Kiss me Forever (Forbidden #3)

Chapter One

Piper

I wake up with a smile because I’m always excited to start a new day. It’s not because my life is perfect, but because I know that destiny is in my own hands. I can be positive as I wake, or I can be grumpy, defining my own attitude. I choose happiness. Sure, there’s a lot to be scared about in life, but the thing is, if I look for what’s good, then that’s what I’ll see. That means I absolutely don’t watch the news. Yuck! That’s my recipe for a blissful life.

I’m Piper Covington, twenty-nine years old, which is young in my humble opinion, and unlike many who see their glass as half full, I make sure my glass is overflowing. I jump from bed and throw my curtains open, my smile growing even bigger as a warm glow filters through my small bedroom in my adorably cozy apartment. Raising my arms high I let out a long sigh as I stretch my muscles. I have a busy day, just like every day of my life. I get into trouble if I don’t keep busy enough.

I’m a librarian, which I think is the best job in the world. I was with the University library for the first five years after graduating college, but then, I opened our local library in my small hometown near Seattle. It’s become a local hangout for many, and it’s so much more than a place to check out books. People can finish projects, watch videos, do homework, and have a safe place to gather. This is so much more than a job for me; it’s my passion, my sanctuary, and my perfect piece of paradise in a crazy world.

I jump into the shower, doing a mighty fine version of George Micheal’s Gotta Have Faith while I wash my hair. I jump out, do a little dance with my towel, dry my hair, throw it up in a bun, put on some mascara and lipstick, and my favorite sunflower dress since my best friend Livie says I always look like a happy ray of sunshine. I next skip my way into the kitchen, where I pull out my overnight oats and pour a cup of coffee. I’ve restricted myself to two cups a day . . . for the most part. Sometimes, I might grab another cup . . . or two from the local shop that’s way too close to the library. I might eat a few of their extraordinary scones as well. That’s why I dance so much. I have to burn off the insane amount of calories I consume daily.

It doesn’t take long before I’m ready to head out the door. I grab my bag, which already has the latest book I’ve been devouring inside. As soon as I’m out the door I do a spin to let the sunshine flow over me. Have you ever watched the movie Isn’t It Romantic, where Melissa McCarthy walks outside to realize she’s inside a rom-com? That’s how I feel every single day, but instead of hating it, I’m in love with the feeling.

The library is only a short walk from my apartment, nestled on the edge of my incredibly quaint town. If I do say so myself, the building is beautiful, blending old-world charm and modern updates. I should know since I used my own hands to take the once uninhabitable building and made it shine. A few construction crews hired for the remodel might’ve wanted to quit once or twice since I had a vision and wouldn’t vary a bit from what I wanted, but in the end, they all agreed that I was right. I also brought them a lot of delicious goodies I baked with my own hands to soften the blow of my craziness. I’m not the best cook in the world, but I can make some mean cookies. Those crew members come back often to enjoy the library.

I walk down the street and stop as I always do to admire the colorful entrance, with Dr. Suess on one side of the door and Albert Einstein on the other, having a showdown. A sign is over the top of the door saying, All Who Enter Must Do So With Imagination. It doesn’t matter that I’ve entered this building thousands of times; I still smile joyfully as I see the incredible entrance.

As soon as I step inside, I’m walking on colored tiles with quotes, and I’m greeted by the familiar scent of books, both old and new, and the intoxication of history, adventure, romance, thrills, sci-fy, and most importantly of all, endless possibility.

“Good morning, Piper,” Mrs. Hargrove, my favorite volunteer, calls from the front desk. One thing about Mrs. Hargrove is that she doesn’t have a librarian voice. City Hall down the block can hear her when she speaks, but the patrons love her, as do I. She’s as much a staple at this library as I am, with her white hair worn in the same way for as long as I can remember. Most importantly is that she wears a smile that competes with my own. She has a dozen grandchildren and loves reading as much as I do. We’re a perfect team.

“Good morning, Mrs. Hargrove. It’s another beautiful day. Are you ready for new adventures?”

“You know I am,” she replies. I wave and make my way back to the staff room, where I start each morning after a walk through the library, which is already buzzing with activity.

There are children gathered in the reading corner, sitting on bean bag chairs and giggling as they look for the newest books they might not have had a chance to read yet, their eyes full of laughter and wonder. I pass by many locals browsing the shelves who all have a wonderful greeting before they go back to digging through the shelves. There’s nothing I like more than helping patrons find the perfect weekend read.

The computer room is already half full as some play games, some do research, and some simply pass the time getting lost online. Only one of three of our quiet rooms is currently in use, and I see Samantha inside with a large poster board and know she’s once again taking a summer class. She’s competitive and will undoubtedly graduate as her class valedictorian next year.

I step into my backroom and see my best friend, Livie, sitting at the table with a book open in front of her and a plate of goodies she’s picking from. She looks up and beams at me.

