The Quietest Shop on Main (Shops on Main #3)

Chapter 4

4

S kyla cupped her hands around the mug, soaking in the warmth. Was the temperature really that cold today? Or was she just feeling the chill of Dalton firmly putting her in the friend zone?

She wasn’t sure…and she wasn’t sure she wanted to know.

I mean…not that I’m trying to ask you out or anything…

Could a man get more clear that he wasn’t interested in a woman that way?

“So,” Skyla tried to smile at her companion, praying he didn’t see how much it was trembling at the edges. “How’s work been? Do people like to fish in this weather?”

Dalton nodded and set his own mug down. “Yeah. We’re pretty busy, actually. Today is the first afternoon I’ve had off in a long time. Cold weather is perfect for getting some of the bigger fish like salmon and tuna and sturgeon, so I don’t actually get less busy in the cold months, I just end up taking out a different type of client.”

Skyla pursed her lips. “Meaning, what? Hard core fishermen?”

Dalton nodded and took a drink.

“Huh.” She tilted her head. “I would expect dedicated fishermen to have their own boats.”

“Many do,” Dalton explained. “But they don’t always have a boat big enough for deep-sea fishing. Theirs are the type to keep closer to shore.”

“Ah…” Skyla smiled. “That makes sense.” She took a tentative sip of her drink. Still hot, but it felt good. Hot drinks were a funny thing. A person wanted them hot, but they were often too hot and only became the perfect temperature for about three seconds before they grew too cold.

Sort of like invitations. Dalton’s invitation to take a break had sent her soaring for approximately 2.3 seconds before she’d crashed back down to Earth and had to hurry to reassure him that she wasn’t looking at him in a romantic way.

“What about you?” Dalton put both feet on the floor and leaned onto the small bistro table they were occupying, clasping his hands in front of him. “Work been busy? Does the library get busier when it’s cold outside?”

Skyla shrugged. “Not really. We tend to run more along school schedules than season schedules. During the summer, more people come in because the kids and stay at home parents have more time. During the school year, we get rushes when midterms or finals are due, other than that, we’re just nice and steady.”

Dalton chuckled, and the sound sent a warm rush through Skyla’s chest. Who needed hot chocolate when they got to hear their dream man laugh?

“And the bookstore?” Dalton frowned. “Come to think of it, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen the bookstore. You said it was your grandpa’s?”

“Yeah.” Skyla’s smile widened and became more genuine naturally as she spoke about her family heirloom. “It’s called The Book Loft, and Grandpa opened it ages ago.”

“Does he still work there?”

Skyla shook her head. “No. Grandma died nearly a decade ago, and slowly, Grandpa has been stepping away. He comes with me when I work there, but I think the books remind him of her, and that makes it hard.”

Dalton’s eyes never looked away. “So they were both book people? I guess that explains where you get it from.” He smiled.

Skyla felt her cheeks heat, and she fiddled with her mug. “Yeah, I suppose so. Grandpa taught high school literature for a lot of years, and Grandma was a librarian. Books were their life.” She glanced up from under her lashes. “Grandpa likes to say Shakespeare brought them together because they met at a Shakespeare Festival just south of Portland in a place called Ashland.”

Dalton grinned. “That’s a unique story.”

Skyla nodded. “It is. Grandpa quotes Shakespeare all the time, and his capacity to remember the insults is pretty impressive.”

Dalton laughed. “I have to admit that English was never my favorite subject.”

Skyla shrugged one shoulder. “I think that’s pretty common. Only us bookworms seem to like it.” She narrowed her eyes and studied that handsome face. “I’m going to guess you were a sports and P.E. type guy.”

Dalton smirked and leaned back in his seat. “What if I told you that I originally went to college for a chemistry undergrad and then planned on medical school?”

Skyla’s eyes widened. “What? Really?”

Dalton nodded and took a long drink. “Yep.”

“What happened?” Skyla asked, then hurried to correct herself. “I mean…sorry, I just…you’re not a doctor, so I’m curious what changed.”

“Not a doctor that you know of,” Dalton hedged.

Skyla fell back against her seat. “Are you seriously Dr. Saunders? Like, for real?”

His smile grew and he shook his head. “Nah. I’m just messing with you.” He leaned in. “Did it make me sound impressive, though?”

“Everything you do is impressive.”

Whoops.

