A man who knows how to use a vacuum? Yes, please.
“I think I can make an exception for the noise, given the circumstances,” I tell him, playfully.
He grins back at me. “So no shushing me this time?”
“Not this time.” I smile back.
Rhett turns on the vacuum and works on what’s left of the mess. He stacks the broken table into a neat pile out of the way for now and then he’s measuring, tapping, and muttering things under his breath that sound reassuring even though I don’t understand a word of it.
When he’s finally done for the day, he picks up his clipboard and walks over to the desk.
“I’ll invoice the library,” he says. “Materials, labor, emergency call-out. Town Council can deal with it.”
Relief loosens something tight in my chest. “Thank you. Seriously.”
He hesitates, then adds, “There is, however, one additional fee.”
My stomach flips. “Oh?”
He smiles—slow and a little crooked. “Dinner. With me. I fix the library. You let me take you out.”
I fold my arms, trying and failing to look stern. “That seems highly unprofessional.”
He chuckles. “Totally. But optional.”
Optional.
I glance around at the half-repaired wall, the rescued books, at the man who showed up without hesitation when I panicked.
“Fine,” I say softly. “But only because you saved Christmas.”
His grin widens. “I wouldn’t go that far; I’m not Santa. But, I’ll take it.”
And just like that, this day—this ridiculous, chaotic, unexpected day—turns into something I don’t want to end.
“I’ll be back first thing in the morning to finish the wall. I can come before the library opens if you want to meet me here. You don’t have to. I can wait until 9. Just thinking it might be easier with the dust from sanding and everything if there weren’t any patrons here.”
“I can come in a bit earlier.”
“How’s 7? That should give me plenty of time.”
“It’s a date,” I reply without thinking.
Rhett raises a brow and chuckles. “Nice try. Our first date will be dinner. Not meeting at the library before it opens for some repairs.”
My cheeks flush. “Oh. Right. Of course. I meant…”
He reaches across the counter and squeezes my hand, gently. “I’m just teasing you. I’ll pick up something from Dockside on the way in. Do you have any special requests or should I just ask Emmy and Evie for the Bristol special?”
I shake my head. “Dear God, please don’t. There is no Bristol special and that’s really not necessary.”
“It might not be butIneed my caffeine fix and I’m a sucker for their holiday treats. So, what can I bringyou?”
“Fine. If you insist. I do love their peppermint hot chocolate and those buttery glazed croissants.”
“Perfect.” He shrugs on his jacket. “I’ll send the invoice to the library tonight.”
“And the…other fee?” I ask, my voice betraying me just a little.
