Storybook Romance. Lissa Manley

your support.” She picked up a few of the calendar bookmarks Vivian Duncan, her one employee, had whipped up on the computer and handed them to him. “Perhaps you could hand these out to some of your friends in town and spread the word about this store, and the bakery, florist, pet store, hardware store and café, which I’ve listed on the back.” They all had to survive to make the SOS plan work.

      Bygones was hanging by a thread, and she was part of an effort to revitalize the town by starting new businesses here on Main Street while also infusing new blood into the town. Of course, she wasn’t exactly a newcomer, but had been deemed eligible for one of the start-up, matching-fund grants provided by an anonymous benefactor because she’d been gone from town for so long. She’d be forever grateful to her sister Amy for letting her know about the SOS Committee’s plans. Allison had worked all night long to get her application in on time and, thankfully, had been awarded one of the businesses.

      Mr. Fibley turned his blue eyes down and perused both sides of the bookmark. “Hmm. Very clever, making this useful advertising.” He drew his reading glasses out of his coat pocket and put them on, and then paused, obviously reading the text. He looked up. “Yes, I’ll hand them out. In fact, my grandniece will be planning a wedding soon. I’ll have her look into Sweet Dreams Bakery and Love in Bloom florist.” Another small smile—just the slightest upward curve. “Definitely.”

      Allison glowed under his praise and was happy for his cooperation. If he could be convinced to support the newly renovated stores on Main Street, she had hope for the rest of the town. The SOS Committee had faith in her; it was good to see some of the townspeople follow suit.

      Now she just needed to have faith in herself. Failing wasn’t an option. Not this time.

      “Wonderful. And I’m also starting creative-writing classes for teens, and have already had Story Time for the little ones several times.” She glanced at her watch. “In fact, the next Story Time starts in about twenty minutes.”

      Mr. Fibley inclined his head. “Excellent. I’ll tell my granddaughter about the Story Time program so she can bring her children.”

      “Thank you, Mr. Fibley, I appreciate your help, really I do.” One customer at a time. Allison was determined to make this business a spectacular success. She’d given up a decent job as the manager of the Book Barn in Kansas City to come back to Bygones. And while she’d been disheartened by the big-box store’s emphasis on toys and electronics, she had still walked away from her only source of income. She had invested all her savings in the funds she’d had to match to be chosen as one of the new store owners here in Bygones. Her future—everything, really—depended on making this store work.

      Though it wasn’t a large store by any means, it was hers, and she’d put her own stamp on the place with walls painted in soothing shades of blue, green and tan. There were comfy upholstered chairs for reading and bookshelves Allison had built herself at one of the Workshop for Women classes Gracie Wilson held at the Fixer-Upper hardware store right here on Main Street.

      She still had a few bookshelves in the back room to install over in the nonfiction area, and she and Viv planned on painting some fun murals on the walls, featuring literary characters. Allison also planned on setting up a desk and computer in one corner of the store so her customers would have a place to search online for titles. In fact, the equipment was due to be delivered any day. She hoped she could figure out how to install it herself, but if not, Josh Smith, who owned the Cozy Cup Café down the street and was good with computers, would certainly help her out free. She had plenty to do and wondered how she’d get it all done. By working day and night if she had to.

      Something clunked from the back of the store, drawing Allison’s ever-vigilant attention. Her ears perking up, she rounded the end of the front counter and gave Mr. Fibley a wave. “Excuse me while I go see what’s going on back there. Thanks again for coming in!” She glanced over and saw Viv nearby, sorting some books from a delivery that had come earlier today. Good.

      Mr. Fibley waved back, a quick flick of his skinny hand in the air, and then turned to go. “I’ll be back when I decide which other books I want to order.”

      “I’ll look forward to it, Mr. Fibley,” she replied as he headed out the door. “Soon you’ll be able to search for titles yourself.”

      “Excellent,” he said with another stiff wave.

      Another clunk sounded, and then another. Allison decided the noise was coming from the Kids’ Korner, so she picked up the pace and veered toward the back-right part of the store, creasing her brow.

      She arrived in the area set up for kids, pride filling her as she noted the colorful rug and small table and chairs set up for young readers. Her gaze zeroed in on a dark-haired toddler dressed in jeans and a red shirt slowly yet methodically yanking books off a shelf, one after another. Each book fell to the floor with a heavy clunk, and in between each sound, the little guy laughed, clearly enjoying the sound of his relatively harmless yet messy play.

      Allison rushed over, noting there was no adult in sight. “Hey, there, bud,” she said, keeping her voice soft and nonconfrontational. “Whatcha doing?”

      He turned big brown eyes fringed with long, dark eyelashes toward her. He looked vaguely familiar, even though she was certain she’d never met this little boy. Odd.

      “Fun!” A chubby hand sent another book crashing to the floor. He giggled and stomped his feet on the floor in a little happy dance, clearly thrilled with his own antics. “See?”

      Carefully she reached out and stilled his marauding hands. “Whoa, there, little guy.” She gently pulled him away. “The books are supposed to stay on the shelf.” Holding on to him, she cast her gaze about the enclosed area, but her view was limited by the tall bookshelves lined up from the edge of the Kids’ Korner to the front of the store. “Are you here with your mommy or daddy?” She hadn’t seen this little guy come in, but then again, she had been busy with Mr. Fibley back in the nonfiction area.

      The boy tugged. “Daddy!” he squealed.

      “Nicky!” a deep masculine voice replied behind her. “Oh, man. Looks like you’ve been making a mess.”

      A nebulous sense of familiarity swept through her at the sound of that voice. Not breathing, still holding the boy’s hand, Allison slowly turned around. Her whole body froze and her heart gave a little spasm, then fell to her toes as she looked into deep brown eyes that matched Nicky’s.

      Sam Franklin. The only man Allison had ever loved.

      * * *

      Sam tightened his hold on Rosalie and stared at the slender, pretty brunette holding Nicky’s hand. She stared back at him, her gorgeous blue eyes wide, her glossy pink lips slack. Something about her rang a distant bell, but...why?

      Rosalie squawked and squirmed in his arms, yanking his thoughts away from the attractive young woman obviously trying to keep control of Nicky. “Daddy! Put me down!” Rosie commanded.

      “I’ve got this one,” the blue-eyed gal said.

      “Thanks.” Sam’s parenting persona clicked into action. “What’s the special word, Rosie?”

      “Pleeeze?” Rosie squeaked, still squirming.

      “All right, here you go,” he said, setting her on the floor, straightening the pink-and-white-striped top she wore. Pink was her favorite color, followed a close second by purple. Or poiple, as Rosie said.

      Rosie ran over and held a finger up in front of her brother’s face. “No, no, Nicky!”

      Nicky scowled. “Don’t boss me, Ro-ro!”

      Sam shook his head, amused by the push-pull dynamic between the twins, though he was sure his amusement would fade by the time he wrestled them into bed tonight. He loved them more than anything, but they exhausted him. Being a single parent wasn’t easy, although his ex-wife had certainly seemed to sail through handling the twins when she’d had them. Of course, her new fiancé, Spense O’Laughlin, was there to