“No way Xander will agree to that,” I say, shaking my head. “He put too much money into the renovation. He’ll never sell.”

“Well, it’s a good thing neither of us is afraid of a fight.”

Josie’s got a gleam in her eyes that I remember from our early weeks of competition.

“Another battle?” I say.

“Think of it as the fight for our future.”

I blow out a breath, but something in my gut tells me she’s right. “And this time we’ll be on the same side from the start.”

“Oh, Ryan,” Josie says, picking up the book of our conversations—our love story. “We were always on the same side. It just took us a while to figure it out. So, what do you say?”

I nod.

“Words,” Josie teases. “Will you be my life partner and my business partner?”

“Yes,” I say. “Always and forever yes.”

And with that, I slip the ring on her finger, and I kiss her.

My former enemy.

My fiancée.

My everything.

Acknowledgments

Book people really are the best people, and we are fortunate to know the best of the best. First and foremost, this book is a love letter to indie bookstores. We’ve been lucky in our career as co-authors to visit so many across the country, meeting booksellers and doing events.

Like Josie, we know that bookstores are more than just stores that sell books; they’re a vital part of a community. Thank you to the booksellers, the unsung heroes of the literary industry, for your tireless work in spreading the love of books and matching readers with their perfect story. A special shout-out to: Anne Holman and the team at the King’s English in Salt Lake City, Stephanie Skees and the team at the Novel Neighbor in St. Louis, Rebecca and Kimberly George at Volumes Bookcafe in Chicago, Zibby’s Bookshop in LA, Hyphen and the team at FoxTale Book Shoppe in Atlanta, M.Judson Booksellers in Greenville (the inspiration for the Pages and Pairings event at Josie’s store!), Melody Wukitch (and Sarah!) at Park Books MD, Elizabeth Bosscher and team at Schuler Books in Grand Rapids, Litchfield Books in Pawleys Island, and Sundog Books in Seaside. Much love to Pamela Klinger-Horn (the inspiration for PAW!), Maxwell Gregory, and Mary Webber O’Malley. We also want to thank all the librarians who read and recommend our books—especially “Uncle Ron” Block and the Cuyahoga Library in Cleveland.

Before a book ever reaches the shelves, it requires a massive team of incredible people working in the background. We wouldn’t have a writing career if not for our literary agents. Thank you, Amy Berkower and Joanna MacKenzie, for your support, guidance, and wisdom. Thank you to the entire team at Writer’s House and Nelson Literary, and special thanks to Genevieve Gagne-Hawes for her expert feedback and sharp editorial eye.