“What a nice surprise,” I tell her as I walk over. She jumps up and gives me a hug. With her belly getting bigger by the day with my niece growing inside of her, our hugs are always extra fun.

“It feels like we never see each other anymore since a hot man swept me off my feet,” she says with a laugh. “Then this little peanut inside me rules my moods, and sometimes I simply need to sit on the couch eating ice-cream while I cry. Tyler really enjoys those moments.”

I laugh with her at these words. Her mood changes have been quite fun during this pregnancy. I hate that we’re no longer roommates so I can’t take this walk with her, but I’m also thrilled she’s found the love of her life who treats her like the princess she is. Plus, I can’t be mad when my niece will be born when she’s done cooking. I might be more impatient than Livie is at this point to hold the little peanut.

“It has been an entire four days, which is an eternity,” I tell her. “Tyler must be keeping you chained to that bed of his.”

She throws her head back and laughs before winking at me. “I wouldn’t mind a few ropes,” she tells me, making me laugh this time. “I’m not too bendy these days though.” She rubs her rapidly expanding belly.

“Kinky, kinky. You’ve been in the dark romance section of the library, haven’t you?”

“I might sneak a few of those on my eReader,” she admits. “There’s no way I’m checking one of those books out with Mrs. Hargrove at the front desk, though.” A shudder runs through me at the thought. Mrs. Hargrove isn’t known for her discretion.

“I know. I sneak those out after the library is closed. The entire town would know if I officially checked them out,” I admit.

Livie truly is the yin to my yang and the moon to my sun. We’ve been besties since college, and I think we were actually separated at birth. Where I’m always bright and bubbly, she’s calm and steady. We perfectly balance each other and absolutely never run out of things to talk about. We have busy lives, but we always make time for one another. I can’t imagine walking through this life without my best friend.

This is especially important because I grew up with awful parents who I don’t have a relationship with at all. The last I knew, they had moved to Florida, where they could be selfish together. They never wanted to be parents and always resented my brother and me. Sadly, I don’t have much of a relationship with my brother either. He lives in the area but moved out of our home when I was only ten, and he never returned. I only ever hear from him if he needs a favor. Sadly, I cringe when he does call. None of that matters, though, because I have Livie, who’s my true sister. A person doesn’t have to be blood to be family.

“What’s on your agenda today?” she asks. Then she answers before I have a chance to reply. “I can guarantee it’s to spread joy and knowledge to the masses of the town.”

“Of course,” I admit. “We have some really great new books that arrived on last night’s shipment.”

“I love being the bestie so I get first dibs,” she says.

“You always get preferential treatment for being the coolest person in town,” I assure her. She smiles before moving back to the table and grabbing a donut. I join her. I don’t just have a sweet tooth; I have all sweet teeth. I could almost live on desserts alone. If it weren’t for French fries, that is. But then again, I love dipping my fries in ice-cream so even with my salt I love a bit of sweetness. Who doesn’t like to mix caramel corn with cheddar corn? Delicious!

“I could sit here and talk all day, but I better get out there. I have many patrons to assist,” I tell her.

“Of course you do. I’ll get out of your hair and will see you for book club,” she says. We hug again, and she rushes out. I then make my way to the floor. As soon as I step out of the door I’m thrilled to see a crowd of patrons, happily moving through the library. The crowd has grown in my short time in the back. This is often how the library is in the summer. It’s less crowded in winter, but we still get a lot of visitors.

The first person to catch my attention is a sweet little angel, Abby, who’s nine years old. She’s standing in front of the fantasy section, her eyes wide with indecision.

“Hey there, Abby, do you need help finding something?” I ask as I kneel down to her level.

She looks up, her eyes brightening. “Hi, Miss Piper. I want to find something with dragons,” she tells me.

“I can help with that,” I tell her as I lead her over to our new release section, The Dragon and the Girl Series. “You’ll love these books, and they’ll keep you busy for a while. You’ll have to come back and tell me what you think about them.”

She takes the first book then gives me a hug before she leans back and bounces up and down. “Thank you, Miss Piper,” she says. This right here is why I love my job so much. It fills me with warmth and joy to find a perfect book for a wonderful person.

Abby runs off, and then Mr. Elder wanders in, looking lost. I walk up to him. “Hello, Mr. Elder, I haven’t seen you in here for a while,” I say in greeting. He smiles as he carefully moves forward.

“I’ve been visiting the grandkids in Arizona. It was time to come home, though, cause you know it gets way too hot there this time of year. I’m a Northwest person, and I like my cooler days and nice brisk wind in the summer.”

“Oh yes, way too warm in the Middle States in the summer,” I agree. “What are you reading these days?”

“I read that whole Reacher series you recommended while in Arizona and couldn’t stop. I love the mystery and getting to read about the same character in different situations all of the way through. Do you have another recommendation for me?” he asks.

