Chapter Six #2
“Yeah, come sit down.” She points to a computer.
“I’ve connected you with the local news archive website and the arrest records. You’re going to have to go to the courthouse for the property records.”
“Wow. This is amazing.”
“If you tell me what you’re looking for, I can comb through this with you.”
“Oh, no...I don’t want to keep you.”
She shakes her head, and her dangling earrings tingle. “This is literally my job, and I love doing things like this. It’s why I’m a librarian.”
I hate to be a spoilsport, but she can’t help. I can’t talk to anyone about what I’m doing right now. Maybe once I get a little more information. Maybe once I know Rose a little better, but not today.
“Oh really, I’m not even sure exactly what I’m looking for today.”
She deflates a little. “Oh, okay.”
“Maybe later when I have narrowed some things down?”
This perks her up. “Yes. Whatever I can do to help.”
“I really appreciate it though.”
Her smile has returned. “I’ll be at the desk if you need me.”
I get to work and completely lose track of time.
I vaguely notice the sky darkens even more outside, but I continue to work without giving it any thought; then vaguely notice that it starts to rain.
I finally look up when it starts to pour.
Loud crashes of thunder follow, and lightning streaks across the windows.
Well, I’m not going anywhere for a while.
I really hope it dies down soon though. The library isn’t open much longer.
I tune it all out and continue to work until I hear the library door swing open. The wind is howling outside, and I see Kip barreling through the doorway - soaking wet. He looks ready to light something on fire. Correction: he looks like he’s ready to light me on fire.
His eyes lock on me as he marches my direction.
Oh, shit.
I sink lower into my chair.
“Oh, hey Kip,” Rose says, standing up.
He just holds up his hand without a word and continues in my direction, eyes still glued on me. Rose sits down without another word.
“Ginger,” he growls.
I close out all the tabs quickly and log out before he reaches me.
“Ginger,” he growls again.
I turn in my swivel chair to face him.
“Can I help you?” I say, sweetly.
“What the hell are you doing?” he yells, startling me.
“Kip, we’re in a library,” I whisper.
“There’s no one else here but Rose,” he yells. I flick my eyes over to the front desk. Rose is sitting straight up, watching us intently. I give her a little wave.
“I needed the internet,” I say, looking up at him. He’s towering over me, water dripping off him. It’s running down his face, his neck, his hair. His t-shirt is glued to his body.
“There’s internet at the house,” he growls.
“I don’t have any devices that connect to the internet,” I reply. I didn’t want to risk James being able to track me with one of my other devices. Honestly, I’m not even sure how that works, but I couldn’t risk it.
He closes his eyes and tilts his head to the ceiling. Good Lord, he’s counting again.
“How did you get here, Ginger?” he asks.
I swallow without answering. He spots Hawk’s card on the table beside the computer. His face grows cloudy. “Hawk?”
I stand up. “Yes. I was walking, and he offered me a ride.”
“Ginger...” It’s a warning.
“Don’t be a jerk,” I hiss. I’m stuffing my things into my bag. “And why didn’t you tell me he was your brother?”
Oh, that hit a nerve. His face is bright red now.
“It’s not important,” he says.
I just cross my arms over my chest.
“Did you even check the weather before you left?”
“How would I do that?” I hold up my flip phone and wave it in front of him. “It doesn’t exactly have the weather app, Kip.”
I start walking toward the door, but before I can even take two steps, I feel Kip’s big arms wrap around me, his hand on my stomach. He pulls me back.
“Oh, no you don’t, cupcake. We aren’t finished.”
Rose’s eyes are wide, her mouth forms a little O shape.
I wave at her. “It’s fine. He’s just teasing. We tease a lot.”
He pulls me out of her eye line and turns me around.
“You can’t fucking do things like that.”
I put my hands on my hips. “Do things like what, exactly?”
He gestures toward the window. “Take off in the middle of a lightning storm.”
“I didn’t take off in the middle of a lightning storm. It was perfectly sunny when I left.”
“I texted you like a hundred times.”
“I’m in a library, my phone is on silent,” I reply.
He’s brooding, his eyes raging.
‘You aren’t really my boyfriend,” I whisper.
“I fucking know that,” he snaps.
He points at me. “Don’t you do something like this again.”
“I don’t have to report to you, Kip. I hardly know you.”
His face is like stone. His chest is rising and falling with each angry breath. He’s still dripping wet and between his intense angry eyes boring into me, and the wet t-shirt contest that’s happening in front of me, I’m feeling a tingling sensation all over my body.
Why is my body so inappropriate? Now is not the time.
I’m not sure how to get my brain and my lady parts on the same page, but this is not happening. First of all, he clearly hates me. Second of all, I clearly hate him. And finally, I can’t get distracted. I have a job to do, and I don’t have a lot of time to do it.
“We’ve got to go,” he says, grabbing my good arm.
“Where?”
“To Paul’s. He’s back in town. We need to get him to look at your head.”