A Subtle Offer

 Chapter 6: A Subtle Offer

Lena was restocking the shelves near the front of the store when the familiar sound of the door chime echoed through the quiet air. Without looking up, she already knew who it was.

"Good morning, Ms. Shop Owner," Jace greeted, his voice carrying that usual hint of mischief.

"Morning, Jace," Lena replied, unable to stop a smile from creeping onto her face. It had become an unspoken ritual now—him arriving, her pretending not to be surprised. It was as if he'd decided he was part of the store's furniture.

Jace strolled down the aisle, taking in the small changes she'd made. The fresh blue trim around the windows, the reorganized snack display, the subtle touches she'd added in the past few days all looked brighter in the morning light.

"Wow, look at you," he said, pausing by the newly organized snack shelf. "Every time I come in here, it looks a little fancier. At this rate, you're going to put the chain stores out of business."

"Oh, please," Lena replied, chuckling. "I'd need a miracle to compete with them. But I'm trying to make it… nicer."

"Well, you're definitely succeeding," he said, casually grabbing his usual can of coffee from the shelf. He paused, tapping his fingers on the counter thoughtfully. "Though I've gotta say, Ms. Shop Owner, a little extra help wouldn't hurt, you know."

Lena shot him a skeptical look, half-amused and half-curious. "Are you offering to work here, Jace?"

"Maybe." He shrugged, his grin widening. "I mean, I'm here all the time anyway. I practically know the place as well as you do."

She laughed, shaking her head. "Oh yeah? And what would you do here, exactly?"

"Well," he said, feigning deep thought, "I could be your coffee sommelier. I'm a certified expert in all things canned and caffeinated, you know."

"Is that so?" Lena replied, smirking. "What else would you do?"

"I'm a pretty decent shelf duster, if I do say so myself. And I could easily out-chat any other clerk in town," he said, shooting her a wink. "But really, I'd just make the place a little more fun."

"Uh-huh." Lena rolled her eyes, but she couldn't deny that his presence did bring a spark to the store. "I'm not so sure this place needs… fun."

"Aw, come on." He leaned against the counter, his grin softening slightly. "Every place needs a little fun. Even Ms. Shop Owner's Shop of Seriousness."

Lena tried to bite back a laugh, failing miserably. "I don't know. I'm not sure I could handle having a walking, talking coffee commercial working here."

"Think of it as free advertising," he replied, taking a sip of his coffee with a grin.

They fell into an easy silence, and Lena found herself stealing glances at him as he leaned against the counter, casually sipping his coffee. She wasn't used to having someone around who could make her laugh so easily. The thought of him actually working here was… interesting. The store had always been her domain, a place she could control and keep just as her father had left it. Letting someone else in felt strangely unsettling—but also a little exciting.

"So," Jace said, breaking the silence, "if you ever do need an extra set of hands, you know where to find me."

"Are you serious?" Lena asked, half-amused and half-skeptical. "Because I don't think you know what you're getting yourself into."

He shrugged, his tone light but sincere. "I'm just saying, if you ever need a partner in crime to rearrange snack displays or a guy to lift boxes… I'm around."

Lena felt a flutter of something she couldn't quite name. She liked the idea of having someone else here, someone who could bring a little brightness to the long hours. But she didn't want him to feel obligated. It was one thing for him to come in every day for coffee; it was another for him to be part of her day-to-day routine.

"Well, I'll keep that in mind," she replied finally, trying to sound nonchalant. "I'm sure I'll manage on my own, but… I'll let you know."

"Good," he said, tipping an imaginary hat. "I wouldn't want to miss out on the chance to become Ms. Shop Owner's right-hand man."

She rolled her eyes again, laughing despite herself. "You really think you could handle this place?"

"Hey, I'm full of hidden talents," he replied with a smirk. "Who knows? Maybe I was born to work here."

"Somehow, I doubt that," Lena replied, shaking her head, but she couldn't help the small smile tugging at her lips.

Jace took another sip of his coffee, then glanced at her with that familiar glint in his eye. "You know, Ms. Shop Owner, I think you secretly want me here. Think about it—I'd be here all the time, keeping you company, making sure this place is never dull."

"Oh, yeah, because I'd just love to have my own personal comedian on staff," she replied, her tone dry.

"Exactly! See? You're already warming up to the idea," he said, flashing her a grin before heading toward the door. "Anyway, think about it. I'll be back tomorrow, as usual."

She watched him walk out, that easygoing smile still lingering on her mind. The door chimed softly as he left, leaving the store empty once again. But the silence felt different now, as if he'd left a lingering spark in the air.

Lena went back to restocking, but she couldn't shake the thought of Jace actually helping her out around the store. It was ridiculous, really—she barely knew him, and yet he felt like such a fixture in her day already. The idea of him being around more often was oddly comforting, even if he'd probably be more of a distraction than a helper.

She shook her head, amused at herself. She had her routine, her way of doing things. But still… maybe it wouldn't hurt to have a little help. Someone to lighten the load, someone to share the little moments with. And Jace—well, he was a wild card, but he had a way of making her laugh, making her forget the weight she carried every day.

As she continued tidying the shelves, she found herself smiling, imagining what it would be like if Jace were actually behind the counter with her, bringing his chaotic energy to the quiet little store.

"Right-hand man, huh?" she muttered to herself, chuckling as she placed the last item on the shelf. "Guess we'll see about that."

For the first time, the thought of sharing her space with someone else didn't feel like a burden. It felt… nice. And as she closed up that evening, she couldn't help but wonder if this was the start of something new.