Page 57 of Blue Norther
“Jessie said they’d stocked a few different books of mine. It shouldn’t be too long. I just want to make sure I can sign them all. I never imagined Silver Springs would have a bookstore that wanted to stock my stories, you know?”
“Hi there, welcome to Romantically Yours,” a woman, probably in her late twenties or early thirties, greeted us. “I’m Maggie. Can I help you find something specific today?”
“Actually, yes,” I answered. “My name is Callie Ford, and my friend Jessie mentioned that some of my books were stocked here. I was hoping you wouldn’t mind if I signed them?”
Her whole face lit up. “Of course! Oh, that would be amazing. Let me see…” She walked out from behind the counter. “We’ve got your books right here, on our local authors display.”
Maggie was kind enough to direct us to a table next to the display which had two plush seats flanking it.Perfect. As much as I was happy to get out of the house for something other than a doctor’s appointment, my back was in knots and I was exhausted just from the walk into the shop.
Hayes picked up a book from the first stack on the table and turned to me, a big goofy grin plastered on his face.
“I think this one was my favorite of what you’ve written so far, but I’m excited for Daphne and Jack’s story. You think you’ll be finishing it up soon? Or…probably next year, right? With the baby and all…”
I stared at Hayes. And then I blinked, trying to focus on the book in his hand.Over the Sunlit Hills.I’d definitely written that. My pen name was in big, bold letters across the front of it.
“Sorry. Did you just say the book you’re holding right now in your hands was your favorite of the onesI’vewritten? As in, you’ve not only read that book, but you’ve also read the others?”
He chuckled. “Of course I have. Colt made us. There’s a separate group chat that resurrects every time a new Callie Ford book comes out.”
“Who’s in the group chat?” I squeaked. My throat was suddenly very dry.A whole ass group chat about my books?Between members of the Ford family?I officially wanted to melt into the floor.
“All of us. I mean, not Dad. But Ma, Jessie, Colt, Me, Beau, and Lachlan.”
I groaned. “No.”
“Oh yeah. Colt told us all we weren’t allowed to read the spicy scenes because it was ‘like seeing Violet naked’ and he was the only one allowed to do that, but?—”
“Do NOT finish that sentence.”
“Fine, fine.” He held up his hands next to his face and smiled. “I’ll just say, thank you for writing that one scene where Amelia and Grant are out in the field and she?—”
“Hayes!”
“What? It’s a great scene. I’m thinking of using it when I find my girl one day.”
“Just take a picnic blanket with you. Those two didn’t end up with friction burns from what they were doing, because I didn’t want to write that into the story. But in real life, that could have been very painful.”
He lifted his hand and mimed writing in a note book. “Got it. No. Friction. Burns.” He closed the imaginary notebook and slid it into an imaginary pocket on his chest.
“I now need to forget that everyone in the family has probably read that scene. Oh God,” I groaned. “Hand me that pile of books and change the subject, quick.”
Hayes passed a stack of five or six books my way.
“What do you want to talk about?” he asked.
“Anything except me. How’s everything at the fire house?” My marker glided smoothly across the title page of my book as I asked.
“Good. We eat a lot. Shoot the shit. Occasionally have a call to pull a cat out of a tree or walk an old lady across the road.”
I laughed. “Sounds like a good time.”
“It is. I know Ma wishes I had chosen a different career, but I just couldn’t resist the adrenaline. It’s addictive.”
I raised my eyebrow. “And it’s nice to help your community.”
“Oh, yeah. That too.”
“Alright, hotshot. So you save kittens and help old ladies. Have you had to deliver a baby?”
