The Print Shop

By Barri Naven

Colleen Maguire has had it with some of her colleagues and knows it's time for a major career change. When another job all but falls in her lap, she doesn't hesitate to accept it, since a company with the motto "We Make Dreams Come True" seems perfect for her. Until she meets Logan Duffy, one of her new colleagues at the Print Shop, who is a prime example of why she left her previous job, and she wonders if she's made a gigantic mistake.

 

Logan Duffy can't understand why Colleen Maguire, the beautiful new blonde in the office, treats him as if he's her sworn enemy. But he's going to find out. And he's going to change her mind.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Barri Naven
• Release date: Aug 29, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223981053

Barri Naven

Barri Naven lives on Cape Cod where she avoids the summer traffic by hiding at home with her trusty laptop, long-suffering husband, and all the chocolate she can find. Escaping from reality in a romance novel, the ultimate goal a happy ending, is her idea of a good read.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Colleen Maguire didn’t consider herself a prude. Well, maybe she had her prudish moments, but after hearing the jerk-face in the next cubicle on his phone making plans for dinner and lots of dessert , insert salacious jerk-face laughter, Colleen was in full prude-mode. She happened to know he wasn’t speaking to his wife, who was currently out of town visiting her mother. Ugh . Maybe Colleen was naïve. Actually, she knew she was naïve. But still, cheaters and cheating were so despicable.

And worse, this wasn’t the first time jerk-face had cheated. Why the man was so stupid as to speak loudly enough for people around him to hear she’d never understand, but she supposed it just went along with his jerkiness. But it got even worse, since he wasn’t the only man in the department doing it. She’d unfortunately just learned through the Parsons’ grapevine there was another jerk-face on the other side of the office.

She wished it were 5:00. She badly needed a diversion to take her mind off the nonsense going on at Parsons. All she wanted was to be allowed to do her job, providing tech support for the clients who had questions with their software programs. While not being surrounded by jerk-face cheaters. Closing her eyes and rubbing her temples, she wondered how much longer she’d be able to put up with this.

As soon as the time on her monitor registered the magic number, Colleen logged off and hurried to the doorway, not looking right or left. She wished a few of her colleagues a good weekend, then kept her head down until she reached her car in the parking lot.

A book. She needed a new book, and she knew the Print Shop would have something, since the nine other times she’d been inside, she’d been able to find one. Sometimes on her own, and sometimes with assistance. It was the cutest, quirkiest bookstore she’d ever been in, and just stepping inside and breathing in the scent of the books and walking across the creaking old floorboards lifted her mood.

She’d bought her books online for years, but once she happened to walk by the little store front, painted a cherry red and sporting a big picture window, the sign above the door reading The Print Shop, she’d peeked inside and realized it was actually a bookstore. When she’d stepped inside, she heard a bell jangle over her head and it had been love at first sight as she gazed around at the bookshelves, each of them at least six feet tall. She’d been so thankful she’d needed to be on that end of Main Street for an errand, otherwise, who knew when she would have found this jewel.

When she had scanned the shelves, she hadn’t recognized any of the authors’ names, but there were still plenty of beautiful books to choose from, and she’d easily made her selection, a romance. The man working at the counter had been friendly and helpful and once he’d told her about the store’s buy-ten-get-one-free book program, she’d happily signed up.

Tonight as she strolled along the sidewalks of Main Street, she thought about the fact this next book was going to be number ten for her, and she needed it to be a good one. But it would be. Every book she’d bought had been a good one. Seeing the red door ahead on her right, she felt her shoulders relax. It was Friday, she had two days off, and she could read all weekend if she wanted.

Pulling open the door, she inhaled and caught the familiar scent, then smiled a genuine smile. There was a woman behind the counter, one she’d seen before, and just the sight of the woman’s smiling face made Colleen happy. She reminded Colleen of her Aunt Pauline, who was a sweetheart, and the woman was even wearing a beige cardigan Aunt Pauline might wear. Hello. I’m sorry. I don’t know your name.

