Series: Paige Michaels
Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 44898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
Chapter One
Nora stretched her long arms toward the ceiling and then to each side, trying to ease the cramp in her lower back. She couldn’t wait to get the store totally stocked and then just have to maintain the supplies. Of course, it would help if she didn’t keep changing her mind about where to put supplies. Moving and relocating items just made her tough job more difficult.
She thought she finally had decided on the best location for everything. Nora was going to go with that plan if it killed her. She had to get the store fully stocked and ready to open. Pausing for a second before opening the next box, Nora looked around with pride.
This is really happening.
“Hey, Nora?”
“Yes, Samuel?” She looked at her very first hire.
A big, burly guy, Samuel divided his time between the football field and art classes. He was incredibly talented in a variety of artistic fields. She loved that his art teacher at the local high school had volunteered to be his reference. His coach had also vouched for his work ethic.
“Sorry to bother you, Nora. There’s a guy knocking on the door in a La Havana uniform. He’s asking to see the manager.”
Nora immediately started walking to the front of the store. “Is he a problem, Samuel?”
“No. I know him from the restaurant. He owns it, I think.”
“Oh. Maybe he’s just come to welcome me to the neighborhood.”
Turning the last corner, she could see a broadly built man standing at the windows. His body language was relaxed. Instantly, Nora felt the last of her apprehension fade.
“Want me to stay with you, boss?” Samuel asked.
“No. I’m fine. Thank you, though. Go ahead and keep putting out the stationery and scrapbooking paper.”
“I’m going blind with all these patterns,” Samuel groaned.
“Take a break and take over where I was. There’s a bunch of paints to put up for the model kits,” she suggested, walking to the front door to unlock it.
“Thanks, Nora.”
She smiled at his disappearing form as she opened the door. “Hi. I’m afraid we’re not open yet.”
“Hi. I’m Mateo Rodriguez from La Havana.” He held his hand out to shake hers.
She was impressed that he didn’t seem bothered by their difference in height. Nora placed her hand in his and tried to control her expression as a zing of pure awareness went through her. Shoving the instant attraction away, Nora knew from experience with men that Mateo would never be interested in a giant. He’s probably married anyway.
“Hi, Mateo. I’m Nora. The smell from the restaurant tempts me every day.”
“I’m glad to meet you. My staff has been chattering about their excitement to have a craft store in this part of town.”
“Fingers crossed, everyone else is, too,” she said, pulling her hand back when he seemed content to hold on to it.
“I know you’re busy. I hate to ask, but do you by chance have white candles in stock? I have an emergency for the dinner rush.”
“I have a few varieties. Come look and see if anything I have would work for you,” she invited, waving him in and locking the door after him. Nora knew she was perfectly safe with Samuel there. If she were honest with herself, her instincts were confident that Mateo would never hurt her.
“You are an absolute angel,” he said with a smile that did something to her insides.
Damn, he was gorgeous. She wished he was seven inches taller. Not for herself, but so he’d be interested in her. Very few men wanted to stand next to a girlfriend who was taller than they were. Especially as they hit their late thirties when they’d started to lose the battle to keep their hair.
Nora pushed that thought out of her head. She didn’t need any complications as she was starting the business that had been her dream since she’d graduated from business school.
“So I have everything from tea lights to ten-inch tapers. What do you need?” she asked, focusing on the task at hand.
“If you have any three-inch by four- or six-inch candles, I’ll owe you big,” he told her.
“I think I have some of those. Let’s check. We may have to open some boxes,” she warned.
“Put me to work,” he volunteered without hesitation.
“Oh, look. Samuel already finished this section.” She leaned over to look at the bottom shelf and scanned the sizes of the plain white candles. Not there.
“I think those could be the right size,” Mateo said, pointing to the very top shelf where several boxes were stacked.
“Three by six,” Nora read the box label at her eye level. She reached for the box and paused when she felt his hand on her shoulder.
“Those are too heavy. Do you have a stepstool?” he asked, looking around.
“I’m stronger than I look. How about if we work together? I’ll lower them down and you can check to see if they’ll work for you,” Nora offered.