Chapter 9
nine
GEORGIE
I smile at the young mother in front of me and point her toward the children’s section of the library. “You’ll find plenty of books to entertain your little ones over there.”
“Thank you. I was going to take them to the park but it’s too cold without their coats and I stupidly left them at home.”
“You’re welcome. Let me know if you need anything else.”
After she herds her two little boys away, I lean against the checkout desk as I cover a yawn.
I’m struggling today.
I barely slept last night.
First because I couldn’t help replaying the kiss Drew laid on me.
Holy hell.
Talk about lighting things up.
My body burst to life from my pink painted toenails to my badly in need of a cut hair.
It was quick and harsh and life-altering.
And over before I could really enjoy it.
Which brings me to the second reason I couldn’t sleep.
He’d pulled away like I’d bitten him and ushered me inside faster than Marnie drives down Main Street.
My head was already spinning from the kiss and after the way he’d all but shoved me inside and left, I felt like an astronaut trying to walk on earth after a year in space.
I even have bruises on my elbow and knee from where I bumped into the doorframe as I stumbled into my bedroom.
It took me until the sun came up to understand what he’d said and why he’d left me so abruptly.
We’ve had one date—two according to him—and I wanted to drag him inside and strip us both naked. My desire had been so sharp I doubt we would have made it to my bedroom.
No, we definitely wouldn’t have made it.
I’d have jumped him the second the door snapped shut behind us and no doubt I would have more bruises this morning because we would have ended up rolling around on the hard timber floor.
Even now my body tingles with excitement. And the thought of seeing him later today... Of spending more time together…
I shiver.
Just the possibility of him kissing me again has?—
“What are you daydreaming about?”
Startled, I jerk, my hip hitting the edge of the desk. “Ouch. Shi…eeet!” My gaze darts around to check no little ones are nearby. Once I’m sure we’re alone I turn my glare on Ann.
“What the h e double l? Why are you sneaking up on me?”
“I didn’t sneak up. I’ve called your name twice. Once from over there”—she indicates a table only a few feet away—“and again from here.” This time she points to the floor on my left. Where her feet are.
“Oh.”
“Yes. Oh.” She steps closer and studies me with the eyes of the mom she is, the ones that seem to be able to read minds. “Are you feeling okay? You look a little flushed.”
Reaching up, she tests my brow with the back of her hand.
“You feel warm but not overly so.” Her frown is full of concern and I take the hand on my forehead and bring it down to cradle between both of mine.
“I’m fine. A little tired but not sick.”
She hums and I can imagine the expression on her face is one she’s used with her daughters over the years.
“Honestly. I’m fine. I was thinking about last night.”
Her eyes pop wide and a smile slowly spreads across her face. I don’t need to tell her more, she knows I’m talking about my date with Drew.
“Well. If the memory has that flush on your face, I assume it went well.”
I don’t normally talk about this kind of thing. I don’t have any closer girlfriends and I never spoke to Granny about the boys and men I dated over the years. It seems odd but not awkward to talk to Ann.
“It was really good. Better than I’d hoped but it ended a little abruptly and I didn’t sleep well after that.”
“Second guessing everything that happened.” she says with a nod.
“Yes. Definitely.”
“Well, it might have you worrying but I think you can push all that concern aside.”
“Oh, why?”
“Because that man has driven past this building at least twice an hour since I got here.” She tips her head toward the front windows.
I turn to see Drew, sitting in a Sheriff’s department cruiser looking right at me. “Oh.” I smile and wave, which gets me a chin lift before he turns forward and pulls out into traffic.
Facing Ann again, I ask, “Has he really stopped out front that much?”
“Yes. And judging by the way his eyes seek you out before he leaves, I’d say the man is smitten.”
“He’s not the only one,” I say before I can think better of it.
Ann slips an arm around my shoulders and gives me a squeeze. “I’m glad to hear it. Now why don’t you head home early today? I’m here until we close and we’re not busy.”
“Oh, I couldn’t?—”
“And if things do get busy, I can get John to man the checkout desk.”
“But—”
“I’m sure you’ve got some things you want to do, and a nap does sound nice don’t you think?”
The whole time Ann speaks she’s guiding me toward my office. When we reach the doorway she slips her arm away and moves behind me. She places both hands on my shoulders and urges me forward.
“Now. Take some time off. I don’t remember the last time you did.”
I turn my head to find her frowning.
“Nope. Cannot recall the last time you were not in this library from open to close.” She huffs and gives my shoulders a little shake. “You will take the rest of today off. I don’t want to see you in here until Monday morning.”
I’m sure the tone of her voice is one her two daughters are familiar with and I smile. No one has bossed me around in a motherly way since Granny died. And even though the thought makes me sad, Ann’s mothering gives me a warmth in my chest I’ve missed.
Plus I can’t argue with her. I think the last time I took time off was when Granny passed away and I had to organize her funeral. I have no idea what I’ll do to occupy myself until Drew arrives. I could always check the porch light myself before we go out?—
Oh! I can cook us dinner.
Except I can’t remember what I have in the freezer or the vegetable drawer. I know there isn’t much because I’ve been keeping a low supply for when I have to move out of the house.
