m good. Honestly.”

  Cara put her hand on Regan’s knee. “I know Glenn hurt you, but not all guys are like him.”

  Regan flinched at the mention of Glenn’s name, but she tried to disguise it as a shrug. “You keep telling me there are scads of amazing guys out there, but I’m just tired of looking for them. I think it’s time for a new plan. Maybe you could spread the word and tell everyone I’m off the market. Me, my books, and chocolate—we’re a match made in heaven.”

  Cara gave a long-suffering sigh. “Oh, all right. But Brennan’s going to be mighty disappointed.”

  Regan blinked. “Brennan was angling for a date with me?”

  Cara swatted Regan’s knee. “Of course not. He wanted to set you up with Jesse.”

  Jesse was Brennan’s cousin who ran the outdoors shop in town. It was, appropriately, named Climb Every Mountain. Regan had known Jesse for years, and she knew he was a pretty nice guy as well as being easy on the eyes. She’d just never thought about going on a date with him. She never actually thought about dating anyone, which was why—hello?—she wanted to change the subject. Permanently. But no one would let her. “And is it Brennan who wants to set me up, or you?”

  Cara sighed. “Okay, so, it was my idea. But Brennan liked it. He said Jesse’s really in to smart girls, and this art gallery opening would be the perfect first date.”

  First date? Like, they were expecting her to go on multiple dates with this guy? “Why did you think I’d be more inclined to say yes if it was Brennan’s idea?”

  “Because then maybe you’d realize that it’s not just your roommates who want you to be happy!” Cara looked near tears.

  Regan sighed. She’d been trying not to hurt Cara’s feelings, but she’d done it anyway. “Listen. I love you all for being worried about me, but I am happy. I really am. I have everything I need and want. I don’t have any regrets when I drift off to sleep at night, honestly. It might look like I’m lonely because the three of you are so blissfully happy with your guys, but I don’t need that. I’m good.”

  Cara nodded, but then a cunning look crossed her face. More trouble coming down the pike. “What if I make you a deal?”

  Yeah. Just what Regan thought—trouble. “What kind of deal?”

  “What if you go on this one date with Jesse, just this one, and if it doesn’t work out, I’ll never try to set you up on a blind date again?”

  Regan sat up a little straighter. “What? Could it be that I could actually earn the opportunity never to be pestered about men again as long as I live?”

&nb
sp; Cara held up her hands. “Hey, I didn’t say anything about letting up on the pestering. I just said I wouldn’t try to set you up.”

  Regan slumped back against her pillows. “What about Morgan and Laurie?”

  “You’ll have to make your own deals with them.”

  Well, if Regan could get one roommate off her back, that was one-third of the problem, which was a pretty sizeable chunk. Besides, she knew already knew Jesse a little bit, and he seemed okay. What could one evening hurt, and plus, she’d heard that D’Angelo’s was doing the refreshments. If nothing else, she could hide in a corner, inhale cake, and consider herself ahead of the game.

  “Okay, it’s a deal. I’ll go out with Jesse once, and then you’ll leave me alone.”

  Cara clapped her hands together like a little girl. “He’s really great—you won’t regret this.”

  Regan sighed, perhaps a bit more melodramatically than was necessary. “I already am.”

  Cara stuck out her tongue, but she had a bounce in her step as she crossed the carpet. “I’ll call Brennan right now. Thank you!”

  Regan rolled her eyes as Cara shut the door. She was tempted to chase after her roommate and say she’d changed her mind, but her pride wouldn’t let her. She’d made a promise. And now, as badly as she wanted to back out, she was committed.

  She wondered if she had anything decent to wear.

  * * *

  Leslie paused in the middle of shelving the new Stephen Kings, her left arm full of books. “You agreed to another blind date? I thought you’d sworn those things off forever.”

  “I did, but my roommate made me a deal I couldn’t refuse.” Regan filled Leslie in on the details, still wondering if she’d made the right choice. Maybe Leslie could help her see the good in the situation—or help her find a loophole in the agreement so she could get out of it.

  “Well, if this means she’ll leave you alone from now on, that’s a good thing . . . and I have to say, it’s not like you’ll suffer. Jesse’s a great guy.”

  “You know him?”

  Leslie went back to her task. “A little. He helped me pick out some camping gear for my dad’s birthday last year, and he was super nice.”

  “Why don’t you go out with him then?”

  Leslie placed the last book on the shelf and straightened the volumes on the shelf below. “I would, but he hasn’t asked me. Now, are you dusting that shelf or just threatening it?”

  Regan got busy with her rag. “We could tell Jesse that you’re me, and then you could date him and he’d never know the difference.”

  Leslie gave a laugh that was a little more like a snort. “You don’t think that little deception would come to light at some point in the relationship?”

  “Only if you got married. Things might get a little complicated then. Oh, plus the fact that he already knows who I am.” Regan grinned, flicking her rag over the last spot on that particular shelf.

  Leslie shook her head. “You’re pretty whacked, you know that?”

  “Yeah, I do.” Regan moved on to the next shelf and took a second to straighten one volume that wasn’t exactly in line with the rest. At home, she’d find a task like this totally boring, but she liked dusting at work because it gave her the chance to check out the titles and see if one of the other employees had put out a book she hadn’t heard about yet. It was like the ultimate window shopping, but she got an employee discount.

  The expression on Leslie’s face grew a bit serious. “Regan, you’re an amazing girl, and I have to say, I agree with your roommates. It’s time to find yourself an amazing guy.” Leslie was one of the few who knew Regan’s history in the dating department, how many times she’d been burned to ashes. “If something goes horribly wrong, I’ll help you toilet paper his house or even arrange to have him abducted and dumped in the desert. I know people who can do that. Well, not really, but I bet I could find some.”

