17. Chapter Seventeen
The next week flies by for both of us. I was up to my eyeballs in quizzes, lesson plans, and taking care of Reese, who was so done with her protective brother hovering around her. Maya was just as overwhelmed, spending every last second prepping the library for the grand opening today.
And it wasn’t just her working on it, but the whole town pitched in, offering their services or contributing a donation. Even her social media fundraiser brought in more money than either of us expected and earned a little over six thousand dollars. It allowed her to purchase all new children’s books and fund the new community programs—starting with something called Book Bingo. Whatever that is.
In addition to all the excitement of the opening, tonight will also be our rain check for our first date... which hopefully will lead to our first kiss.
I arrive at her door thirty minutes early, just to be safe, and sit in one of the porch chairs to wait. But before I can get comfortable, she opens the door and leans on the doorjamb.
“You’re supposed to knock on the door.”
“I was waiting here so you didn’t feel rushed.”
Maya slips through the opening wearing a sleeveless floral top and my new favorite jeans that hug her curves.
“Mind if I join you?” She sits in the chair next to me. Her curly hair fights the constraints of her braids, little flyaways poking out here and there.
“Nervous about the opening?” I ask, taking her hand in mine. “Or were you worried I wasn’t going to show?”
Her liquid brown eyes lock on me. “No, Des. I trust you. And really, I think I owe you an apology.”
“Oh, I don’t need?—?”
“You do. I’ve been letting Felipe’s choices ripple over to you when you’ve done nothing to deserve that doubt. You’ve been only wonderful to me. So patient and supportive while you wait for me to leap over these emotional hurdles. And through it all, you’ve never rushed me or pressured me when I wasn’t ready, despite the fact you were.” She squeezes my hand. “And while last weekend was a bit of a rollercoaster, it made me realize that I care about you more than I had even let myself realize. We don’t need to go on a date for me to know that I love you, Des. Because I do—more than I thought possible. And the longer I’m around you, the deeper those feelings grow. I’ve never been so happy to have broken down on the side of the road.”
Relief flows through me as I soak up her words. I lift her fingers to my lips and press a tender kiss to her knuckles. “You have no idea how long I’ve waited to hear you say that.”
She turns to me, biting her lip. “And I don’t want you to feel obligated to say it because I did.”
Leaping out of my seat, I kneel by her feet, clutching her hand to my heart. “Do you feel that? It’s been beating for you since the moment you dropped cookies off in my classroom and I chased you down the hall. I knew I needed you then just like I need you now. I love you, Maya. Before I met you, I never had a desire to be in a relationship. Now it’s all I can think about when I’m around you. You consume my thoughts. Where the noise and chaos of the world force me into my shell, you are the only one who knows how to coax me out.”
With a nervous smile, she stands and tugs me to my feet. It takes all my control to let her lead and not yank her mouth to mine to finally kiss her the way I’ve been aching to these last few weeks.
“Des, I know we?—?”
Her phone rings in her pocket and she looks down, confused at the interruption.
“Answer it,” I say. “It’s your big day today. It could be important.”
“You are more important,” she says, placing a hand on my cheek. “For once, they can wait.”
I lean into it, enjoying the smooth feeling of her palm on my skin. It’s tender moments like this I will miss. The quiet times where we don’t speak yet we say all the things at the same time. Like our hearts are connected on a string... one I hope won’t break when she returns to Golden tomorrow.
“I wish you weren’t leaving tomorrow,” I choke out, another wave of sadness hitting me at the thought of not seeing her every day.
She flinches at the reminder. “We promised not to talk about that today. Fun things only.”
But she can’t hide her trembling lip or the glaze of tears forming in her eyes. Her alarm goes off on her phone, and she yanks it out of her pocket to silence it.
“All this chatting, and now we might actually be late,” Maya says, shaking her head at me. “Only you can make me lose track of time.”
I turn my face into her hand and kiss her palm, watching as the shadow of sadness melts away from her features. For a moment, I wonder what would have happened if I had kissed her lips instead. I hesitate for a second too long, and she pulls away, walking over to my motorcycle to head into town.
