15. Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Fifteen
M y pen scratches noisily as I cross off another completed project on my to-do list. Each checkmark slightly eases the weight in my stomach. I press back in the driver’s seat and sigh, thankful to finally be making some progress.
Now that we have the historical society’s approval, it’s all on me to implement the new changes as fast as possible. It’s tricky, like juggling balls, to keep everything in motion and not let them collide or drop them in the process.
Thanks to Reese, the library has finally been updated to the modern era and has its own high-speed internet installed. She plans to stop by this afternoon to clean up her demo work and install the guest Wi-Fi. So, hopefully I’ll have another checkbox after that’s complete.
Tristen should be there too, having arrived early this morning to set up the new computers and tablets before the bar opens. I’m worried if he can teach Mr. Sherman how to use them. Based on his old-school flip phone, it’s going to be one crazy learning curve.
Once my bookmobile shift is over, I’ll start the new layout for a children’s corner. I check the time on the bus’s dashboard and suck in a breath at the late afternoon hour. It’s been a full day at the school. Fridays are the most popular with the elementary teachers, as they like to bring their students in after a long week, which filled my entire day.
Now that I’ve cleaned up from that, I take a few pictures for the library’s website to help promote my bookmobile project and email those to Ms. Anderson.
I check another box off my list.
Students pour out of the school, their ginormous backpacks stuffed to the brim as they start their trek home. It boggles my mind that they all live close enough that transportation isn’t provided.
A few teenagers wave as they cross in front of me, some of them Des’s students. I wave back, enjoying the friendly atmosphere. I’ll miss this when I return to Golden.
My throat clenches, and I brush the thought away. I promised myself I wouldn’t think about it and instead focus my energy on the renovation.
Then I see him, the sunbeams reflecting off his leather jacket and winking at me. His blond curls bounce with each step, his eyes downcast on his phone. Probably trying to schedule his next ride with his friends.
I lean forward with a dreamy sigh, resting my chin on the steering wheel to keep him in my line of sight.
Beeep! I jerk back from the horn, having accidentally hit it with my clipboard.
In a panic, I scan the parking lot, hoping nobody noticed. But Des makes eye contact with me just as I sink down bonelessly in my seat. What are the chances he doesn’t realize I was staring at him this whole time?
Just when I think the coast is clear, he knocks on the bus’s door, startling a yelp from me. I force a smile before swinging the door open.
“Hey.” His lips wiggle as he fights to hold in a smile. “You honked for me? You know you can just text.”
“It was an accident.”
He takes one step in.
“And here I thought you were going to ask me to meet you at the cafe before we head to the library?”
“That would be pretty forward of me.”
“I have it on good authority that I’d say yes if you did.”
He takes another step, waiting.
“I’m actually still working. I have a few more things to check off the list before I can go.”
“Oh.” His swagger slips.
“But I’ll think on what you said.”
“Sooo, you’re saying I still have a chance.” He pumps his fist in victory.
“I didn’t say yes to anything.”
“But you didn’t say no. Baby steps. I told you that you’d be worth the wait and I meant it. I’ll meet you later at the library. You keep thinking about it, okay?”
To be honest, it’s all I’ve been thinking about.
After Des leaves, I decide to knock out some of my social media content and hop on for an impromptu live with my followers. It’s been forever since the last one, and it’s perfect timing since I finished two more books.
I set up my tripod, turn my cell to Do Not Disturb, and get as comfortable as I can on a mushroom beanbag chair. My hands shake a little as I clip on my microphone. Even though I’ve done this for a few years, the live part always gives me the jitters.
It’s an irrational fear, one that I always give myself a pep talk for. Once the live starts, I know it will be fun. Joining the online book community is the best thing I’ve done. Getting to share my recommendations and meeting new book friends—it’s been a dream come true.
Hitting the button, I smile at the camera as I wait for a few people to show up so I’m not just talking to my tía Rosa. Eventually, a few people pop in and “ooh” and “aww” over the bookmobile.
“Hey, everyone. I’m back for another review. This one was so, so good.” I hold up the book so it’s centered on the screen. “I actually read this one versus listening to the audiobook. Seriously, this one pulled me in from page one and didn’t let go. If you like enemies-to-lovers mixed with hidden identity?—?”
“Maya?”
