Love in the Spotlight

Chapter 8: A Temporary Business Partner

Emma spent the rest of the evening trying to process the disaster that had just unfolded.

Aiden Carter was officially going to be hosting a book signing at her bookstore.

It was ridiculous. Completely unnecessary. And yet, somehow, Lily had managed to rope him into it while Emma had barely gotten a word in.

Now, as she closed up the shop for the night, she found herself pacing behind the counter while Aiden leaned casually against a nearby shelf, watching her with amusement.

“You’re thinking too hard,” he said.

Emma shot him a look. “Oh, I’m sorry if I’m struggling to wrap my head around the fact that a Hollywood star is turning my bookstore into a media spectacle.”

Aiden smirked. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

“It is a bad thing,” she insisted. “I run a quiet, cozy bookstore. Not an event venue.”

Aiden folded his arms. “You’re acting like I’m forcing you to do this.”

Emma groaned. “You’re not. But you are turning my life upside down.”

He grinned. “That’s kind of what I do.”

Emma sighed, rubbing her temples. “The book signing is just a one-time thing, right? After that, you go back to your world, and everything goes back to normal?”

Aiden hesitated for a fraction of a second—so brief she almost missed it. Then, he nodded. “Yeah. One-time thing.”

Something about the way he said it made Emma pause. But before she could question him, Lily waltzed back in, her phone in hand.

“Good news!” she announced. “I already posted about the signing, and the response is insane.”

Emma groaned. “Lily, please tell me you didn’t make a whole event out of this already.”

Lily grinned sheepishly. “Oops?”

Aiden chuckled. “I like her.”

Emma shot him a glare. “Of course you do.”

Lily ignored them both and turned to Aiden. “By the way, people are dying to know what books you’ll be recommending.”

Aiden blinked. “Wait. I have to recommend books?”

Lily nodded. “Duh. You are working at a bookstore.”

Emma smirked. “Yeah, Aiden. That’s part of the job.”

Aiden narrowed his eyes at her, then sighed dramatically. “Fine. But only if you help me pick some.”

Emma arched an eyebrow. “You’re asking me for help?”

“Unless you’d rather let me do it on my own?” He smirked. “I could just pick the books with the prettiest covers.”

Emma groaned. “Absolutely not.”

Aiden grinned. “Then I guess we’re working together.”

Emma really didn’t like the sound of that.