3. Delia
3
DELIA
“ A lright. What did everybody think about the hero in our book?”
Hands fly into the air and I grin, pointing at Jessica Arbaugh. “Yes, Jess?”
“I liked him. He really seemed like he was in love with Angelica. He forgave her no matter how many times she ran.”
I nod my head. “But don’t you think that that’s not very realistic. No man is just gonna roll over when his girl keeps running away from him. This guy has no pride at all.”
Heads nod and then Vickie grins. “I didn’t like that either. A guy needs to have some pride. I mean, this guy is just a doormat.”
Murmurs around us and I grin cheekily. “I could never deal with a guy like that. I want a man who knows what he wants and is willing to go after it…sure. But he shouldn’t be a doormat. That’s not sexy.”
Shy Alanis laughs. “Drake would never write a man like this. His heroes are always so masculine and…well, they’re just not pushovers. It’s not sexy.”
“Speak for yourself…I like a guy who’s willing to give a girl whatever she wants.”
Rolling my eyes, I smirk at the raven beauty across from me. “You have different tastes than most of us, Hetty.”
She smirks cheekily. “I can’t help it. I like the power play dynamic. Especially in reverse. Gimme a guy who’s willing to be an idiot over his girl any day of the week.”
Groans come from all around us and I can’t help laughing and high-fiving her. “You go girl. To each their own. Personally, I have always had a thing for the enemies to lovers vibe. That’s why I had such a hard time with this book. I mean, come on. I felt like there was no high or low point in this book at all.”
Alanis nods seriously. “I agree. It was very one-dimensional.”
We continue with out discussion and then after another hour the group breaks up and I groan, glaring out a window when I see the rain slashing down outside. “Ugh. I should have checked the weather report before I decided to walk into work today.” It was so beautiful this morning though. The sky was already blue and clear as a bell first thing. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky. I thought I was safe.
Stupid me.
“Do you need a ride home? I can stay. Drake would be alright with coming later and picking us both up and taking you home.”
Shaking my head, I sigh. “No. It’s alright. I’m sure it will quit soon. I’ve got some orders to place and books to reshelve. It’s no big deal.”
Cocking her head, she glares at me, her blond curls adorably mussed. “Hey. You helped me when I needed it. Don’t make me hunt you down and force you to accept the help.”
Giggling, I reach out and hug her…hard. I lose it even more when she ‘eeps’ at me squeezing her so hard.
“I’m good. I’ll call you if I need help.”
She points at me, her green eyes narrowed, threatening. “You better.”
She leaves along with the rest of the chattering crew and I sigh, picking up the litter from our little crew. The library doesn’t mind us having our weekly meetings here but I guarantee the director would be less than thrilled if she came in to the slight mess that our little snacks create.
An hour later, I step outside and grimace. It’s my late night and I should have driven but my mind has been a mess lately. I can’t sleep. I keep waking up, worrying about Princess’s thieving proclivities. The rain is a steady sheet, falling down around me. It’s cold and dark and I don’t like it at all. But at least it almost keeps my mind off of my spoiled princess cat.
Almost. But the worries are tormenting me anyway.
What if she steals something from someone that really hates cats? She could get really hurt. Maybe I should start keeping her inside all the time.
But the thing is, when I found Princess, she was a scrap of cat. So small that it was hard to tell for real how old she was. She was pushed back into the corner of an alley and was facing off with a raccoon that seemed to find her presence in that alley, by that dumpster, to be an insult to his pride.
“Hey!” Waving my arms and yelling loudly, I chased off the little monster and came closer to the spitting, hissing tortoiseshell cat.
Until I managed to get my hands on the little cat and she immediately started purring, her silky head butting my hand over and over again.
“You’re such a little love bug!” I laughed, my eyes welling with tears when she ran her sandpaper tongue over my chin and bumped her head into my cheek.
I fell in love with the little con artist right then and there.
But it hasn’t been without its ups and downs. Namely the klepto thing. But there’s no way I can imagine my life without her.
But if Brandon Courtney gets his way that’s exactly what will happen. I honestly can’t believe the guy is being so stubborn about this. She’s a harmless little cat. Practically a baby in fact.
“What the devil are you doing out here at this hour, Del?”
Sighing, I roll my eyes to the sky. “Really? This is how you repay me for all my good deeds over the years?”
“Who are you talking to?”
“Nobody.”
“You still haven’t answered my question. Why are you out here walking all alone to the edge of town in the middle of the night?”
“It’s not the middle of the night. It’s barely dark. For one thing. For another it’s nobody’s business but my own.”
He pulls his cruiser to a stop and slams it into park, opening the door and getting out, the dinging of the door the only sound for the seconds it takes for me to take a deep breath. I eye him uncertainly. The guy is big. Dark. Intimidating.
“What are you doing?”
He stomps over to me and eyes me up and down. “You don’t even have a warm coat on. Woman, you need a keeper.”
“You volunteering for the job?” I mock, my heart pounding as he comes closer.
“I don’t see anybody else volunteering,” he mutters, his dark eyes flashing with golden fire. “Get in the car and I’ll run you home, Del.”
“I’ve asked you to stop calling me that, Courtney.” I chew on my bottom lip, eyeing him carefully. The guy looks like he’s ready to spit nails. His broad chest rises and falls and his legs are planted wide apart. He looks like some kind of fallen warrior, ready to race into battle and defend his principles… or his woman.
I shake myself out of my stupor when he moves closer, the heat from his body enveloping me. He smells good. Spicy and yet sweet. Masculine. Mouthwatering.
I jerk myself mentally to a halt. “I don’t need a ride and if I did, the last person I’d get into a vehicle with is you.”
“Either you get in willingly or I’m gonna toss your butt in that car and run you home anyway, Del. Take your pick.”
“You wouldn’t,” I huff. He lunges towards me and I squeak, backing away. “Fine.”
Stomping over to the cruiser, I jerk the passenger door open and sit inside.”
He leans in, his lips quirking and his dark eyes barely visible under the broad brim of his tan cowboy cat. “I don’t think so. Nobody’s supposed to ride up front with me. The sheriff would be ticked.”
Mouth falling agape, I stare at him, stunned. His gaze shifts between me and the back seat and I gulp. “You can’t be serious.”
He ducks out and walks around the front of the car, holding my door open further. “As a heart attack. You’re riding in the back, angel.”
My heart skips a beat at his sudden nearness. And the fact that the man is a pain in my butt. A gorgeous one but still. Ugh!
Pushing up to my feet, I duck around him carefully, avoiding even one brush against the annoying man. He grins and opens the back door, waving an arm out and nodding towards the back of the car. “In you go, angel.” Then to add insult to injury, the man pushes at my head when I attempt to duck inside.
Glaring at him, I groan when he shuts the door and I see that there are no buttons or anything in the back. I’m completely at his mercy.
He grins mischievously, his dark eyes alit with unholy glee. “Get comfy. I might just take the long way home.”
I fall into the seat and groan, rubbing my suddenly-chilled arms. I can’t seem to catch a break with this guy. Any time I’m at my worst, and I currently look like a drowned rat, shivering in the cold, he’s there to have a good laugh at my expense.
Biting my lip, I sink into the seat, sighing when he turns the heat on and my chilled body finally starts to warm back up.
This is probably going to be the longest ride of my life.