Read Online If the Shoe Kills by Lynn Cahoon - Free Book Online Page B

though I keep telling him the coffee is included in our lodging.” She grinned at me. “So I decided I had to meet the woman whom David’s been raving about. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he’s got a bit of a crush on you.”
    â€œI’m sure it’s the coffee he loves, not me.” I mentally reviewed my early customers over the last week and thought I knew whom she was talking about. “I remember him. He’s a tall, slender man, likes his coffee very black and dark, and buys young adult. Those must be for you.”
    The woman laughed and held out her hand. “I’ll tell you his dirty secret. He doesn’t think I know. He loves tales of teenage angst. And don’t get me started on the Greek gods phase. The man reads like he is still in high school.” She straightened the Mystery Group flyers on the counter. “I’m more of a literary reader. Although I do allow myself time to enjoy a few genre books when I’m vacationing. I can’t tell you the grief I’d get if any one of the members of my book club saw my purchases today. I’m sure I’d lose my chair status.”
    â€œI think any reading is good reading, even if it’s commercial fiction. A good story well told is worth the time.” Jackie had come to the store with the same mind-set. She’d wanted to cut the romance section by half and add a larger classics shelf, but when she saw the figures on the actual sales, she changed her mind, fast. Now I even caught her reading the romance category books we carried. Just for research, she claimed.
    â€œYou probably sell a lot of these. When I take the train into town, all I see are people reading romance or mystery or even those kids’ books. I can’t abide vampires. I guess I’m showing my age.” The woman absently touched her face, the skin around her eyes as smooth as a teenager’s.
    â€œEveryone has their own taste. I wish I could stock more variety, but as you can see, the shop’s limited on shelf space.” I put her drinks in front of her on the counter and rang up her purchases.
    â€œWell, today I’m going to just enjoy the story. I’ve got my camp chair in the trunk and I’m going to the beach outside town and reading until the wind drives me back to the bed-and-breakfast. It might not be summer, but it’s a beautiful day.” The woman held out her credit card.
    â€œI’m thinking my afternoon’s going to involve an hour or two of reading, as well.” I glanced at the name on the card—Regina Johnson. “A girl’s got to stay up on the newest releases, right?”
    â€œEspecially if she runs a bookstore.” She signed her charge slip and then walked out toward the street. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    Customers like her—smart, funny—were the reason I loved owning a business in a tourist town. You got to know people on their best days. When anything was a possibility. I knew my commuter customers by the mood surrounding them as they ordered. Vacationers were more relaxed, more willing to play. One more reason I loved living and working in South Cove.
    Toby arrived right on time, and as I transitioned my barista into his shift, Jackie and Josh walked into the store. Well, Jackie with Josh following her.
    â€œYou don’t have to explain,” Jackie muttered. “A woman knows when there’s someone else.”
    â€œJackie,” Josh gasped. “How can you even think that? I’m so sorry I forgot to meet you last night. I just got lost researching a new batch of stock I have coming in. Time got away from me.”
    Jackie stepped around the counter and poured herself a cup of coffee. “Research. Right.”
    He parked his large frame on a stool by the counter. “I swear. It’s pretty interesting. The batch is supposed to be from an apothecary from a central California mining camp. Although I