Skyla stiffened and dropped her eyes from his face. What in the world had she just said? The guy had gone to great lengths only a couple minutes ago to make sure she knew this wasn’t a date, and now she just had to go and spill her guts?

Shakespeare would have some serious things to say about Skyla’s intelligence levels if he was here.

Her phone buzzed before Dalton could respond, and Skyla jumped at the distraction. Who knew a little Christmas tune could be a life saver?

Skyla frowned because the call was from Grandpa. He hated phones and rarely called her. She held up a finger to Dalton who hadn’t moved and turned away a little. “Grandpa?” Skyla answered. “Is everything okay?”

“I…Sky…” Grand’s voice was strained and slightly slurred. “My arm…”

Panic immediately hit her chest. “Grandpa?”

More mumbled slurred words came through the line.

“Grandpa? Can you hear me?”

“Sk…”

Something was seriously wrong. “Grandpa, it’s okay. Set down the phone. I’m coming home, okay?” She stood and began to walk toward the cafe doors. “I’m coming. Just hang on.”

Hanging up the phone, Skyla shoved it into her back pocket and prepared to run, but someone caught her hand and tugged. Flipping around, she opened her mouth to complain, but Dalton’s concerned face was right there.

She’d actually forgotten where she was.

“Something’s wrong with your grandpa?” Dalton asked in a low tone, still holding her hand.

Skyla tried to focus and memorize the feel of his touch, but her mind was already running down a rabbit hole of anxiety. “Yeah. I think so.”

Dalton nodded. “Let’s get your coat, huh? I’ll drive you there.”

“You don’t?—”

Dalton scowled. “Skyla. I’m not letting you run home. I can get you there faster, and I have the time. Let me help.”

Without warning, she was blinking back tears. It had been a really long time since someone else had stepped in to help take care of her. “Thank you,” she rasped. “I appreciate it.”

Giving her hand a squeeze, Dalton lunged back to their table, grabbed their outer clothes and came back, his free hand landing on her lower back. “Let’s go.”

If there was something Dalton hoped he never saw again…it was Skyla’s tears.

Her face had been full of emotions when she answered the call from her grandfather. Surprise, confusion, and ultimately fear. Each had slammed into Dalton’s chest in a way that reminded him just how far gone he was for this woman.

But when he pushed his way into helping and the relieved tears flooded her eyes, it was as if a sledgehammer had pounded into his heart.

Dalton wasn’t inexperienced when it came to female emotions. His sister had cried on his shoulder more times than he could count.

But Skyla’s tears hit differently.

Her pain was his pain, and it was a new sensation for him.

As they drove, Dalton kept glancing at Skyla out of the corner of his eye. He wanted to take her hand again. Assure her that things were going to be okay. He wanted to hold, to comfort and to stay with her, but he didn’t have the right.

Funny thing was, their conversation had just been getting good. She’d said something that had given Dalton a little hope, when it was suddenly taken away by a simple phone call.

“Right here,” Skyla said, her voice still thick. She pointed to the left, and Dalton slowed, pulling into the driveway of a small home. It was older, but well kept. How had he never known where Skyla lived?

Oh, right. Because he was so chicken that he’d only ever used the library to get to know her.

“Is it alright if I come in with you?” Dalton asked, reaching for his seatbelt. He’d already pushed at the cafe, he didn’t want to push too far. Skyla was so quiet and sweet and Dalton was always concerned about going too far too fast, but he really, really, didn’t want to leave her like this.

“I…I don’t want to take up your day,” Skyla said, and she pushed open her door.

“Skyla.”

She paused in her descent from the SUV and looked at him with raised eyebrows and red-rimmed eyes.

“I’d like to help,” he said carefully. “I’ve got a couple hours, it isn’t an imposition, but I also don’t want to make you uncomfortable. If you say to go, I will. But otherwise, I’d like to be here.”

Her bottom lip trembled. “Thank you,” she whispered. Without another word, she dropped down, slammed the door and ran for the house.

Dalton wasn’t quite sure what her answer was, but she hadn’t said goodbye, so he took that as a confirmation and unbuckled, rushing to follow her footsteps.

The front door was slightly ajar, and Dalton didn’t bother to knock.

“Grandpa!”

Dalton ran for Skyla’s voice. The house was small enough that it wasn’t hard to find her crouching over an older man at a kitchen table.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, moving around and searching the man’s body. “What hurts, Grandpa? Can you talk at all?”

Dalton stood back, but he was also trying to see if there was anything visible.

