hidden treasures: switched EXCERPT
I walked past several familiar stores and came to stop in front of an unfamiliar one. The name etched into the sign was Hidden Treasures, but the only items on display were a couple of old-looking books and unrecognizable goop in an assortment of jars. There was a large, crimson banner advertising the store’s grand opening tomorrow.
Someone lightly tapped my shoulder and I whirled around, coming face-to-face with Tabatha.
“I’m beginning to think you have a crush on me,” I said even though I wasn’t in the mood for joking around.
Neither was she. She wrinkled her nose in disgust and tossed her dark hair over one shoulder. “I just came to give you a warning,” she told me.
I couldn’t help but arch a brow. “What warning is that?”
“To stay away from Zander,” she replied. “I don’t know why he concerned himself with an oinker like you anyway, but he’s my boyfriend. So hands off.”
I didn’t get the chance to think of something clever to say in response to that, because after saying those words, she turned and strutted down the sidewalk.
I could only stand there, a prisoner of my own rage.
“I’m going to take a stab in the dark and guess that the two of you aren’t the best of friends,” said a low, silky voice.
I turned to face a tall, slender figure standing in the doorway of the Hidden Treasures shop. The door stood propped open, allowing me a limited view of the shop itself.
“Maybe it’s none of my business,” the person said, shrugging. I couldn’t tell if it was a man or a woman. Long, platinum blonde hair fell past the shoulders and the eyes that were sizing me up were the brightest shade of blue I’d ever seen.
“No, she and I aren’t friends,” I confirmed. “We’re quite the opposite.”
“Hidden Treasures may be of service to you, then.”
I looked over at the display window and shook my head. “I doubt it. I don’t think anyone can help me.”
“I’m sure that I can,” the store owner said confidently.
I followed the store owner into the store. There was the smallest amount of hope burning within me, hope that this store could somehow solve all of my problems.
“My name is Aidan Powers,” the store owner said. “The store’s grand opening is tomorrow, but I’ve had a couple of people stop into the store today. They wanted to know what I’m selling.”
“What do you sell?” I asked curiously. I couldn’t stop myself.
“I sell dreams,” Aidan answered. With his deep voice, broad shoulders and name, I assumed he was a man. I still wasn’t absolutely sure because even though he had a deep voice and a muscular build, the graceful way in which he moved looked feminine to me.
“How can you sell dreams?” I asked as we walked through the aisles of the store.
A shrug was his only response to the question. He stopped and plucked one of the bottles from its shelf. “Would you believe that the contents of this bottle could turn you into a rock star?”
“No,” I said honestly. “I couldn’t believe something like that.”
“Of course not,” he said, returning the bottle to its place and moving along. “We stop believing in the supernatural when we become a certain age. We’re told that the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus don’t exist, so nothing else magical exists, either.”
“Are you claiming that you sell magic?” I asked.
He turned and looked down at me. “I told you,” he said. “I sell dreams. You can call it magic. You can call it tricks. You can call it whatever you wish to call it, but in essence, I sell dreams.”
I considered turning and running out of the store. After all, this man was technically a stranger, whether or not he’d introduced himself to me. He could be a complete whacko.
He tilted his head back and laughed. “If you wish to turn and run, then do so,” he told me. “I’m not going to force you to stay here.”
I hadn’t voiced my thoughts aloud, had I? I was sure that I hadn’t, and yet he’d known exactly what I’d been thinking. Without a word, he turned and continued down the aisle. After giving it a moment’s thought, I followed him further into the store.