The Shopkeeper's Secret

selling author she always thought she'd be. She had the power to shape minds and send them on voyages they otherwise would nev

racelet on her left wrist. She studied and admired the craftsmanship of the ornamental wolf head at the centr

t. As much as she claimed to hate him, she couldn't bring herself to part with the bracelet. She remembered the time,

e remembered the feel of his fingers brushing her cheek, tracing along the edge of her ear and then her jaw. She

much for the c

hop while her eyes were closed in that masochistic reverie. Alex

o have a bigger one fo

nah?" The boy nodded and grabbed the carton of milk as his mother paid. She was a little frumpy, but her son was

uy who used to be

le busy right now, so he aske

? You look no

face and smiled next to the portrait o

customer. She went on to introduce herself as Shelly. She'd been a regu

thing it did is it brought everything closer to

n and left through the glass doo

her depressing reverie as her eyes followed the little boy's tiny ste

oud. She was now at the feminine products aisle arranging the lotion bottles. In th

Alex." He hopped around to where she busied her

Brian's youthful face with

o be arrested for cradle-robbing." Brian rolled his eyes a

g now, but Brian

ou keep telling me I'm mature for my age. Why don't y

ou know I like older women. My mother is an

at this, but

with older women, I am more than qualified to be with a woman as

the cheese re

me as an old hag and you'll start chasing younger, prettier

nothing

ow you are, but you have to realise that as much as I love you and your family, and as much as you

e eye. He caved. Together the

er give up on yo

remained, sad and gorgeous. Nothing in the world would ever make him hurt her like Darren did. Determined to try again when she was

oad. The man was surveying the store's signage and after a second's consider

ard the glass doors slide open, she held on to the feeling of betrayal that Darren had caused in her. Determined to protect