Bookstore Barbie: Magnolia Ridge Series Read online

  “What would Dad say about you flirting so much?”

  “Your father knew I was a flirt the day he met me, and in fifty years together he never tried to change it.” Her smile falls only slightly as she remembers him. “I think it was one of the things he loved most about me. Only because it gave him a chance to show off.” She closes her eyes for a second as if having a fond memory before she sighs and opens them again. “I know my son better than I know anyone else on this earth. Better than your father even. This woman is important to you, and I’d like to meet her.”

  “Okay.”

  “Okay? You’re going to agree so easily?” She looks surprised but delighted.

  “Okay, yes. She is important to me and I want you to meet her.”

  “Ask her to bring me some books. The ones she’s added to the list have been wonderful.”

  “You really are shameless.”

  “Nothing good in life comes without asking.” She looks back down at her book and takes a sip of her tea while she reads.

  “Do you want me to bring dinner by tonight?” I ask as I stand up and grab my keys.

  “No thanks. Mrs. Roberts is bringing some of the girls over and we’re going to watch a dirty movie.”

  “Oh god.” I bury my face in my hands and I hear her laugh.

  “If you don’t want to know the answer to questions, you really should stop asking them.”

  “Okay, I’m leaving now.”

  “Have fun tonight,” she calls to my back, and I tell her I love her.

  When I get into the truck, I go straight to the flower shop and pick up a ready-made bouquet. Then I swing by the grocery store and get some of the snacks I know are Barbie’s favorites. After hours of discussing exactly what candy we do and don’t like, I know exactly what to get without hesitating.

  After I’ve got my little snack bag and flowers together, I drive to the bookstore and try to think of what to do. I can see through the window she’s got several customers in her shop and I don’t want to disturb her day. If I go in there I’m afraid I won’t be able to take my hands off her and so I sit in my truck and watch her.

  I don’t know how long I’m there for, but it feels like hours. I watch her smile to the people that come up to the counter and talk excitedly with women as she helps them select books. There’s even a few instances with the kids where she’s reading to them, and god, it makes my chest tight. Why do I have all these feelings so suddenly and fast with her? It’s like I’ve been hit by my own truck and now I’m left forever altered by her.

  At one point she’s talking with Kayla at her desk and they’re leaning in close. I wonder if she’s telling her about me? Would she talk about our spectacular night together on the floor of her bookstore? Or would she tell her about this morning and all the dirty things we did?

  Thoughts of her on top of me with her primed pussy aching for me to enter are too much. I hurt with need for her and I don’t know how long I can wait. I grab the flowers and bag of snacks and sneak out of my truck to the back of her building. The lock is still there so that makes me feel better, and she gave me the extra key that came with the set just in case. I take it out and use it to quietly slide into the back of the store where she keeps boxes and storage stuff.

  As soon as the door closes behind me I see Barbie coming my way. Perfect.

  It’s dark back here but I don’t need long. When she opens the storage door and sees me standing there she’s surprised and then her face lights up.

  “Shaw!” she calls before she comes running into my arms. “What are you doing here?”

  “I wanted to make sure you had something to eat.” I hold out the snacks. “And I wanted to get you something nice too.” I hold out the bouquet of gerbera daisies, which she told me were her favorite flowers.

  “Are you for real?” She leans up on her tiptoes to kiss me and I pull her up in my arms the rest of the way.

  “I think so,” I say as I place her stuff on the shelf beside us and back her against the wall. “But I’m here because I need you.”

  “Yeah?” She looks up at me with desire in her eyes and my own flares.

  “Now.” I thrust against her so she can feel my ache and she moans as she wiggles against it.

  “You want it like this morning again?” Her voice is breathy and I wonder how we’ve managed to stay apart even for a few hours today.

  “I know you’re busy in there, so I’ll be quick.” I undo the front of her pants and push them down her hips a little. “All I need is your hot little pussy for just a second and I’ll be good.”