  Regan rolled her eyes, but Leslie was saved from an acerbic comment when the phone rang, and Regan walked over to answer it. “Bookmarks, Regan speaking.”

  “Regan, this is Melba. Did the new shipment of Suzanne Collins’ books come in yet?”

  “Yep, they sure did.”

  “Are they shelved yet?”

  “Leslie got them right out.”

  “Oh, good. Listen, I’m on my way in—sorry I’m so late. My car wouldn’t start this morning.”

  “Oh, no! Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine. Just frazzled. You gals keep holding down the fort, okay?”

  “Will do.”

  Regan grinned as she hung up the phone. Melba was an older lady with salt-and-pepper hair who insisted on calling her female employees “gals.” It was so wonderfully 1940s. That put her in the mood to read some World War II historical fiction, and just like that, she had her plans for the night. See how easy that was—no waiting for someone to call and ask her to go out. She was in charge of her own evening’s entertainment. She was the captain of her soul. Or something like that.

  The bell on the front door rang, and Regan glanced up to see Jesse walk in, wearing a plaid shirt with hiking boots and looking every bit like the owner of an outdoors store. She almost expected him to have a grizzly bear skin slung over his shoulder, but sadly, he didn’t, and she was almost disappointed. Brennan must have told him about the date—this was too coincidental otherwise. She set down her dust rag and went over to greet him. “Hey, Jesse. How’s it going?”

  “Good. It’s good.” He glanced down at the floor and then back at her. “Listen, Regan, I hope you’re okay with this whole art gallery thing. Blind dates aren’t really my favorite. I mean, I know it’s not really a blind date because we kind of already know each other, but not really, and anyway, if you’d rather not do this, I totally understand.”

  Huh. Regan didn’t know how to take that. Was he trying to get out of the date, or was he giving her an out? Or both? How should she respond? Should she be offended or relieved?

  Her thoughts zipped around her head like bees on caffeine, and while she tried to figure out what to say, she studied him. It had been about a year or so since she’d even seen him, as they worked on opposite ends of Main Street. He looked like he’d gotten a haircut recently, and she liked the way the dark locks lay on his head. Plus, he had a great smile—she’d never really noticed it before. Yes, she could survive one evening of looking at that smile. It might be a sacrifice, but sacrifice is good for the soul, as they say.

  She held up a hand. “Let’s make this really easy on ourselves. We both dislike blind dates, but this doesn’t really count as one because we’ve already met, and this one might actually be kind of fun. If we’re so bored that we want to gouge out our eyes, at least there’s going to be great dessert. How about if we go, eat cake, and if we’re having a miserable time, we’ll leave and chalk it up to experience. No pressure.”

  All the tension drained from his face and the set of his shoulders, and he flashed another smile. That smile just might get her into a lot of trouble. “That would be awesome. And I hope you don’t think I was trying to get rid of you or anything—I was just trying to see if this was something you really wanted.”

  “Well, to be honest, my roommate had to bribe me, but that has nothing to do with you. I’m just anti-romance in general. I think you and I could probably manage to have a decent time.”

  Jesse grinned. “Okay. Let’s give it a shot. The two biggest introverts in the world on a date—that should be interesting.”

  “Hey, just because I never leave the house except for work and rarely speak to anyone but my roommates, that doesn’t make me an introvert,” Regan protested with a return grin.

  “Yeah, and I spend all my time in the mountains or talking about the mountains. I’m such a party animal.”

  They both chuckled. “Okay, I’ll pick you up at eight that night,” Jesse said. “And I apologize in advance if I’m the most boring date ever.”

  “I should say the same thing. Unless you want
to talk about books. That’s really about the only thing that gets me out of my shell.”

  “Books, huh? I’m sure we can come up with some common ground there. I’ll see you this weekend, Regan.”

  Jesse gave a little wave to Leslie as he ducked out the door.

  “Wow,” Leslie said, leaning on the counter. “That was the strangest conversation I’ve ever overheard. The two of you sounded like you were planning a trip to the dentist, not setting up a date.”

  “Sometimes they feel like one and the same,” Regan replied.

  Chapter Two

  Regan studied herself critically in the mirror. She’d borrowed a black sheath dress from Morgan, and while it fit her well, she wasn’t used to wearing dresses, so she wasn’t sure if it was really working for her. The last time she’d worn a dress had probably been at her grandmother’s funeral, and she’d had to borrow something for that, too.

  Laurie stuck her head in the room. “Wow, Regan, you look great. Are you ready?”

  “I don’t know. Do you think I am?” Regan had pulled her hair back into a small knot at the nape of her neck, and she wore a silver pendant at her throat. That was really all she’d done, aside from some light makeup. “I feel a little weird.”

  “You look amazing. You clean up pretty good—you should do it more often.”

  The doorbell rang, and Regan sighed. “I guess it’s too late to change my mind, huh?”

  “Yep. Come on—this isn’t going to kill you.”

  The four guys were waiting in the living room when Regan emerged. Great—she hadn’t been expecting a whole apartment full of people to gawk at her, but they all complimented her on how she looked and then turned their attention to their dates. Jesse took a step forward and held her light jacket for her while she slid her arms into the sleeves. He looked really nice—she’d never seen him in a suit.

  “Let’s go do this thing,” he said. “Brennan said we could ride with him, but I thought we should take a separate car in case we were bored out of our minds and wanted to ditch early.”