“So far. Alnster is beautiful, and I haven’t even walked along the beach yet.”

“There’s a lot more to see.”

“I know. I’ve decided the store will only be open four days a week. That way the rest of the time I’ll sightsee.”

“Good plan. You know, it was a surprise to hear you rented from Penny. Last we heard, she was selling the place.”

This news surprised and saddened me. I hadn’t even been open one day as the “owner,” and yet it had already brought me the peace and relaxation I’d been looking for. To be surrounded by books in such a beautiful place. “I booked last minute, maybe that’s why.”

Roane asked me why renting a bookstore was my idea of a vacation, and I told him of my love of all things books and Shakespeare.

His lips twitched and he stared at me, gaze warm, like he thought I was adorable. “I’ve never really been a fan of Shakespeare, to be honest.”

I narrowed my eyes, teasing, “How can you not be a fan of Shakespeare?”

Roane shrugged.

“Now is the winter of our discontent.”

His eyes danced with laughter.

“Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.”

His smile grew.

“Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once.”

The warmth in his eyes darkened. “That’s a good one. I like that.”

Pleased, I nodded and continued, “If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?” I leaned forward, and Roane’s gaze flickered to my mouth. “How can you not be a fan of Shakespeare when his characters say epic shit like that?”

Roane laughed and leaned toward me. “Well, when you put it like that . . . Also, I’m impressed you know all that by heart.”

“Do you want the truth?”

“Aye, always, unless it’s something negative about Shadow. I won’t hear a bad word against him, even if he shit on your marigolds.”

I threw my head back in laughter. How could a guy be both adorable and sexy? I hadn’t thought it possible until I met Farmer Robson.

Roane’s eyes glittered, his lips twitching with amusement. “You were saying?”

“Oh. Yeah. Well, I love Shakespeare. I do. But I memorized a bunch of lines in college to impress my hot lit professor and they stuck.”

“Your dedication to get his attention is impressive.”

“How do you know my professor wasn’t a woman?”

Surprise flickered across his face, and if I wasn’t wrong, disappointment. “You’re right. I shouldn’t have presumed.”

“I’m teasing.” I drank the last of my cider and smirked at him. “He was a guy.”