  “Shaw,” she moans as I push her panties down a few inches to where there’s just enough space for me to play with her.

  I take out my cock and it falls hard and heavy between us. “Spread your lips for me.”

  She does as I ask and moves her hand between us as I push my cock into her warmth. I’m so damn careful not to go inside of her, because if I have that little taste of heaven I won’t be able to stop.

  I slide my cock over her clit and between her lips so she slicks up my length. She’s already so damn slippery that I can move quick and fast against her. If someone walked in and saw us like this they’d think I was balls deep in her cunt. But instead I tease us both with the hint of what's to come as I thrust and thrust between her wet thighs. Her hand moves out of the way of my thick cock and I snag her wrist. I suck her fingers into my mouth and moan as I push harder and faster. My cock is already primed so it only takes me a few pumps before I begin to cum.

  “Good girl, babe,” I whisper against her lips as I feel the ache begin to fade just a little. Enough that I can last a little longer without her. She whines and wiggles against me, and I know she hasn’t gotten hers yet. “Don’t worry, I’ve got you.”

  I fall to my knees in front of her and bury my face in her sweet bare cunt. I moan at the flavor of the two of us mixed together and I suck on her clit while she claws at my shoulders.

  “Goddamn, you taste good,” I say against her lips as her thighs tense and her back arches.

  “Shaw!” she calls out, and I feel her climax against my mouth as I lick her little diamond to completion.

  Once I’ve felt the last waves of her orgasm, I pull her panties and pants back up and button them. I make sure she’s back in place as I stand up and hold her against me.

  “How am I supposed to go back to work like this?” She looks up at me with a big smile and heavy eyes.

  “I’ll be waiting for the second you lock that door,” I tell her before I lean down and kiss her softly.

  “Hey Barbi—”

  Kayla’s words are cut off when she bursts through the storage door and sees the two of us together.

  “Oh, I see you’re busy.” She raises an eyebrow at Barbie and smiles.

  “She’ll be right out,” I say, and Barbie buries her face in my chest.

  “See you later, Shaw,” Kayla calls over her shoulder as she goes back to the bookstore.

  “Did you get my text?” I ask, and she looks up at me with confusion.

  “No, but I’ll go check my phone.”

  “Okay, text me when you can.” I kiss her one more time before I force myself to let her go. “I’ll see you soon.”

  “See you soon,” she calls back, and I exit out the back door.

  Damn, my mom might be right about her after all.

  Chapter Nine

  Barbie

  “I love this smile you’ve been rocking all day.” Kayla bumps my shoulder with hers.

  The store is starting to die down now that the last customer just walked out the door. We still have a few minutes before closing, but it was another busy day. To be honest, there might be a lot of people turning their noses up in town about my bookstore but I think it’s actually working. All day I helped women find the perfect book they were looking for and I kept finding myself lost in long conversations with them. It’s nice when you find others who share the same passion as you. It’s like connectin
g with an old friend.

  “I’m really happy,” I admit. There’s a lot to smile about not only because of all the business today but I think I’m getting my own love story.

  “He looked so smitten when I caught you…” She trails off, hoping I’ll finish for her.

  “He was helping move some boxes in the back.”

  “Ohhh. So that’s why your cheeks were red and you were out of breath.”

  I snort a laugh, but I can feel my face start to heat all over again. If Kayla had walked into the back a few minutes sooner she would have gotten an eyeful of what she was wanting to know.

  I still can’t believe we messed around in the back, but when Shaw is close I forget about everything else. He buried his face between my legs, and seeing him on his knees in front of me almost made me orgasm on the spot. When he put his mouth on me I lost it. At first I was sad I came so quick, but I ended up thankful for it because Kayla would have busted me in the middle of it.

  “Look. You’re turning red again.” She pinches my cheeks and I smack her hand away.

