Bookstore princess

Chapter 16

James

After the girls both ate a few of the pastries each and drank back some coffee they were quickly at their stations. I unlocked the doors and the patrons all smiled at me as they came in. A few are from my pack. I see Maria coming in as well, carrying a laptop and looking at me pointedly.
"Good morning" I greet her, while I see line ups going to both cash registers.
"I got the details you were looking for this morning" she says walking over.
"Which time?" I ask, a little confused.
"You called Steve in a rage and they called me" she rolls her eyes. "I did a little digging, I thought you'd want to see for yourself," she hands me the laptop.
"I can't right now" I say, feeling pained. "Give me the details over here" I nod toward the book stacks, giving her back the laptop.
"The owners across the street have moved from different towns that are in unclaimed territories and try to run out small business'. They keep changing their names, but they have warrants for their arrests in different places around the country for arson, defacing of property... There's a pretty big list. But they have resorted to violence as well," she says softly. "Look, we need to make a decision. Either we chase them out as a pack, or we leave an anonymous tip on who they really are for law enforcement" she says softly.
"I don't want to just chase them out. They put wolfsbane and a dead rat in a box" I tell her and she gasps.
"It's up to you Alpha, it's your call" she looks at me.
"I'll look at it after the store closes tonight. I need to be smart about this" I sigh. "Do me a favor, can you start looking to see if there's anywhere local to buy furniture to fill the houses for now. And send a bus to go pick up everyone and keep me in the loop. There's no need for you to go make multiple trips to the city to pick them up" I tell her.
"Understood" she gives a relieved smile. "How long are you going to be doing this?" she asks in a whisper.
"As long as she needs me" I shrug. "Or at least tolerates me" I add with a chuckle. I see a large truck drive into the alleyway beside the building and my interest is piqued. "Give me a second" I tell her and I walk towards Nadia who's busy with a customer. I go behind the counter and watch as she takes each customer with a smile and grace.
"Are you expecting a truck today?" I ask her softly.
"Oh are they here already?!" she gasps. "Can you take the register?" she asks me, her eyes begging me.
"Is there heavy lifting?" I ask quickly.
"No, he usually brings it all in the door. I'll move it after" she says, looking worriedly at the employee entrance. "I just need to make sure we are getting the right books," she adds.
"You check that we are getting the right books, I'll move them around wherever you want" I tell her. "You don't need to strain yourself" I say quickly to soften the command.
"Bossy" she giggles and leaves me at the cash register.
"Only to you" I chuckle, knowing full well it's a lie. I wait until she's through the door and then give the customer most of my attention. The protective side of me wants to be on the other side of the door. I can hear a male voice and it takes everything in me to not go through the door and stake my claim. I take customers as they come, when Nadia comes back out half an hour later almost giddy with excitement carrying a slightly opened box.
"Baby doll, don't you want me to take that?" I ask her as she passes by.
"I've got it!" she sings and heads towards the center of the store. She sets down the box and starts making room on the main table before she adds some of the books to the main table. She comes back to me carrying the box and at the register she takes out two books and sets them down before going back into the back. I look at the cover and see it's a werewolf romance and it looks pretty steamy based on the description on the back. I scan the books through and pay for them, adding the receipt to Nadia's book so she knows they are paid for and set them to the side. When she comes back out I smile at her, and she looks happy. She goes to grab the books, and sees the receipt and gasps.
"James," she says in a firm voice. "It was my turn, and you didn't even get the discount" she looks at me with a frown.
"I'll tell you what, you slip one past me and I'll let you buy" I chuckle.
"Well, there's more books back there. I'm sure I can manage at least one" she says with a mischievous smile on her face. I give her cheek a quick peck and say nothing in response to that. She beams and I head into the back to see quite a few boxes are opened and just piled around in various spots. It's hard to get past, but I grab a box and look in. I already understand Jacob's filing system in the back, so it's just a matter of putting the boxes where they are needed.

