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Vix’s lips curve up, and she opens the front page. I peer at it. It was published in 1937.

“I’ve just Googled it,” she says. “I think it could be a first edition.”

I stare at her. “What?”

“Apparently only fifteen hundred were printed. Some have sold for enormous amounts.”

“Seriously?!”

The girls start laughing. Vix smiles. “Don’t get your hopes too high. It doesn’t have its dust jacket. But it’s still amazing.” Cate comes over with a clear plastic bag, and Vix slots it in carefully. “I can’t believe it,” she murmurs, wrapping the book carefully to protect it. “Wait till you tell John!” She turns and holds it out to me with a smile.

I go to take it, but at the last minute, I lower my hand. “You should hang on to it.”

Her eyebrows rise. “It belongs to your grandfather.”

“You’ve been the heart of the shop for the past year, Vix. You should be the one to tell him.”

She looks down at it and smooths a hand over the top. Then she gives me a wonderful smile. “Okay. Thank you, I will.” She’s practically glowing. “I can’t believe it’s such a beautiful old copy. If it was mine, I’d keep it forever.” She hugs it to her.

“Only you could be so excited about the book more than how much it’s worth.”

She pokes her tongue out at me. I lift an eyebrow, and she giggles.

“Stop flirting, you two,” Harri says in jest.

To my surprise, Vix’s face immediately turns the colour of a tomato.

“Ohhh…” Harri says, eyes widening, “oh my God, I’m so sorry, I was joking.”

Vix just shakes her head and walks off, over to the front desk.

Baffled, I watch her go, then turn back to the amused girls. “What’s going on?”

Cate smiles. “She likes you, Mitch.”

My eyebrows shoot up. “What?”

“God, men are dense,” Harri says, and she walks off.

Cate lingers, though. “I’m not sure she’s realised yet,” she advises. “But she has feelings for you.”

I look across at Vix again. She’s concentrating on the till, but her face is still flushed.

“Really?” My heart races.

“Definitely.” Cate winks at me.

“No wonder they’re calling you Cupid,” I murmur, and she chuckles. Then she calls out, “We’re all going over to The Captain’s Table. Jake’s making platters for everyone.”

I clear my throat. “Yeah, come on, my treat.” I give a final glance around. “Thanks so much for your help. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“It was fun!” Harri heads for the door and opens it. “I found a great book on boat engines from the 1950s. I gave you the cash, right, Vix?”

“Yep, thanks.” Vix puts the copy of The Hobbit in her bag and slings it over her shoulder. Keeping her gaze lowered, she follows everyone out.

I’m the last to leave, and I turn off the lights and lock the door behind me.

Vix is waiting with Millie, who slips her hand into mine as we walk toward the statue of Captain Cook. “Did you find anything fun in your box of books?” I ask her.