  “You’ve been hanging out here all day. I’m going to have to put you on payroll soon.” I grab a stack of books out of the box that got delivered today. Kayla grabs the other one and follows me to put them away. “Still hiding?” I ask.

  “Yes.”

  This time it’s her face that turns a shade pinker. Yeah, this is totally over a man. I’ve never seen Kayla blush in my life. I once complained that one of my favorite books wasn't in audio so she picked it up and started reading it aloud. It was right in the middle of a super-sexy part and she didn't miss a beat reading it out loud and not blushing once. She even added some of her own dialogue that had me thinking she should write.

  “Still not going to tell me?” I put the books away one at a time, moving down the aisle.

  “He’s back.” I look at her and I can’t read her face.

  “I’m not from here. You’re going to have to be more specific.”

  “You know the Bierman estate?”

  “The giant castle-looking house that you told me was haunted?”

  If you live here you have to know it. It sits on top of a hill that overlooks the town. You can’t miss it. I wasn't sure anyone lived there, to be honest. There’s a winding road that leads up to it and there’s no way to see if anyone is at home. I never see any cars there, not that I pay much attention to it. It’s just there and looks cool.

  “It is haunted,” she says again, and I’m starting to think it’s haunted in a different way to her. I take a few books from her arm and sort them on the shelves.

  “I didn't think anyone lives there.”

  “There are a few people who look after it. It’s been empty since he left.” I take the last book from her hands. “Now he’s back.”

  “Do we hate this person?” She shakes her head no. “Do we love this person?” It’s never been so hard to get something out of Kayla before, but if she wants to play twenty questions I will.

  “I’ve loved him my whole life.” She turns around and walks toward the front of the store, but I don’t understand why she’s so sad if she loves him. Why would she be upset he’s back and why did he leave to begin with?

  “Wait! You can’t cliffhanger me like that.” I chase after her.

  “It’s nothing. He’s way older than me and I don’t even know if he’s staying around or not. Either way, it’s best if I hide out and wait.”

  “To see if he’s actually staying in town?”

  “That and other things.” She looks everywhere but at me and she looks uncomfortable.

  “You’re not going to tell me what these other things are?”

  “Like you told me Shaw was helping you with boxes?” She smirks and I stick my tongue out at her because I know she’s won this round.

  “Speaking of Shaw I thought you said you knew some stuff about him?” She didn't get a chance to tell me when I got back with our lunch. I had to steal bites of my food and work at the same time, not that I’m complaining. Being busy helps pass the time until I see Shaw again.

  When he stopped in with snacks and flowers, I knew I was being stupid about having any doubts about this or him. He’s too good to be true, so I told myself he couldn’t be real and here he is being perfect. He showed me today that he actually might be more than perfect, at least for me.

  “He’s new in town, like you, and here to help out his mom.” None of this is news to me. It’s sweet he’s staying here to help her and it says a lot about him. “I guess all the girls around town have been talking about him, but getting him to speak is impossible. It’s clear you don’t have that issue with him.” She lets out a laugh, stealing another piece of the chocolate Shaw brought me.

  “That's all you’ve got?” I grab a piece myself and pop the sweet treat in my mouth.

  “He’s got money.” She shrugs as she says it, knowing I won’t care about that. “That’s all, really. Like I said, he doesn't talk much so people are just making crap up.”

  “He talks to me and that’s all that matters.” I try and not sound smug about it, but I kind of am.

  “When is he coming back?” Kayla picks up her phone and checks the time. I grab mine from inside my desk, remembering I forgot to check my text messages from Shaw earlier. Will he be annoyed? Better yet, will I be in trouble? A yummy chill runs through me and my body loves the idea. A fantasy begins to unfold and I heat up.

  “Earth to Barbie.” She snaps her fingers in front of my face and I blink a few times.

  “At close,” I answer, coming back to reality.

  “You want to tell me what you were daydreaming about right then?”