I’m Frances Finnegan. And hello to you. Are you browsing, or would you like some help?

Colleen approached the wooden counter, thankful there were no other customers to overhear her. Might you have a book that will restore my faith in people? Male people especially, but all people, really. Some of the people I work with are ... Anyway. Might you have something like that?

Frances nodded. What’s your name, dear?

Colleen Maguire. And I’m in the book club and this will be my tenth book.

That’s wonderful, Colleen. Will you be choosing your free book tonight, or will you return for that one?

I think I’ll return for that. Choosing one book is all I can manage tonight. Frances left the counter and took a walk around the shelves, then she made a selection. When Colleen saw the paperback’s cover in pretty pastel shades with a unicorn in the center, she suspected the woman had misunderstood what she wanted. Um ...

I know what you’re thinking, Colleen. That this is a book for children. But I think you’ll find that it works just as well, and maybe even better, for adults.

Colleen wasn’t going to disagree, or offend Frances Finnegan, so she took the book. If it turned out to be something she had no interest in, she would give it away. Thank you, Frances. I can’t wait to read it.

Once you’re all set, come on back to the counter.

I’m ready now.

After Colleen had tucked the new book into her purse and was preparing to leave, Frances said, Colleen, might you have five minutes for a cup of tea or coffee? There’s something I wanted to discuss with you.

She couldn’t imagine what Frances would want with her, but she seemed like a very nice woman, and Colleen could do with some niceness about now. Of course. She followed the woman through a door she’d never noticed before and down a hallway and Colleen heard voices, then they stepped into an office with six desks, three of them currently occupied by a woman and two men, all in their twenties or early thirties, all of them looking at Colleen.

Logan, would you be so kind as to cover the front? Frances said.

Colleen watched as one of the men stood, a stack of paper in his hand, and she realized his hair color and scruffy beard were almost identical to jerk-face’s, and she felt an immediate dislike for him, the force of her feeling surprising her. As he walked past first Frances then her, he nodded at each of them before taking the hallway to the store.

Now, let’s go to my office, Frances said, smiling, and Colleen again followed, this time into the coziest office she’d ever seen. It even smelled like cinnamon. There was a wooden desk with an open laptop, but there was also a loveseat in a pretty ivory brocade, a coffee table, and two floor lamps. Coffee or tea, Colleen? And please have a seat while I get it ready.

Tea would be really nice. Thank you, Frances. She watched while Frances took a tea kettle from a hot plate and poured water into two cups before adding a tea bag to each, then she set up a tray with creamer and sugar before joining Colleen on the loveseat.

Now Colleen, why don’t you tell me what’s upset you today, Frances said, taking a sip of tea while keeping a close eye on her.

Colleen gazed into the tea cup, a delicate piece of china with red roses that looked like something her grandmother might have tucked away, and she wondered if it was an antique. The idea of sharing her feelings with a complete stranger should have horrified her, but instead she decided she could use some words of support, and she had a feeling Frances Finnegan would feel the same way she did. Well, I think it’s very important to respect the people we work with, as well as the company we work for, and recently I’ve discovered things about a man in my office that are very upsetting, and I ... She met Frances’ eyes, and the warmth she saw there was unexpected. Why would this woman even be interested?

And you what, Colleen?

I don’t think I can work under those conditions. I know I’m being dramatic. I’ve always been dramatic, according to my mom, so why would this situation be any different? She took a sip of the hot tea, feeling it warm her all the way to her stomach. I need to decide if I’m going to tolerate being around it anymore, and it’s a big decision.

Let me put a little bug in your ear, Frances said. The Print Shop is more than a bookstore. We accept manuscripts from unpublished and unknown writers, then we publish them and sell them in our store. She smiled. There’s more to it than that, of course, but that’s the gist of it. And we need people who are readers themselves to read the manuscripts, because we get dozens of them every week. These people also work in the store, and transcribe the hand written stories, because not everyone has access to a computer or even a typewriter. And there’s the editing. So much editing. Do you see that sign on the wall behind you?