The voice behind me derails my train of thought, and my review evaporates as Des climbs up the steps into the bookmobile. And he’s there, on my screen, still wearing his helmet and gear, and carrying an iced drink and paper bag with the bakery’s logo on it for the whole world to see.
“Des... Des ,” I whisper-shout while trying to keep my professional smile in place.
He’s too focused to notice, watching the drink carefully as he moves. The comment section explodes, everyone demanding to know who the hot biker is.
“I know you said you were busy and didn’t have time to eat, so I grabbed you something to tide you over. I deserve a medal for not spilling a drop of this.”
“Um, I’m kinda in the middle of my book review.”
I subtly wave, trying to catch his attention.
“Oh, are you adding another one into your app?” He places the drink and bag down. “By the way, this is an iced chai. You seem more into...” He notices himself on my screen and quickly shuts his visor. “Uh... are you doing a live?”
“Yep.” I turn back to the camera to see my pink cheeks flushed on the screen. “So, uh, everyone, this is Desmond. He’s a teacher here and helping me with the library renovations.”
He waves and sidesteps closer to me.
“I think this is his first live, so go easy on him.” I turn around and whisper, “You can run away now if you want.”
“It might be fun to see you in action. You're kinda like a celebrity.”
I laugh, knowing that is far from the truth.
The comments roll in, begging him to stay. I’ve never seen so many exclamation marks in my life.
“They want you to lift your visor because your voice is muffled,” I say, scanning a few more comments before they disappear off the screen to make room for new ones.
He raises it up, still keeping close to me. “Whoa. That’s a lot of hearts.”
“I guess my followers are enjoying the mysterious biker guest. All the comments are for you.” I gesture to him. “Should we ask Des about his taste in books? Or how many books he reads in a year?”
“The last one is easy, six. One for each math class I teach. I’m guessing yours is a little higher. Thirty, or something crazy?”
I glance away. “Um, a little higher. It’s usually just over two hundred. I listen to a lot of audiobooks when I work.”
“I’m sorry, did you say two hundred ? In a single year? I don’t think we have that many books in our library, Maya.” He taps his fingers on his legs. “It would take me thirty-four years to read as many as you do in just one year. I like numbers, but those are some crazy statistics.”
“Or you just need to read more books and catch up with me,” I say, laughing.
Comments cycle through too fast to read. I squint, watching the number of viewers start to climb. Holy guacamole . I’m already at five hundred viewers.
“Why don’t you talk about how you are the library hero?” Des asks, sinking into the beanbag next to me and nearly toppling over. “Maya battled against the president of the historical society—and won. You should have seen her. She was amazing.” He twists in his seat and repeats the last word on a sigh.
Ahh! Now it’s eight hundred viewers.
“Des... there’s like a ton of people watching this right now.”
“That’s normal, right?” He shrugs.
“I mean, maybe for someone else.”
I grab his hand, my eyes wide. Another cluster of hearts float up the screen.
“I like it when she holds my hand too,” he says, sending the comments into a tizzy.
“How are you so calm?” And why does it feel like my heart is about to beat right out of my chest?
“It feels like one of my zoom classes. Actually, it’s easier when I don’t have to see everyone staring at me.”
“Oookay. We are going to end this early. This is absolute madness.”
Des nods. “Chris told me that bookish girls go crazy for bikers. I didn’t believe him.”
I nearly faint when the numbers jump to over fifteen hundred viewers. Where are they coming from? And is that a biker influencer chatting in the comments?
“One second.” Des leans closer to my phone, his long lashes even more prominent on camera. “Before you go, Maya could use your help with our library here in Rocosa. If you’d like to send in donations to help with improvements, we would appreciate it. I’m sure she can provide a link or something.”
“Yeah. Sure.” I nod, watching the numbers tick up.
“Goodbye,” he says.
I shut off the live, still panting. “What. Just. Happened.”
“Did you go viral? I couldn’t tell.”
“I think you went viral. I’ve been doing this for years and I get about a hundred viewers on a good day.”
“Then set up that link before everyone disappears. Maybe we can get enough to pay for the new frames for the historical wall you’re putting together.”
“Good thinking.” I start typing, my fingers moving quickly across the keys as I set up a donation page. “And Des?”
He glances at me as he starts to stand.
“You are amazing too. Thank you.”
“Just keep thinking about what we discussed earlier. You and me, okay?”