Main Street is the worst I’ve ever seen it, forcing us to do three laps around the block, including passing through all the side streets, to find a parking spot. I don’t think I’ve seen the church parking lot this full besides Christmas and Easter.
“I’ll just drop you off out front so you won’t be late,” I say through the comm.
I U-turn at the inn and stop at the library’s entrance, where a long queue of impatient women snake down the street.
“Is this all for the grand opening?”
“I don’t recognize them, so they can’t be locals.”
Maya squeezes my stomach and nearly brings up my breakfast. “Is that the Denver7 news van parked by the antique shop? Who called the local TV? Maybe this was why Mr. Sherman was calling me earlier. I would be panicking too.”
“If that’s the case, maybe I should just drop you off and pick you up after everything settles down.” Sweat beads up on the back of my neck at the thought of talking to all these people. Is it too late to drive home and hide?
She tickles my sides, distracting me from my anxious thoughts. Squirming, I bring my elbows in and halt her attacks.
“I knew I was going to regret telling you that.”
Laughing, she climbs off the bike and trails her hand down my arm. She moves away to remove her helmet, unaware of the fireworks she set off in me at the gentle touch.
I grab her hand before she can unhook it, debating on reeling her back to me one last time.
“Maya,” a voice calls out. Mr. Sherman stands at the corner, waving for her to hurry inside.
I groan, wishing everyone would just give us two minutes together without being interrupted.
“Don’t you worry. We still have reservations at Belle Notte tonight. You’ll still get your alone time with me.”
I grasp her hip, curling around the soft denim, and guide her closer until she bumps against my thigh.
“Promise?”
Grinning, Maya unlatches her helmet and pulls it off, sending my heart into a frenzy at the seductive look in her eye. She loops an index finger under my helmet, wipes the loose dust off the front, and presses a loud kiss on my closed visor.
“ Shoot , Maya. Don’t go...” I struggle with the strap of my helmet as she saunters away. Why is it when I need to get this thing off in a hurry, it never works? Eventually I give up, slouching dramatically over my handlebars as I stare at her through the ruby red lip print she left behind.
“Tonight, Mr. Brooks,” she calls out, waving.
I rev the motorcycle as she walks away to get her attention. She blows me another kiss, and I catch it in my gloved hand, placing it on my heart before taking off down the street.
My sister jumps out of the crowd to stop me, almost getting run over in the process. Before I can give her a piece of my mind, she points to the auto shop across the street, gesturing for me to pull into an empty space in the garage.
After I park, I hang back from the crowd, watching the ceremony from across the street. The town chipped in for an oversized ribbon which Maya and Mr. Sherman have the honor of cutting together. The Denver7 reporter travels around the crowd, interviewing excited patrons who refuse to leave their place in line. Even the Golden Transcript is here, snapping pictures.
I’m doing the same thing, holding my phone out to get a shot of the two librarians shaking hands, which will be a perfect addition to the library’s history wall.
“I’d just like to say something,” Mr. Sherman says, raising his hands so the crowd dies down. “This lady next to me barged into my library one day... and it changed my life. She renewed my faith in the future generations of readers and taught me how to download my first digital book. The love and dedication she has to her career is beyond commendable. She fought for this library and spent weeks, including weekends, implementing the changes you’ll see inside. So, please make sure you stop by and thank this kind soul. She has truly been such a blessing on our little town. My great-great-grandfather would be proud to see what she has accomplished.”
The crowd applauds, and I join in, throwing in a whistle for good measure. Maya blushes in humble gratitude, her eyes searching through the sea of faces until they land on mine.
I hold up my hands, clapping for her.
“Without further ado...” She grabs the front door and opens it. “The new and improved Rocosa Library is open to the public. Please come on in and make sure you sign up for a library card if you haven’t already.”
It’s hard to believe this is the same library that was down the street my entire life. The triggering smell is gone, replaced with paint and refreshments provided by the local restaurants. The inside is bright and clean, the plush new carpet well worth all the hours it took to install. Books with vibrant covers are displayed on tables through the space, which passersby snatch up as they walk past.
