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“Hi,” Cory said, walking over to where Cat stood with a customer.

“Cory, this is Elena Burkett. I was explaining to her that we’re all in this together,” Cat said.

“It’s nice to meet you. I’m the oldest sister and The Liquor Box is my store,” Cory said with a friendly smile.

“I love the name and logo.” Elena grinned. “Cat was just telling me about the opening between the stores. That’s a genius idea,” Elena said.

“Thanks,” Cory replied.

“I love the reading nook and plan to be here often,” Elena said, smiling at Cat.

“That’s why I created it,” Cat said.

“Hey, I’m going to get something from the back,” Cory said, giving Cat a knowing look.

“It’s okay, Elena knows all about The Bottom Shelf,” Cat said.

“Oh, okay.” Cory chuckled.

“CeCe is in there with Alexis Reed,” Cat said, raising her eyebrows.

A smile grew on Cory’s face. Alexis Reed was an esteemed doctor who also happened to be CeCe’s favorite client. Cory and Cat were certain they both had crushes on each other, but wouldn’t admit it.

“I’ll be right back,” Cory said.

On her way to the back of the bookstore Cory muttered, “Alexis may not be CeCe’s favorite client much longer.” CeCe had a rule about not dating her clients and it wouldn’t surprise Cory if Alexis had a new hairstylist soon.

A few minutes later Cory came back out of the room and stopped as she watched Cat giving Elena her purchases at the register. Cat and her longtime girlfriend had broken up a while back and Cory hadn’t seen her smile at another woman quite like she was at Elena Burkett.

Maybe that happily-ever-after toast CeCe had made earlier wasn’t so funny after all.

“Did you get what you needed?” Cat said with an inquisitive stare. “You didn’t embarrass CeCe, did you?”

“No, I did not embarrass our sister and I didn’t get anything for me.”

“Oh?”

“Brandy asked me if you had a certain kind of vibrator,” Cory said.

“Brandy? Why couldn’t she ask me? We’ve all been friends forever.”

“I don’t know. You text her.”

“Okay, I will.”

“Gotta go, sis. Come see me when you close and we’ll have a beer,” Cory said as she left the bookstore. She waved at CeCe as she walked through the salon and into her store.

“Hey,” Cory said to Taylor as she joined her at the register. “Everything okay?”

“Yep. I’ve made a few sales and oh—do you remember that woman who came in earlier? The one with the dark hair?” Taylor said.

“Uh, Taylor, a lot of women with dark hair came in today,” Cory replied.

Taylor chuckled. “You didn’t look at the other women the way you were looking at this woman.”

Cory furrowed her brow. “Are you talking about the woman who walked through the store and looked at everything, but didn’t buy anything? She was asking me about wholesale prices.”

“That’s the one.” Taylor nodded.