“Oh, I have so many recommendations, but I also have another favorite series of mine,” I assure him. I take him over to the mystery section and show him some of the latest releases. Then, I stop in front of my all-time favorite series. “This is a super long series with the same characters with new adventures in every book. You have four women as the main characters, with the men as their sidekicks. The chemistry is real, and the adventure, crime, and intrigue are phenomenal in each book. Give the first book a shot, and I bet you’ll be hooked all the way through,” I say as I hand him 1st to Die, the first book in the Women’s Murder Club series.

He takes the first three books in the series, fully trusting my opinion, and I watch him walk up to the counter to check out. I can’t wait to hear what he thinks about the series. These will keep him busy for months.

Next to rush to my side is Ashley, a first-year college student. Her arms are full of research papers and textbooks, and she looks stressed, which isn’t unusual. Even in high school she put school above all else. One day this girl will be the first female president in the US. I have no doubt about it.

“Hi, Ashley; I see you’re in a rush as usual,” I tell her as I step up next to her to open the door of one of the private rooms. She’ll be in there until closing and looking much less harried on her way out.

“Hi, Miss Piper. Yes, I’m working on a history project about our founding. I’m super excited about it. I have a ton of books to go through,” she says, thanking me as I hold open the door for her. She quickly drops all of her items on the table and wipes her brow.

“Can I help you find anything?” I always ask, but I think this girl knows the library as well as I do.

“Nope, I’ve got this,” she tells me.

I make an internal note to self to bring her some lunch in a few hours. She works so hard she’ll forget to eat. I like to help her out. I love making someone’s day a little easier and a whole lot brighter.

“Then I’ll get out of your way so you can get busy,” I say.

The next few hours fly by in a blur, just as every single day does for me. When you love your job that’s how every moment is. Mrs. Hargrove comes to me as she always does at lunch and forces me out the door for at least an hour. If I even attempt to come back early she pushes me back out. She always tells me I must have a life outside of the library, and she’s going to ensure it. I do appreciate her as I love to feel sunshine on my face. Once I leave the library I can be outside all afternoon. It’s just hard to get me out the doors.

I send a quick message and am thrilled that Livie is free. She tells me to meet her at the small garden in the town park, that she’ll bring the food, and I’m to grab coffee. I go to my favorite shop and order our iced coffees, then head to the park. She isn’t far behind me. We meet at our favorite picnic table and take a seat as she pulls out sandwiches, chips, and cookies. A nice breeze is blowing over us with the hot sun above. It doesn’t get better than a day like this.

“I bet the first part of the day felt like five minutes to you,” Livie says as she munches her cookie. We always choose dessert first. That way, if we get too full, we’ll already have had the good stuff.

“You know it. No new people today, but plenty of locals. Found a new dragon book for Abby and got Mr. Elder started on the Women Murder Club series. Not a bad start to the day.”

“It’s amazing to me that you can find anything at any time in that library. I swear you must dream about books,” Livie says.

“I do dream about books. I think people who don’t are weird,” she assures me.

“I might dream about characters from books, but I can’t say I’ve ever dreamed about actual books,” she says.

“I love listening to audiobooks now so I can move around and still read, but there’s magic in paperbacks, the way they smell, the feel of the paper beneath my fingers, the beauty in the covers. I’m not even ashamed that I dream of books,” I tell her.

“That’s why I love you so much.”

“I love you for too many reasons to count,” I say.

We chat some more as we finish our lunch, and then she walks me back to the library while I jump right back into things. As the afternoon wears on, my least favorite part of the day comes into play, and I head into my office to do paperwork. I don’t understand how people can sit at a computer all day as it’s absolutely miserable. I can handle it for no more than a couple of hours before I start pulling my own hair out, and my hair is way too nice to destroy.

It’s a nice caramel color, and I keep it long because I can do so much more with it. Sure, I throw it in many buns, but when I want to get fancy, I’ve watched enough YouTube videos to give it some pizazz. That’s usually a weekend thing.

My paperwork takes me longer than I like, and by the time I’m finished, it’s time to shut down the library. Everyone’s gone home for the day, including Mrs. Hargrove. I start shutting off lights and checking every corner of the library. I’ve never had someone try to stay in at closing time, but you never know when someone might be asleep in one of the private reading corners in the place. I’ve found a few people napping before.

I finally close the doors and lock them, then make my way down the sunny streets. I love the summer when it’s light outside for so much longer. I’d love to have a garden to attend to, and maybe someday I’ll have a house with a big backyard, but that isn’t at the top of my priorities at the moment. Right now, it’s better to have zero yard maintenance. I can spend more time reading this way.

When I finally step inside my small place, I cook an easy dinner, then sit back with my favorite book and get comfortable. Another day has come and gone, and tomorrow will be just as beautiful. I don’t know why so many people want changes in their lives because I think mine is just about as perfect as it gets. It can stay just this way from here until eternity. Why? Because each new day is a brand-new adventure and that is a perfect plot in a book.