The children’s corner is full of young kids, and I’m surprised to see Robbie reading a book to a group sitting on the floor.
Not only is the place operational again, but it’s full of life, like the heart of the building is pulsing and bringing the community together again. And it’s all thanks to Maya’s vision and hard work.
For the next few hours, she is in her element, talking to patrons and high-fiving elementary students as they enjoy the new facilities. Even Gladys Monroe stops by to congratulate her, and she checks out a new cozy mystery in support.
When the crowd thins out, I sneak up to an exhausted Maya and slide an arm over her shoulder, which she immediately snuggles into. No hesitation, no fear, just trusting me as she said she did.
“I’m so proud of you,” I whisper in her hair. “Look at what you accomplished.”
“It wasn’t just me. It took everyone’s help to get here—including you. Thank you, Des.” She squeezes me tighter, and I check my watch, hoping it’s time to whisk her off on our date.
A gray-haired woman with a hot pink stripe in her bangs approaches, her arms wide as she points to the library around her. “What a transformation.”
“Ms. Anderson.” Maya beams and introduces me to her supervisor. “I’m so glad you made it. I thought if you saw it in person you’d have a clearer image than reading over all the data I’ve been sending you.”
“I’m so impressed. You always amaze me with your creativity, first with the bookmobile and now this. It really shows how much you love your job, not just through your actions, but how it radiates from the patrons who come in through the door. Excellent job, Maya.”
“Thank you so much. This library will always be special to me.”
“I bet it will be hard to leave this all behind, especially after spending so much time renovating it.” She watches Maya carefully before asking, “Have you ever considered a management position?”
“Management?” Maya repeats, caught off guard.
“See... we need a new branch manager for Rocosa. I had a very informative talk with Mr. Sherman where he announced his upcoming retirement, and he requested—or I should say demanded—that I offer the position to you first. And I couldn’t agree more. Really, this branch would have probably been converted into a holds locker by now if it wasn’t for all your hard work.”
Maya grabs my hand in shock.
“Ms. Anderson . . . are you saying . . . I can work here?”
“If that’s what you want.”
Maya nods enthusiastically.
“Wonderful. It might take a few weeks to fill out the paperwork and make it official, but yes, it seems like you belong here. I don’t want to bog down your festivities with work talk, but expect an email from me on Monday.”
“I’m speechless . . . thank you so much.”
“I’m excited for you and can’t wait to see what else you have planned.”
Maya shoots me a silent scream of excitement, her eyebrows high as she fights to keep her cool. It hits me with the same intensity, how all the pieces of my life’s puzzle fit together so perfectly in the end.
I glance skyward and give a little prayer of appreciation, knowing it wasn’t just luck on my side this time.
A reporter from the Golden Transcript moves forward and holds up his camera to get the three of us in his shot. I try to slip away, but Maya grabs my hand, her smile so full of love that my heart nearly bursts.
“Stay.”
How do I say no to that? It’s impossible.
Tension crackles between us for the remainder of the event. Each interaction adds more kindling to the fire so that I can barely breathe with the need burning through me. Like when her hand brushes mine as we pass on the stairs or she bites her lip when I hold her stare a little too long from across the room. Everything is in slow motion, the two of us longing for each other.
But it’s impossible to get a moment alone with her.
Maya is in high demand with a small gathering around her, everyone still wanting to offer congratulations and shake her hand. So I step back, letting her enjoy these last moments to shine, and tell her that I’ll pick her up in two hours for our date. Her lips pinch like she might argue, but another visitor taps her shoulder, hoping for an introduction.
It kills me to walk out of that library alone. It’s even more painful to ride home and sit on my couch to watch the clock count down at an agonizing pace. My brain isn’t helping things either, replaying a Maya montage in my head until I’m wearing a hole in my carpet from pacing back and forth.
Eventually, I give up and leave thirty minutes early, skidding into Julia’s driveway like a madman. My mind is on one thing as I race up the steps of the porch.
