Reviews would be wonderful! I hope everyone is enjoying reading this as much as I am enjoying writing it! ~E~, I haven't stated what kind of fan fic this is yet because I'm not even sure if Eli and Grace will end up together (though I'm pretty sure they will!). I am still getting used to this site and have found some mistakes in the two chapters. I will do my best to better proofread each chapter before publishing it. Also, the same ol', same ol' disclaimers approve to my piece, too. Hope you all enjoy! -- K

Chapter Three

"Spencer Lewicki? Is that really you?" Grace asked, amazed. She hadn't seen Spencer since high school graduation.

**Grace - "Spencer! I can't believe he's here. At Booklovers! It's been too long since I last saw him." - Giggles a little bit. "He is looking good!"**

He smiled and stretched his arms out. She gave him a large hug. "It's been too long seeing you, Manning! How are you?"

"Pretty good. Two more weeks before I am a college graduate! What about you? I heard you went to Yale?"

"Yes, I did. I just graduated, actually. I'm back in town for the summer before I go to Cornell to start my Master's Degree," Spencer explained.

"Impressive! I had heard you attended an Ivy League school. I just didn't know which one. So, what brings you home for the summer?"

"It's quite silly, but I wanted to enjoy one last summer at home. My Grandmother is pretty sick and I wanted to spend some more time with her."

Grace furrowed her brow, remembering how she, Spencer, and his Grandmother had been held hostage in this very restaurant many years ago by an angry ex- employee. His grandmother had heart problems back then and Grace could only imagine how much she had deteriorated since then.

"So you'll be here all summer? That's wonderful! Any plans?"

"Well, I did want to look for a part-time job. I was fortunate enough to get a full scholarship to both Yale and Cornell, but need to earn a bit of spending money."

"I have an idea! How would you like to work here this summer? My step- brother, Eli, is an assistant manager here and he's in charge of hiring summer help."

"I don't know, Grace. this place has some pretty bad memories for me."

"But that was years ago! And before it was Book Lovers. Look!" she interrupted, pointing at the dozens of bookshelves that lined the book-side of the building. "We have more books than we do disgruntled employees!" she said with a wink.

"Well. Ok! You twisted my arm. What positions are available?"

Grace gave him another hug, excited that she might be able to spend the whole summer with her old friend.

Meanwhile, Eli watched this whole reunion from his office window with a slight frown on his face. He didn't know Spencer, so he had no idea who the dark haired guy Grace kept hugging was, but he could tell from her smile that he meant a lot to her.

**Eli - shrugs his shoulders - "Maybe he'll keep her interest?"

He panicked as he saw Grace look back at his window. He quickly started sifting through the applications again, trying to look busy.

There was a knock on the door.

"Come in!" he said.

Grace peaked in and gave him a smile, then closed the door behind her.

"Eli. my friend Spencer is here. You know - the one who was here when we were held hostage?"

"Oh, I remember. Has he been waiting too long for a table?"

"He's actually looking for a summer job before he starts his Master's Degree. Look, I know this puts you in a bad position. but do you think we could hire him? I mean could he fill out an application and maybe get an interview? I know he'd be great here - very reliable and intelligent. He's just so interesting!" Grace said.

**Eli - let out a loud groan.**

She walked over to be beside him and kneeled so she was looking into his eyes.

"I know for a fact that you are having trouble finding someone here because of the age gaps, but I'm telling you, E, you should hire Spencer. He's so nice. It would mean a lot to me."

Eli hadn't seen her excited in a long time. She looked so eager, so beautiful. With her face just inches from his, he could smell the strong lavender and vanilla perfume she always sprayed on her neck. He could look deeply into her eyes.

**Eli - "What the hell am I doing?"

"Sure, Grace. Have him fill this out," he handed her an application, "tonight and I will call him for an interview tomorrow morning if everything looks good."

She squealed and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Thanks, Eli! You won't regret this!" She gave him a quick peck on his cheek then ran out of his office to give Spencer the great news.

**Eli - "Won't regret it? I can't begin to think about all the regrets I have because of that girl."**

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After Spencer filled out his application and left, the rest of Grace's shift flew by. She dearly loved working at Book Lover's, but, like Eli, was getting sick of the younger crowd employees. They spent too much time gossiping and flirting and not enough time being productive. When their friends would come in, they never bought much and always destroyed the place. Her aunt had thought that employing some high school kids would help improve that demographic, but the teen customers usually just bought sodas and magazines, never meals and novels. Anyway, it would be great having Spencer work with her this summer.