“I will.”
T hey say it takes a village, and it’s true, especially when it applies to overhauling a library. The sheer number of people coming through the doors today astounds me.
At this point, I think I’ve introduced myself to every resident in town.
I lean back in the desk chair and stretch my sore muscles, taking a well-deserved break. The number of hours I’ve spent on the renovations has sent me into overtime. Yet there is still so much to do. Closing my eyes, I try not to think of how much money I need to raise to update the lighting upstairs. Money I don’t have.
“Wake up, sleeping beauty.”
With a scream, I startle upright and nearly tip over sideways on the floor.
“Des…” I grumble half-heartedly.
He spins me in the chair to face him, trapping me in place. Instantly, I’m fully aware of how close he is leaning over me, smelling of fresh soap and leather. My heart thumps wildly in my chest.
“I could have woken you up like how I wanted to. You know, the way they do in the storybooks.”
My lips part on a sigh at the thought. Now that he said it, it’s all I can think about, my lips tingling from his imaginary kisses.
With a smirk, he returns to his stack of paperbacks like nothing happened and scans the top book into the computer. His movements are so precise, hypnotic even, that I find myself resting my chin on my hand and admiring the strain of his shirt over his biceps as he works.
Um, what am I supposed to be working on?
“Ogling me again, Ms. Santos?” Des accuses and meets my gaze, his silver eyes darkening by the second. “What am I going to do with you?”
Blushing, I open my mouth to respond, but a couple of Des’s students enter, laughing and joking with each other. We tear our gazes away from each other and greet them.
“Mr. B, we’re here,” says one with a hoodie.
“You remember Ms. Santos from the bookmobile? This is Robbie, Evan, and Rianna. I promised the class extra credit if they came and helped today.”
“Oh, wonderful. I know there’s something around here I can find for you to do.”
Even more students show up in the next hour, and I put them to work stacking books, moving shelves, and helping Lewis rip up carpet. Poor Reese and Julia drew the short straw and are stripping the yellowed wallpaper in the upstairs bathroom.
Rianna holds my beloved clipboard, adding notes as I sort through the chapter books we have on hand.
“I think we might need at least fifty children’s books or more if we can afford them. Most of these are outdated or falling apart.”
“Do you think we could sell the vintage ones?” Robbie asks. “Aren’t old books, like, worth millions?”
“Not always.” I laugh, but really he’s on to something. “But maybe you could sort through the donation stack? If it’s dated before 1960, put it on this table.”
“Real deal,” he says and sits down to get started.
“Think you might find something useful in that dust pile?” Mr. Sherman asks, pushing up his spectacles.
“You would know better than I would.”
“I’m not so sure of that. With all the changes happening, I feel like I belong in that pile too. Out with the old and in with the new, as they say.”
“Oh, are you replacing Mr. Sherman?” Rianna cuts in, glancing between us.
I blink... having not considered that option before.
“No, of course not,” I quickly reply. “This library is his family’s legacy.”
Mr. Sherman places a callused hand on my shoulder. “That’s the thing about legacies, they are meant to be passed on.”
The door jingles as it opens, and Cai strolls in with two women. More bikers based on the girls’ jackets.
Des waves them over for a quick introduction. “Maya, this is Chantelle and Clover.”
“Oh, from your biker?—?”
“Group,” he finishes for me and pokes my side playfully.
The one with the long dark hair seems familiar, grinning at me in a knowing way like I should know her. It only takes a second before I gasp and step back in shock.
“Y-you’re—you’re,” I bumble. Too many emotions rush through me that I seem to only be able to say the same word on repeat.
“Evie Chandler, but that’s my pen name. Just call me Chantelle.” She holds out her hand which I clumsily take, shaking it so hard that her arm flaps. “Nice to meet you, Maya. Des told me you are one of my fans.”
“Your biggest. Ever.”
She pries her hand free. “That’s so sweet of you. I heard you liked the book box I sent Des.”
I nod. “I posted a whole video about it on my social media.”
“I saw that and the live you did with Des this morning.” She gestures at him. “I’ve never seen him so talkative before. Who knew?”
My lips twist in thought. “He’s always been like that around me. Not quiet at all.”
She pushes his shoulder and laughs. “You’ve been holding out on us.”
He squirms at the attention, so I quickly change the subject.