But with my day free I can go to the store and pick up whatever I need.
“Okay.” I step out of Ann’s hold. “I’ll go.”
“Good girl. And when I get here on Monday we’ll talk about you taking more time off. They don’t pay you enough to be here as much as you are.”
I smile. I can’t help it. Ann is right. I’m not paid enough. Not that I’ve ever been worried about it. I love being here, it’s never felt like a job and this place saved my sanity for too many years to count.
“I hope that smile means I can convince you to take time off. Your Granny would hate it if she knew how much time you spend inside this building.”
My smile slips slightly. “She would.”
“She loved that you wanted to join her here but she also wished you would get out more, find yourself a man to settle down with. She would be very happy to know Deputy Westwood finally got up the courage to ask you out.”
“Granny knew?—?”
Ann waves a hand. “Oh, no. But she hoped.”
“Hoped?”
“Yes.” Ann frowns. “She knew she wouldn’t be around forever and her greatest wish was for you to have a family, to be surrounded by love.”
“I am surrounded.”
“Yes, but she wanted you to have more. And as a mother and a grandmother I know how she felt. It isn’t that we don’t think you have enough, it’s that we want you to have someone who loves you unconditionally, is willing to put you ahead of them.”
“I don’t need?—”
“No. You probably don’t need it, but as a woman who has been loved by a man, had children with him, I can say it’s not about needing it, we are quite capable of living without it. Gosh, these days you can go and have children on your own at one of those fancy clinics.”
“Eh…”
I don’t know what to say. I’m assuming she’s talking about a fertility clinic where you can pick a donor and purchase his sperm. The thought has never crossed my mind and I have to wonder if maybe one of Ann’s daughters has mentioned it. Although her eldest is married with kids…maybe…no. I shake my head.
“I’m not going to have babies without a partner.”
“Oh, jeez, listen to me rambling on.” She waves a hand in front of her face as if wiping her words away. “Get your bag and get out of here. I’ll get back to work and see you Monday.”
I have to laugh. One thing about Ann is she’s always entertaining. Even if the topics she chooses to talk about are strange.
With a smile on my face, I pull my bag off the hook behind my door, grab my coat off the one next it, and head out. Not having to lock up means I can go through the front door and straight across the street to Hanson’s to see what they have in stock that might be suitable for dinner.
The more I think about cooking a meal for Drew, the more I like the idea. I won’t have the chance once I move into the room at the back of the garage and while I’m not a five-star Michelin chef, I don’t do too bad in the kitchen if I say so myself.
Granny was a great cook and like with the library, she taught me everything she thought I needed to know about putting a good hearty meal on the table. And thinking of Granny makes me think of her pot roast. It’s quick, easy, and once it’s in the pot I can leave it until it’s ready.
I’ve got one foot off the sidewalk ready to cross the street when someone shouts my name.
Startled, I forget what I’m doing but I’m already in motion so when my foot comes down on the slick surface of the road a little too hard it slides right out from under me.
“Georgie!”
The shout is closer but I’m too busy flailing my arms in my attempt to keep upright. Every muscle tenses as I prepare for impact with the hard ground.
It’s going to hurt and I’m not ashamed to admit I close my eyes and whimper before I even make contact.
Eyes closed, arms spinning around like a windmill, I can only hope I don’t break anything. A few bruises I can live with. Broken bones not so much. Especially if I’m going to be in cramped quarters for the next three weeks.
A band of heat surrounds me, tightens, and I spin so fast my stomach swoops and breath bursts from my lungs.
“Got you.”
By the time I catch my breath I realize I’m still upright, not spread out on the road.
“Georgie?”
Drew’s concerned voice filters in through the pounding in my ears. Gingerly cracking one eye open, I gauge my surroundings and try to comprehend what happened.
“Talk to me, beautiful. Are you hurt?”
My eyes open fully and I search out his gaze. The concern I see has my heart beating faster, the thumping in my ears getting louder. “Drew?”
“Yeah. It’s me. Are you okay?”
I nod. Although I’m not sure I am. Once second I was on the verge of certain pain and the next I’m in his arms, pressed tight against his chest.
“Are you sure? You haven’t said a word yet.” His eyes flick side to side as he focuses in on each of mine. “Did I hit your head when I reached out to catch you?”
“N-no. I’m just…” What am I? Confused mainly. “I’m not hurt.” At least I don’t think I am.
“Good. Okay. Can you stand if I put you down?”
“Put me down?”
The smile he offers is small but it makes my own mouth tip up until his next words have me frowning and looking down.
“I’m holding you up.”
He’s right. It didn’t even register we were almost on eye level but it should have. My feet are inches off the ground, and he’s holding me as though I weigh nothing instead of a hundred and seventy pounds.
“Oh, um, yes, I can stand.” And if not I’ll grab him or plant my butt on the ground.
He lowers me slowly. With a care one might use on a delicate blown-glass Christmas ornament. And when my feet touch the ground, I realize he might have left last night so we don’t rush into this but it’s too late.
We might be able to delay connecting physically but emotionally I’m already fully involved.
Because right now with my heart pounding in my chest and his gaze locked on mine, I know he may have saved me from falling head over heels just now but my heart has already taken that tumble.