Colleen looked over her shoulder and saw a wooden sign with the words We Make Dreams Come True. We make dreams come true ... What a beautiful sentiment. Meeting Frances’ eyes again, she said, Why are you telling me all this?

Let me ask you something before I answer your question. What genres do you enjoy reading?

Mostly romances. I need a happy ending, or at least a happy for now. Once in a great while I’ll try a fantasy novel, or even science fiction, but I always find my way back to romances. When Frances nodded at her, Colleen felt she’d passed some kind of test, but she had no idea what test it could have been.

I feel you would be a good fit at the Print Shop, Colleen, and if you decide you’re ready for a change, I want you to come see me. If I’m not in the store, you ask whoever is covering the front, whether it be Logan, Ethan, Hallie, Darcy, or Matthew, to find me. Because I would love to speak with you again.

Chapter 2

Logan was completing a sale when he saw the blonde pass the counter, her long curls bouncing with every step, and he waited until the blonde and the customer had left the store before he turned to Frances. He wasn’t going to question his boss about the girl because he knew from experience she wouldn’t give anything away. Yet. The fact the girl had been beaming when she left told him everything he needed to know. We close in twenty minutes. Do you want me to stay out here?

I’d appreciate that, Logan. How is the evaluation edit going? What do you think of the manuscript so far?

No more rough around the edges than most of them are, and I think we can make it work.

If the writer is flexible? Frances said.

Logan scratched the back of his head. "We can start by changing the title from The Best Little Sci-Fi Novel Ever Written."

Frances patted the manuscript. I know you’ll be able to convince him or her of whatever needs to be done.

There was one question he could ask that Frances might answer. What does the blonde girl read? When Frances gave him the eye, he said, "The blonde woman."

Romances.

Good. You need to get her on board.

There’s nothing wrong with expanding out of your comfort zone, Logan. And you only have to deal with twenty percent of them. Everyone does their share.

I’m not complaining. He grinned. Much.

Romance is good for your soul. I’ll be in the office if you need me.

Logan returned to the manuscript, grimacing as he read about a talking rat. At least he hadn’t come across any romance yet.

As he was closing out the register, Matthew joined him.

Almost finished? Matthew said.

Yeah. Just bringing the drawer to Frances and I’m out of here, Logan said.

You’re doing the Taphouse, right?

Course.

Is Frances hiring the blonde? Matthew said.

Logan wasn’t surprised his friend had noticed the girl. The woman. She didn’t say.

We can still hope. She’d make a fine addition to the office. Don’t you think?

What do you think? Logan wondered why he’d bothered asking.

Too bad she’s a blonde, and not your type. Guess I’ll have to do the honors.

Maybe Logan hadn’t dated any blondes recently, but that didn’t mean what Matthew seemed to think it meant. Anyway, it didn’t matter since Frances hadn’t introduced her to the office, which meant she hadn’t been hired. You do what you have to do, Romeo.

Matthew laughed. I do what I do best.

And you’re so humble about it. The other guys are going over, right?

Course. They’ll meet us there.

Go ahead. I’ll be there in ten. I’ll see if Frances wants to go, Logan said.

Doubt it.

Logan also doubted Frances would join them this week, but he always asked. He suspected from some of the things she’d said that she wanted her staff to bond without her hovering over them, and he appreciated her attitude. She was the best boss he’d ever had, and sometimes she seemed more like an aunt than a superior.

COLLEEN SAVED HER NEW book until after dinner was cleaned up, then she gave her Friday night date a once over. Unicorns Keeping it Real. The cover was lovely, and she brushed her fingertips over the unicorn before slowly opening the paperback.

Between the cover and the illustrations inside and the playful font, it appeared to be a children’s book until she began reading what turned out to be a collection of quotes and poetry that immediately began speaking to her heart. An hour later she had finished her first read-through, and she closed the cover and held the book to her chest.

The author was a genius, and the next