As the surprise fades, she squares her shoulders and nods slowly. “Are you the welcome committee or something?”
“Or something,” I echo. She doesn’t look amused, not even a little bit. “We don’t have an official welcome committee here, but I’m sure we could put one together. I doubt Mayor Simmons would allow any funding for it, but maybe we could do some community donations and even get a little basket put together.”
She doesn’t laugh, but one corner of her mouth twitches. Somehow, it feels like a win.
“Right,” she nods as if anything I just said made sense to her when I know it didn’t. Her eyes narrow as she asks, “How do you know I need to be welcomed?”
My gaze moves slowly as I look her over. She’s wearing a pair of leggings that mold to her legs with an oversized sweater that looks extra comfortable. In all honestly, she looks like she would fit in around town, but I would have remembered if I’d ever seen this woman before.
Fuck. She’s gorgeous.
“I’d know your name already if you didn’t need to be properly welcomed to town.”
Her lips purse which makes her look sexier instead of the stern demeanor she was probably going for. Who the hell is this woman and how can I make her mine?
She makes a humming sound and nods once. “I’m Hollyn.”
“Hollyn,” I whisper her name as she looks around the library and takes in all the decorations.
“It’s very,” she pauses, her green eyes coming back to meet mine, “festive in here.”
“Well, ‘tis the season,” there’s a teasing lilt in my voice which has one side of her mouth twitching again.
But I don’t get a smile out of her.
There’s that humming sound. Again. When she looks back at me, her green eyes ensnare me. I never want to look away.
“What brings you into the library? Are you here on vacation?” I’ve never wanted the answer to be yes to a question as much as I do right now.
“I was just driving through,” she admits begrudgingly.
“But now all your plans have changed and you’re here to stay?” The hopeful note in my voice is obvious.
It should make me self-conscious, but it doesn’t. Not even a little bit.
Hollyn tilts her head as she looks at me, her eyes assessing. “No,” her words are slow and measured, “that wasn’t the plan, but my car decided to start sputtering before dying right on the edge of town.”
My spine goes ramrod straight and I growl, “How far from here?”
Amusement lights up Hollyn’s eyes, but she doesn’t say anything about my reaction. “It wasn’t far, don’t worry. I had to walk less than a mile to get to the library. I was hoping you’d be able to recommend a good place to call to have it towed and figured it would be warmer waiting here than in my car.”
My gut clenches when I think of her waiting in her car in the cold. I don’t like it one fucking bit. I fist my hands at my sides and try to tamp down the feeling of possession bubbling up inside of me. It’s not like anything I’ve ever felt before and I’m not entirely sure what to do with it.
“Easton Auto is the only place in town. The guys who run it are good and fair.” I wake up the computer and quickly type ‘Easton Auto’ into the search bar, the information she needs heading to the printer before she even realizes it.
My jaw clenches because the guys who run the shop are all single. Will they take one look at Hollyn and want her just as much as I do? The thought pisses me off, and I have to take a deep breath when I go to grab the printout without looking her way.
“Thanks,” she offers the words absently, her eyes already on the paper in her hand. “I’ll give them a call and see when they can get my car towed.”
“I can call them for you,” I offer. Her eyes widen slightly as she looks up at me. “Or,” I’m on a roll now as I open my mouth again, “I can give you a ride over there.”
“Don’t you have to work?” There’s a hint of laughter in her voice as she motions around the room.
She’s right, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. “Yeah,” I grunt while thinking about shutting the library down early for the first time since I started working here.
“How about you call them to get it towed and then I take you over there after I close up.” I glance at the clock on the wall and add on, “It won’t be long now.”
Her face scrunches up, and she shakes her head slowly. “That’s ridiculous. I’m sure I can walk or they can pick me up on the way.”