“Ssssky…” the man slurred. He was breathing heavily, and his color was pale, almost gray. “Arm…”

“Your arm?” Skyla immediately picked up one, then the other. “Which arm?”

The man shook his head, then his eyes caught on Dalton. Even in his current state, the man frowned and shook his head. “Who…?”

Skyla looked over her shoulder, then back. “That’s Dalton. Dalton, this is John Bowen, my grandfather.”

Dalton nodded. “Nice to meet you, sir.”

One side of the man’s mouth twitched downward right before his right arm jumped several times.

Dalton stepped forward. “Skyla, I think we need to take him to the ER,” Dalton said softly. “This obviously isn’t his normal behavior, and between the color of his skin and the way he’s talking, I think he should be checked out.”

Skyla twisted her hands together. “You’re right,” she said, nodding jerkily, but never taking her gaze from her grandfather. “You’re right. I…”

Dalton put a hand on her arm. “I’ve got him. You get his coat, and I’ll help him into the SUV.”

She chewed her lips between her teeth, and once again felt sharp pain stabbed in response to her own. “Okay.” Leaning forward, she kissed her grandfather’s forehead. “We’re going to have a doctor check you out, okay, Grandpa? We’ll figure out what’s going on and get you better.”

The older man grunted and didn’t exactly look pleased, but he didn’t try to argue, either.

Skyla ran back toward the front door, and Dalton assumed she was grabbing a coat.

“Alright, Mr. Bowen,” Dalton said gently. “Let’s get you on your feet.”

Dark blue eyes glared at him, but Mr. Bowen didn’t argue when Dalton wrapped his arm around his back and helped the older man stand.

“It’s cold,” Skyla said as she returned. “You need this.”

Dalton helped Mr. Bowen put on the coat, and then they went out to the SUV. The emergency room was packed when they arrived, but after Skyla spent a very passionate ten minutes explaining her grandfather’s symptoms, Dalton found himself, Skyla, and Mr. Bowen in a room almost immediately.

Mr. Bowen lay on a bed as a nurse began to hook him up to monitors while Skyla stood to the side, Dalton next to her.

He couldn’t help but keep glancing down. Skyla looked ready to fall over, but the set of her shoulders said she wouldn’t go down easy. This was a new look for her. At least, it was new for Dalton to see it on her.

She always seemed kind, polite, and a little uncertain. Now she was fragile but determined, and it only made Dalton want to get closer.

“Okay, Mr. Bowen,” a nurse said, coming through the door. “We’re going to take you in for some tests, alright?” She nodded at Skyla and Dalton. “I don’t know exactly how long we’ll be gone, but it’ll be awhile. You’re welcome to wait here, or we’ll call when things are through.”

“I’ll wait,” Skyla immediately said.

Dalton stepped a little closer and put a very hesitant hand on her lower back. “We’ll wait,” he corrected.

When Skyla blew out a breath and her shoulder leaned into his just a touch, it was as if Dalton had landed on top of the world.

She needed support.

He was definitely ready to give it.

“Sounds good,” the nurse said succinctly. With a few more words to some other workers, Mr. Bowen was wheeled out of the room.

The first few moments after they were gone were deathly quiet, and Dalton wasn’t quite sure what to say to break the tension. His hand was still on her lower back, but he was shaking with the need to do something. The question was…what?

What was he supposed to do right now?

“He’s all I have,” Skyla whispered in a tone almost inaudible.

Dalton looked down, his heart pinching. Even if they were only ever friends, Skyla didn’t have to be alone, right? He could support in whatever capacity she needed.

It was time to be brave.

“No,” Dalton corrected. “He’s not all you have.” His hand flexed when she looked up at him. “Not anymore.”

Her eyes filled with tears again, and Dalton almost groaned out loud at how much that hurt, when Skyla gave a small cry and flung herself into his chest. She gripped his shirt, and her body trembled as she wept into his shirt.

Guess he didn’t need to say too much after all. His arms came up and wrapped around her. Closing his eyes, Dalton fought the feeling of ecstasy that was trying to overpower his concern over Skyla’s situation.

She was scared, and he didn’t need to be rejoicing in the fact that she was finally in his arms, where he’d been dreaming of her being for too long.

“I’ve got you,” Dalton whispered against her hair, closing his eyes and holding her just a little tighter. “I’ve got you.” And if he had anything to say about it…he would never let her go.