Chapter 26
Chapter twenty-six
Paisley
“You’ve got this,” Greyson encouraged, shifting the truck into park in front of the library the next morning.
I shimmied my shoulders and gave my fists a little pump like I was getting ready to take a boxing stance. “I’ve got this.” Maybe if I repeated it enough, I’d believe it. But Greyson believed in me, so maybe I wasn’t crazy.
It was my first day back at work, and the nerves were tumbling in my stomach like acrobats. First-day-of-work nerves shouldn’t be a thing when you were almost thirty.
“Hey.” Greyson lightly tapped my knee. “If you aren’t ready, Flo won’t mind.”
I scoffed. “Have you ever seen Flo not mind anything before? You should have seen her the day you dropped me off. It was like my being on time took away her fun of scolding me.”
Greyson’s forehead wrinkled in confusion. “When did I drop you off?”
“You know, Rosie was in the back and . . .” I frowned. “We saw Mrs. Gulliver.”
A slow smile tipped up the corner of Greyson’s lips. “That was two weeks ago.”
“Really? Huh. It’s not super clear, but I remember Flo’s scowl.”
“Do you remember making out with me?”
I choked on my spit, hacking up a lung into my elbow. “We . . . what?” I wheezed when air made its way back into my airways.
Greyson smirked. He knew what he was doing, insufferable man. “Mrs. Gulliver caught it on video. I can show you—”
My face burned with the heat of a thousand suns, and I flung open the door, jumping out with my last shred of dignity. Laughter followed me out onto the sidewalk. “You’re a scoundrel, Greyson Satterfield,” I added through the open window.
He leaned towards me, a half smile quirking his lips. “But I’m your scoundrel.”
Mine. The thought spread warmth all the way to my toes. “Thanks for the ride.”
“Text me when you’re ready to head home. Don’t push it, okay?”
I offered him a jaunty salute and headed for the front door.
A mellow meow halted my steps, and a Maine coon cat sauntered across the sidewalk towards me, tail erect.
Wait a blessed minute. I knew that meow. More specifically, I knew this cat. Although, he was significantly pudgier than when I’d seen him on my trip here for fall break before Jared and I got married. Jerry was ancient as the hills back then; he must be prehistoric now.
Crouching, I waggled my fingers. “Hi, Jerry.”
His tufted ears twitched, and he blinked in indifference. After I coaxed him again by wiggling my fingers, he deigned to sniff my hand, then gave a dry heave. Rude.
Well, I tried. He clearly hadn’t gotten friendlier with age. Straightening, I stepped under the striped awning towards the door. I’d have to leave the animal whispering to Liz.
Jerry followed.
I stepped left. Jerry followed.
I stepped right. Jerry—you get the picture.
“Jerry, move.” I lightly nudged his side with my heeled oxford to encourage him. He swatted at me.
It was official. I was dancing the two-step with a librarian-hating feline.
Gripping the front door handle, I tried easing it open with one hand while keeping the cat at bay with the other. To no avail. Jerry wove in and around my legs with the speed of an octopus. It was positively unnatural.
“Here.” Greyson’s rough voice not only distracted me but also Jerry. And Greyson took advantage of the moment to scoop up the miscreant, who hissed and swatted with reckless abandon.
“Thanks.” I smiled at my rescuer.
Like the dirty rat he was, Jerry launched a surprise attack, taking another swing at Greyson.
I gasped in indignation. The little fiend.
Greyson hissed at the fresh blood beading his wrist but didn’t let go of the he-devil. He nodded towards the door. “Best get in there before Flo has time to ready her lecture.”
The moment the library door shut behind me, Greyson let the disgruntled creature go. Jerry scampered halfway down the sidewalk, plopped on his behind, and glared in our direction.
I laughed and waved to Greyson. He nodded, then disappeared into his truck.
Flo was at her desk when I turned around, her permanent scowl in place. “You’re here.”
“I hadn’t noticed,” I teased.
A lanky teen scurried around the corner, silver water dish in hand. “Hey, Ms. Paisley! Up high!”
Confused, I tapped his raised hand. “And you are?”
“Oh, sorry. I’m Ethan, the greatest intern Ms. Flo has ever seen.” He grinned widely, and Flo grunted from behind the counter. Leaning in he added, “I’m mostly kidding. She’s just the best to rile. I promise she likes me deep down somewhere.”
I chuckled. “Nice to meet you, or remeet you, Ethan. Is that for the pets?” I motioned to the water dish.
“Oh, yeah. Wanted to get it out early before it gets too hot.”
“Beware of Jerry. He just about swiped my ankles after dancing the foxtrot with me.”
Ethan groaned, pressing his face to the glass door and surveying Main Street for the lurking feline. “If I go out there, I might never come back. It was nice knowing you both.”
“Want me to man the side window for you?”
Ethan’s freckled face beamed with the force of his grin. “Good to have you back, Ms. Paisley.”
Ten minutes later, I was helping haul Ethan through the side window while Flo tossed cat treats out the book slot, distracting Jerry from our mission.
“I don’t remember him being this bad before,” I huffed with a final tug, and Ethan tumbled inside. “A miscreant, yes. But not a full-blown Houdini.”
Scampering to his feet, Ethan shut the window. “All clear, Ms. Flo!” he hollered in a very inappropriate library voice before adding to me, “He’s gotten crankier with old age.”
“Well, we have to do something because the window method isn’t going to work forever.”
Ethan laughed. “But imagine the security tapes.”
Flo marched towards us, her glare shooting daggers. The image of an avenging angel was hampered by the bag of cat treats she still carried. “I’m calling the police,” she harrumphed. Snapping her fingers, she made a shooing motion. “To work, the both of you.”
“I thought you called the fire station for cat issues,” Ethan piped up.
I snickered behind my hand.
“Did I ask for your opinion, Mr. Jones?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Then I suggest to keep it to yourself and make yourself useful in other ways. I see a cart of romances in need of reshelving calling your name.”
Ethan shuddered. “Are you sure I can’t call the police for you? My cousin—”
“Move!” Flo barked, and Ethan scampered away. Shifting her attention to me, Flo eyed me from ballet flats to messy bun. “You’ll do. Behind the counter, missy.”
Then she was off again, marching like a drill sergeant having delivered her orders.
I shot Ethan a sympathetic grimace as he dragged a cart of books towards the romance section. And that was that.
Until the police lights flickered outside. Followed by the fire truck. And who should march through the doors but two of my brothers-in-law—Dallas in his bulletproof vest and Shane in his fire pants.
“Should have known you’d be the reason behind a call to the fire station,” Shane teased, strolling up to the counter, thumbs tucked under his suspenders.
Dallas hesitated a minute too long with the door open, and a streak of multicoloured fur flung itself past his legs.
“No!” Ethan and I shouted in unison.
But it was too late. The menace was in the building.
I glared at the newcomers. “Y’all are on Jerry duty. I was already attacked and saved, thanks to your brother. Ethan had to climb in a window. This is all you now.”
Dallas grunted. “Not my circus.”
“I don’t get paid enough for this,” Shane added.
I shrugged. “You’ll have to take that up with the mayor.”