Nadia

James worked hard today, without asking him he went into the back and sorted out the boxes of books, and then came back and started helping out on the floor again. He relieves me for my breaks, and for Jenny's breaks. I'm not sure how we would have gotten through the day without him. The only thing we are missing out on doing right now is inventory, but that can be done during the night. That's what I plan on doing tonight once James goes home for the evening. Normally Jacob does it before he leaves every day, but now it hasn't been done for a few days and we have to keep track of possible losses. Most of the people in town are pretty honest, so there's not a lot of books taken home without being paid for. The main one we have a problem with is the newspapers, and that's easily the cheapest thing we offer anyways.
Supper has been cooking all day, and the last time I ran up to check on it, it was ready. I had turned it on low so it would stay warm and went back downstairs to finish up with closing. James put himself on clean up duty, and he's doing a great job. For a day that started out a bit rough, it's ending well. I don't trust that the harassment on the store is over, not by a long shot. I did call the security company this morning to request to have them come in and put in more cameras though. They are supposed to be here tomorrow. It seems like overkill, but honestly with the harassment escalating, I don't see much of a choice. We close on time and then I start doing my end of day duties. It's always long and tedious, but I have to make sure everything matches.
"How are you doing, baby doll?" James asks, as he comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my stomach.
"Almost done" I sigh softly.
"You look tired again tonight" he observes, and he's not wrong. I am exhausted. I had an abrupt awakening and I've been on the go since I woke up. I also have to come back down and do inventory tonight, but I'm not mentioning that. "Maybe I'll give you another one of my famous massages" he chuckles into my ear and I shiver at the thought of his hands on my body again.
"I like the sound of that, but don't you want one?" I ask him.
"Hmm... I don't know that I'll be able to behave myself if you do" he gives me a kiss on top of my head and nuzzles in.
"I don't mind if you don't sometimes" I whisper with flushed cheeks.
"We will see about that" he gives me another soft kiss in my hair. "What's this list?" he asks, clocking the inventory list I had hid under the books that was peeking out.
"Just something I need to get to after" I'm not lying. I'm just not telling him when I'm going to get to it.
"Want me to get started on it?" he asks softly.
"You don't know how to do it" I gently remind him.
"I can always learn," he shrugs.
"No, it's okay. I'll get to it later. You've helped way more than I could ever have asked of anyone. Once Jacob is back we can finally hire some people. Both Jenny and I want Maria, especially for Potions. She's basically got the job already, we just need him to say yes and for her to pass the background check" I ramble off as I crunch some numbers.
"The background check is going to come back clean," he assures me.
"I figure as much. It's just something that we all agreed on to be honest. With all the problems we have been having, we want to make sure we don't hire someone who would do something like that" I admit. I finally finish what I'm doing and sigh happily, taking the money we made today to put in the safe. I see James grab the list and he looks it over and flips through several pages.
"Where are you going to find the time to do this?" James asks me, and I bite my bottom lip, trying to avoid the question.
"I'll find it" I lie. I already know when I'll be getting to this. I won't be getting any sleep tonight.
"You know, I can tell when you're lying. You bite your bottom lip when you're nervous and you also do this nose scrunch thing that I like so much" James almost coos to me and I can't help but bite my lip again. "You're doing it again" he chuckles.
"Fine, I was going to do it tonight after you left. You still have your business to take care of, and I have mine. Jenny can't help, she's in over her head with how popular Potions is getting and no help. Jacob is too sick, and he usually does this for us. And you, perfect you, aren't even getting paid because you refuse the money and you act like this is no big deal, but it's a big deal. To me. I'm in over my head and you've been here for me like a rock. I don't know what I'd do without you" I admit in a word vomit I can't help. He's got me trapped, and he seems to already know me so well. James doesn't say a word, but cups my face and kisses me softly, effectively shutting me up. Words leave my brain, and I can't even think of what to say to him. He's just too good to me.
"Alright, this is what we are going to do..." James tells me and I gaze into his eyes and he gives a soft smile. "We are going to go have supper, and then you are going to show me how to do inventory and we will work on it together. Then you'll lend me your laptop, and I'll crash on your couch tonight while you get a good night's rest" he smirks like he's already won.
"I can't ask that of you" I shake my head, defying him weakly.
"You're not asking. I'm telling you what we are doing" he chuckles and kisses me softly again. "No funny business, I'll just video call my brother and see how things are going and I'll go to bed too" he adds.
"The bed is big enough for two" I giggle.
"I won't be able to hold back, for tonight, I'll take the couch" he chuckles.