Page 63 of One Kind Goal

Fortunately Sawyer was saved from having to answer that question when the bells over the bookstore’s entrance jingled and Morgan stepped inside. Nia shouted her name and raced over to her.

“That answers that question,” the cashier mumbled. “But I still hope to see you again. Kids deserve books.” She sighed and came out from behind the register to neaten a table display of books with red covers that were on sale for Valentine’s Day.

“Hey,” Morgan said as she caught up to him. Her gaze dropped to the full tote bag. “Couldn’t say no to Nia?”

Sawyer wiggled the bag. “Need I point out that you fell for it too with the Pegasus?”

Morgan opened her mouth to protest, but she ended up smiling instead as her shoulders slumped. “Guilty as charged.”

He put his casted arm around her and led her toward the front of the store. “No one is immune to Nia’s powers.” They stepped outside, Nia ahead of them. When they got into the SUV, Sawyer looked around. “You didn’t buy anything at the antique shop?” Hadn’t that been the reason they’d come into the main part of town?

Morgan bit her bottom lip as she fastened her seatbelt. “Umm . . . I bought something, but it wouldn’t fit into the SUV.”

“So you’re having it shipped?”

She shook her head. “I bought the shop.”

“You . . . what?”

Morgan angled to face him more, but her hands were clamped onto the steering wheel. “Trixie mentioned she was going to sell the shop, and I . . . I don’t know what happened. Suddenly, I was overcome with this massive urge to buy it, Sawyer. I . . . I . . .” She put a hand to her brow.

Sawyer gently lowered her hand and waited for her to look at him. “Does it have to do with finding a purpose?”

Her eyes widened as if she couldn’t believe what he’d said. “Yeah,” she said softly. “I recalled how much event planning I’ve done for Austin, and running Trixie’s Attic is definitely something I can do. I mean, I love antiques anyway, and the shop is so charming, and—” She stopped babbling when Sawyer squeezed her hand.

“You don’t have to explain your reasons to me, Morgan. If you want to own and run an antique shop in Maplehaven, Vermont, I’m certainly not going to stop you.” He hooked her hair behind her ear. “In fact, I think it’s an excellent idea.”

“You do?”

“Me too!” Nia shouted from her car seat.

Morgan looked serious for a second then she laughed. “Well, you two are fabulous cheerleaders.”

“Go, team!” Sawyer shook his left hand as if holding a pom-pom. “Does this mean you want to live in Maplehaven?”

Morgan started the SUV. “Maybe?” She waved a hand. “I haven’t planned that far in advance yet.” She backed out of the parking spot. “I do know, however, I want to actually work in the shop myself, not pay someone else to do it.” She pulled onto the main street. “I need to talk to Austin. I’ll require his help to buy the shop.”

“I could—”

“Absolutely not,” she interrupted.

“But I—”

“Sawyer.” Morgan shook her head. “It’s incredibly sweet of you to offer to help, but Austin told me when I figured out what I wanted to do, he’d help me get started.” She held up an index finger. “With the stipulation from me that he would accept total repayment when I was able.”

“Repayment to me would probably be more fun.” Sawyer wiggled his eyebrows when Morgan shot him a quick sideways glance.

“No doubt, but I prefer our time together to be more recreational than repayment.” She reached over to pat his forearm. “Thanks for the offer though.”

“I want you to be happy,” he said.

“I think buying the shop is a step in that direction.” She stopped at a red light and looked at him. “I also think this trip with you and Nia is another step in that direction.”

Sawyer drew her hand up to his mouth, pressing a kiss to the back of it. “Me too.”

A horn beeped behind them.

“That keeps happening with you.” Morgan eased the SUV forward. “Quit distracting me.”