“H-hi,” I stuttered, clutching my cardigan like a shield. “Um. I’m… Nora. The librarian. Across the street.”
Trigger leaned on a barstool. “Hey, sweetheart.”
Saint elbowed him. “Be nice.”
He told me their names. All of them had strange names. I was sure it must have been their Army Ranger names.
Havoc glared like I’d interrupted his oxygen.
Wolf watched me like I was a puzzle he couldn’t solve.
My mouth went dry.
My courage nearly fled.
But the noise had reached unbearable levels.
“I’m so sorry to bother you,” I said quickly, “but your noise is—um—vibrating the shelves.”
Trigger grinned. “We vibrate things, sweetheart.”
My face burst into flames.
Wolf straightened, stepping between Trigger and me with a low rumble. “Knock it off.”
Trigger blinked. “What? I’m being welcoming.”
“You’re being you,” Wolf growled.
Something inside me fluttered at the sound of his voice—deep, rough, like gravel and heat.
Wolf turned his full attention on me.
“Ma’am,” he said quietly, “sorry for the disturbance. We’ll keep it down.”
I swallowed. Hard. “Thank you.”
It should’ve ended there.
I should’ve turned and walked away.
But when I stepped back, my heel caught on the threshold—and I stumbled right into Wolf’s chest.
And he caught me.
One strong hand braced my back.
One arm steadied my waist.
Warm. Solid.
Too much.
For one wild moment, I forgot how to breathe.
He stared down at me like he couldn’t understand how I’d ended up in his arms.
Honestly?