“So, uh, what brings you by? Are you all out riding today?” I ask.
“I brought books,” Chantelle says and jabs her thumb over her shoulder. “I contacted a few of my author friends... who contacted a few of their friends... well, let’s just say we have a U-Haul parked outside.”
“What... what?” I can barely comprehend what I’m hearing. My favorite author is here and she brought books? Have I died and gone to heaven?
Des is already at my side, smiling down at me. “Surprise! I brought extra hands and resources.”
“And I brought coffee,” Clover says, her cheeks reddening when everyone turns to look at her. “Which I think is just as important as books.”
Reese lets out a little cheer as she stomps down the stairs and claims the first cup. “Just what I needed. Caffeine is one of the only joys I get these days.”
Clover places the drink carrier on one of the folding tables. “If you think of anything else you might need, just let us know.”
Words clog in the back of my throat, and Chantelle throws a comforting arm over my shoulder like we’re old friends. I tense, barely keeping my thoughts straight.
Evie Chandler is hugging me. Don’t freak out.
“I can’t believe you came—and brought donations. You don’t even know me. Thank you so much,” I say, choked by their generosity.
“Girl, when Des said you needed help saving a library, you know I wasn’t going to leave you hanging. This is an awesome thing you are doing here,” Chantelle says, giving me a final squeeze before she pulls away.
“We should be thanking you,” Clover adds. “I’m happy Des thought to ask me.”
I glance at Cai.
“Oh, uh, I was just off today.”
We all chuckle at his honesty.
The door jingles again, and Thor walks in, slipping his sunglasses into the neckline of his t-shirt. “I heard you needed some muscle. I came as soon as I could.”
The tears start up again, and this time it’s Des who puts a comforting arm around my shoulder. “Oh my goodness. You came too, Thor? Thank you, all of you.”
“Of course, but you might want to head outside. The streets are getting pretty packed.”
I dart outside to find half of my family unloading from vehicles, similar to a clown comedy skit.
“Maya,” Rafe calls out. “We brought some lumber to help with the extra shelving.”
“How did you know to come?”
“Des called Marco, and the family alert went out.” He ushers another wave of Santos family into the library.
Des organized this?
Suddenly I’m in motion, running full speed into the library and launching myself into his arms. He has about a second to prepare before I plow into him, squeezing him tight. How does he keep surprising me?
“Maya?” Des asks and cradles me closer, resting his cheek on the side of my head.
“I can’t believe you did all of this. You called all these people.”
His thumb hooks under my chin, tilting my head back so I can gaze into his silver eyes. The intensity in them makes my breath catch. His thumb drifts up my jaw, leaving a path of goosebumps.
“If it’s important to you, then it’s important to me too,” he whispers.
Warmth fills me, and that magnet that keeps drawing us together yanks again, demanding I close that space between our mouths. I’m already imagining it, longing for the touch of his skin on mine. My lips part on a sigh at the thought.
His eyes lock on the movement, and he mumbles my name under his breath like a prayer.
“Hey, Teach, where do you— ow . What the heck, love?” Thor grumbles behind me.
“Can’t you see they’re busy?” Clover hisses.
“They’ve been like this for five minutes. We’ve got stuff to do, man. Either kiss her or let’s get back to work. Ow . Stop hitting me, woman.”
The romantic moment fizzles into us fighting to keep our composure. But Des still doesn’t release me, his left hand rubbing a comforting circle on my spine.
“He has a point you know,” he says and leans in to surprise me with a gentle kiss on the tip of my nose, reminding me of his promise. “But I don’t want our first kiss to be in a room of people including your mother.”
I smile seductively and curl my fingers around his lapels. “Then when do you suggest, Mr. Brooks?”
His hands clench my hips. “Okay, I changed my mind. Right now. Absolutely right now.”
Laughing, I pull out of his grasp. “No, you’re right. There are too many people around.”
“For once in your life, don’t listen to me,” he pleads.
“Too late.”
He shakes his head. “All right, how about we plan for that day trip? You, me, and a picnic at the lake. We can leave first thing in the morning.”
“It’s a date.”
As soon as I walk away, Thor and Robbie bombard him with shelving questions. But he’s transfixed on me, watching me hoist a box of books in my arms and head up the stairs, the heat of his gaze an inferno on my backside.