After Book Lover's closed, Grace swept the floors and remembered the feelings she once felt for Spencer. After the hostage situation, they seemed so close for a while before he needed time off. It hurt at first, but she saw how withdrawn he was from everything else, that, soon, she realized their separation hadn't been completely because of her. She knew that he had seen a therapist during his last two years in high school which helped him get over his fears a bit more. Once he started therapy, he had improved so much! They were able to regain their friendship, but the crush she once had for him had gone, too. Spencer had just been her friend and she was fine with that.

Now, though, she wondered about the feeling that was building in her stomach. She admitted that Spencer had become quite handsome. His hair was shorter and styled and he no longer wore glasses, so his deep eyes seemed bigger. He had grown quite a bit and she was sure he was now the same height as Eli. She assumed he had worked out a bit at school because the Spencer she once knew did not have the muscles that the guy she hugged did tonight! Was she feeling romantic feelings towards him? Was it a crush? Or was she just so happy to see her old friend after so many years. She wasn't sure.

"Grace? I have a little more bookkeeping to do before we can leave," Eli said, interrupting her thoughts. She looked up from the floor and looked at him. "Is that alright or do you want to call Lily?"

"No, I can wait. Is there anything I can do to help?" Grace offered.

Eli looked up from his paperwork and smiled. "Sure. That would be great!"

**Eli - shrugging, "What? I wasn't trying to spend more time with her." - he looks around, paranoid. "Well. not really. alright. I didn't want to do this alone and any time I can spend with Grace is. well. it's nice."

Together, they sat beside each other at the bar, working and chatting. Occasionally, they would each take turns getting sodas. Much later, Eli looked up at the clock and realized it was almost two o'clock in the morning.

"Wow, I didn't realize how late it was!" he said.

Grace looked up, too and yawned. "Me neither. Should we call it a night?"

"I think so. Come on, let's get everything together and lock the place up."

It took another ten minutes before they were walking out of Book Lover's once Eli set the alarms and locked the doors. They got into the Jeep and drove home, each yawning too many times to count.

Once they reached the house, they quietly entered the house, trying hard to keep quiet. Before she walked up the stairs, Grace whispered, "Good night, Eli. Thanks for picking me up today."

"Oh, no problem. Thanks for helping me out so much," he whispered back, turning and facing her.

"I hope you aren't mad about Spencer. I just think he'd be great for the place."

"After looking at his application, I do, too. Although I must admit, I think he is overqualified, but, then so are you."

She smiled at his remark.

**Eli - "I know she likes him. I can just tell. She hasn't stopped smiling since he came in tonight. How can she work with him with that goofy grin on all day? Maybe I can schedule them opposite shifts? I have to hire him. He will be a great asset to the place."**

"You had a thing for him before, didn't you?" he asked her, shocked that he let his thoughts come out his mouth.

"Sort of. It was an innocent, high school crush, I guess. The timing was all wrong," she responded.

Eli took a deep breath, and then asked, "What about now? Is the timing right now?"

**Grace - gives a quizzical look. "Now? Why is Eli asking me this?"

"I don't think so. He's going to Cornell in the fall. He has a lot of schooling a head of him. Besides, we only spoke for fifteen minutes. I couldn't possibly develop feelings for someone so quickly."

Eli bowed his head, "I'm sorry for being so nosey. It really isn't any of my business. It just seems like we have talked quite a lot today. I guess I just took it too far."

Grace put her hand on his shoulder.

**Eli - "When she touches me, I get this warm, glowing feeling all over."**

"Eli, I am so glad that we are finally getting close. I have no idea what's taken us so long to get to this point, but I'm glad we did. I am very glad that I have a brother I can talk to. a friend."

**Eli - He takes a deep breath. "Heavy sigh."**

"Me, too," he said.

"Well, I guess I will see you in the morning. What time do you work?" she asked him.

"Three o'clock. You?"

"Same. Can I ride with you again?"

"Maybe that's not such a great idea. I have some more work to do tomorrow night," he responded.

"That's alright. I can help out again. Or, if I wasn't much help, I can bring some school work. Big botany test on Monday," she rolled her eyes.

"You were a huge help, but if you have studying, I wouldn't want to take that from you."

"Ok. Good night, Eli," with that, she turned around and ran up the steps; leaving him gaze at her, still smelling the sweet lavender and vanilla perfume that permeated the room.