Of course Maya is waiting for me, opening the door before I can knock. Her eyes light to a caramel color, so warm and welcoming that I don’t even hesitate. Stepping into her space, I do what I’ve been imagining for the last three weeks. I thread my fingers into her wavy curls at the base of her neck and breathe in her sweet hints of vanilla. Her eyes widen a smidge just as my lips crash into hers—and I fall into bliss.
Her shock quickly fades, and her arms curl around my neck as she softens against my chest. Slowly, I deepen the kiss, savoring each new sensation. An indescribable completeness flows through me at the rightness of her in my arms and the taste of her on my lips. The only word I can think of is heavenly. With each caress, I sink more into a Maya-induced haze, happy to live in this state for all of eternity. Time has lost its meaning to the point that I’m not sure how long we spend tangled in each other’s arms.
All I know is she was worth waiting every second for.
I break away, leaving one last lingering kiss on the corner of her mouth. “Hello.”
Panting, she touches a finger to her rosy lips. The ones I so very much want to capture again. “You... kissed me.”
“Mm-hmm.” I tuck a curl behind her ear. “It might be my new greeting from now on.”
“It was one heck of a hello. I don’t even have my thoughts together.”
A rush of satisfaction hits me. “I thought I’d get it out of the way now so I’m not thinking about it for the rest of the evening.”
“What about me? Now I can’t stop thinking about another one.”
“Oh good. Me too.”
I swoop in again but stop an inch from her lips, caught up in the beauty of her upturned face. Cradling my chin, she pulls me down impatiently and melts in my embrace as soon as our lips touch.
Holy smokes . I’ll never get enough of her.
“You know, we don’t have to go anywhere. I like spending these quiet moments with you,” I whisper against her mouth, and her lips curve into a smile on mine.
Eyes twinkling, she eases away, despite the trail of kisses I’m brushing along her jaw. “As sweet as that is, I’m starving,” she says and kisses my nose. “Besides, you promised.”
I suddenly regret past me making plans when we could be kissing under the stars instead.
“Don’t make a face. We have to eat sometime.”
“Speak for yourself.”
But of course, she’s impossible to say no to.
The chilly Colorado air eases some of my frustration on the drive to the restaurant. We are quickly seated, and I let her talk most of the evening, resting my chin on my fist and hanging on to her every word.
When a familiar voice pipes through the restaurant’s speakers, I nearly knock over my drink. Maya is right. Felipe has an annoying knack for showing up at the most inconvenient times.
I open my mouth to apologize or perhaps suggest asking the waitstaff to change the station, but she surprises me by pointing out the carbonara special for two.
“Would you be interested in sharing?” she asks, twisting her blue book earring as she considers her options.
“I... uh, sure. As long as it doesn’t have broccoli, I’ll eat anything.”
“It comes with a salad, so you’re safe.” She snaps the menu closed and grabs a piece of bread from the basket. “Why are you so tense?”
Felipe’s advertisement cuts off, and the music returns along with my good mood. Maya hadn’t even noticed.
“Just nerves, I guess.”
I lay my hand on the table, palm up, which she places hers into, lacing our fingers together.
“I’m glad we finally made it here,” I admit.
“Aren’t you glad I forced you?” She smiles one of my favorites that lights up her face. “But yes, I appreciate that you waited until the time was right.”
“When you find someone as special as you, you don’t rush it.” I squeeze her hand.
“What about that kiss earlier?” She smirks, mixing her iced tea with the straw. “You couldn’t wait until the end of the date?”
“I thought if we kissed first, you could relax and enjoy the meal and not overthink about it the entire evening.”
“So I could relax?” She lifts a knowing brow.
“ Okay ... so I mostly did it for me. I have to admit, it was the best decision I’ve ever had, besides picking you up on the side of the road.”
“No complaints from me. It’s just another twist to add to my life’s mystery book.”
I pull her chair a little closer so I can whisper in her ear. “I like that you’ve penned me into the pages.”
She makes a throaty sound. “Not just pages. Chapters.”
The restaurant around us fades away, and I press a kiss to the little spot behind her earring, the one that has been teasing me for so long. “Any chance it’ll eventually turn into a series?”
Chuckling, she rubs a knuckle under my chin. “It looks promising.”