But when I turned back to the window, Nora was already crossing the street.
And this time—
I didn’t look away.
6
Nora
Iwas not going to think about Wolf’s chest.
Nope.
Absolutely not.
Thinking about that would be wildly inappropriate, unprofessional, impractical, irresponsible, and probably on the library’s unofficial list of “things you cannot do on work premises.”
So of course, that’s exactly what my brain fixated on the entire time I was trying to run a Friends of the Library board meeting.
“Should we upgrade the children’s section chairs?” Mrs. Peabody asked.
“He has… tattoos,” I murmured under my breath.
The entire board stared at me.
“I mean—chairs! Yes, chairs. Upgrade the chairs.”
“Oh, yes,” Mrs. Peabody said, blinking.
I rubbed my forehead. Focus, Nora. Focus on the chairs. Not Wolf Maddox carrying a beam like it weighed nothing. Not the way his voice did something to my spine. Not the heat that ran through me when—
No.
Nope.
After the meeting ended, I fled to the break room and splashed cold water on my face.
Get a grip.
You are a librarian. Not a hormonal cartoon character.
I took three steady breaths, straightened my blouse, and walked out.
And instantly knew I was doomed.
Because Riley Tate was sitting at one of my reading tables, flipping through a gardening book, like she had never gardened a day in her life.
Riley looked up and flashed a smile. “Nora. Perfect. Sit.”
“I’m working.”
“You were thinking about Wolf,” she said casually.
I slammed the return bin closed. “I absolutely was not.”
“Oh honey.” She propped her chin on her hand. “Everyone saw you nearly combust when he walked toward you shirtless.”
My soul left my body.