  “Nope.” I unlock my phone and see a missed text from Shaw asking me if I’m hungry. There’s one from an hour ago telling me he could still taste me on his lips. I want to taste him on my lips too. It was so hot with him on his knees in front of me. I think it would be just as hot if I was on mine in front of him.

  “Oh. Some douchebag came by looking for you when you went to grab us food.”

  I put my phone down before I can text him back because I have no idea who she is talking about. “Who?”

  “I didn't recognize him. Short red hair, dark eyes, and thinks he’s hot. Spoiler, he isn’t.”

  “He was in the bookstore?” It’s not often we have men come in here.

  “Yep, said he was here the other day and he wanted to talk to you.”

  “Oh.” Then I remember it must have been the guy Shaw saved me from. I was sure I’d never see him again.

  “He left his number.” She reaches into her jeans, pulling out the scrap of paper and handing it to me. “He said he’d be back later.” I look down at the number and I’m surprised he came back. I drop it down on my desk with no plans to call him.

  “I won’t be needing that.”

  “I figured. I was going to tell him to buzz off but he was gone as quick as he was here.” She jumps down from my desk. “Do me a solid and peek out the front. Let me know if you see someone who is built like a tank and looks pissed.” She grabs her bag.

  “Looks pissed? Did you do something to this guy you’re avoiding?”

  “No, his face is always like that.” She lets out a long sigh. “It’s hot.” I burst into laughter because of course Kayla thinks it is.

  “If you say so.” I walk over to the front door and take a peek outside. Missy is standing there glaring at me. It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask her if she doesn't have something better to do, but I don't want to start a fight with her. I want to close my shop and spend the night with Shaw, so I step back inside.

  “I think it’s all clear.”

  “Awesome.” She kisses my cheek before she darts out the front door. I lock it up behind her and flip the sign over to “closed.” When I turn around I run right into a warm wall of man. I drop my head back and look up at Shaw, who is grinning at me.

  “You’re very punctual.”

  “I was counting the second
s.” I gasp as his big hands go to my ass and he lifts me off my feet to bring me eye level with him. “Give me a kiss.” I wrap my arms around him, not needing to be asked twice.

  I press my mouth against his and his lips part mine as his tongue tastes me softly. I dig my fingers into his short hair and he kneads my ass in a possessive hold. A moment later he sits me down on my desk and lifts his head to look at me.

  “I missed you.” I wrap my legs around him the best that I can. He’s a big guy and I’m not that tall.

  “Missed you too.” He kisses me again, and I hum, thinking I could get used to this.

  “Is there something you want to tell me?” he asks, but I'm not sure what he’s talking about.

  “My bell isn't working?” I point to the front door.

  “I’ll fix it tomorrow.” His lips twitch. “I was talking about the asshole from a few days ago stopping by.”

  “Oh.” I turn to look at my desk and find the piece of paper I dropped. “I forgot about it already.” I shrug.

  “Someone broke your back lock yesterday,” he reminds me, taking the number from my hand and balling it up before tossing it in the waste basket.

  “Probably Missy.” That’s my guess. I’m not sure what the point of it would be, but I don’t understand why she does a lot of things.

  “It’s clear you aren't into him, but he’s back here pushing. I don’t fucking like it.”

  “Are you—” I lick my lips. “ Jealous?”

  “Fuck yes.” I drop my head to his chest, hiding there for a second while I smile. I shouldn't enjoy his jealousy this much. I love that he wants me all to himself. “Jealous of these clothes too.” His hands move over my body and I tighten my legs around him.

  “You should take me upstairs and I’ll get rid of them.” I barely get the words out of my mouth than he lifts me off the desk. He walks to the back but stops when he gets to the storage area. He bends down and grabs a bag before taking the stairs two at a time like I weigh nothing.

  He sets me down on the sofa and gives me another kiss before he goes into the kitchen with his bags. I kick my shoes off and watch him make himself at home. He pulls out what I’m guessing is dinner and gets to work.