Mike's Way Back (Finding Perfect) Read Online Free PDF

Holding it for her, she entered ahead of him.
    Taryn stopped abruptly in front of him.
    His only course of action was to grip her shoulders to keep from plowing her over. It wasn’t his fault the action left him close enough a sheet of paper couldn’t pass between them. It wasn’t his fault the contact caused him to hiss in her ear. Talk about being Captain Obvious. “Shit, I’m sorry, Taryn.”
    “No, it’s my fault.” Taking a small step forward she turned in a slow circle, while looking upward at the expanse of books covering the walls, her eyes shining in sheer pleasure. “It’s like going back in time.”
    Mike knew what she meant. He hadn’t given two thoughts about the old bookstore when he was a kid. It was just the place his mom dragged him and his brothers to each week, where she picked up one of those books she liked to read. The kind with the man on the cover about to kiss a girl. Mike grinned to himself at the old memories. After living in the city with huge chain stores and their impersonal feel, the quaintness of The Looking Glass was a welcome reprieve.
    “I guess the name of the store is fitting, huh?” she asked grinning.
    He knew the name of the store was also the title of a famous book. Growing up, he thought that’s what it was named after. Now, he knew it was just as Taryn said. The charming old building with books lining the oak shelves from floor to ceiling was different from the boring metal shelves in bigger stores. They might not have every title ever written, but they had sliding ladders to reach the top shelves, and that was so much higher on the cool scale.
    Nodding toward the woman in her late twenties sitting on a stool behind the cash register, he glanced back at Taryn. “That’s Gabby James, this is her store. It’s been in her family for three generations.” At the mention of her name, the young woman looked up, gave half a smile, and went back to the paperwork spread out in front of her.
    Books were everywhere. The middle of the building had so many shelves linked together, only one person could fit in amongst the maze at any given time. No walking hand-n-hand while leisurely strolling the aisles, but it was still better in the small shop.
    The faint smell of apple drifted through the air, not the musty smell one would expect with all these old books. Mike watched the emotions race over Taryn’s face, from excitement to fascination, then to just plain awe. As a creative person, he could almost see the gears spinning in her head. Without asking, he could tell she was taking in every nuance and detail of the building. Some people saw books, she saw the personality of the building itself. She took in how the walls, the crown molding, and the shelving worked together to create something amazing.
    Everywhere she turned her eyes widened and her smile grew. She walked ahead of him and snaked her way through the tight spaces. Mike wandered over to one of the two brown leather chairs in the corner. It was one of the few places books hadn’t taken over. The store could really use the space the chairs took up, but they’d been sitting in those very same spots for more years than Mike could count. He relaxed back against the soft leather. Grinning to himself, he enjoyed the way she let her guard down. She was totally free with her admiration for the store and building. She was almost giddy.
    Technically this wasn’t a date, but damn if it was—he’d hit the jackpot.
    Taryn came around a corner close to his chair. “This place is amazing, Mike. How do you ever pull yourself out of here?”
    He winked. “Can I let you in on a little secret?” She stood looking at him, but didn’t answer. “Most of the town has similar qualities.”
    Her eyes went wide. If he knew her better, he would guess he’d just delivered news that rivaled winning the lottery.
    “Are you serious?” Her eyebrows reached high, her mouth on the verge of gaping.
    Mike shook his head. “The hardware store,