Jaxon lets out a throaty chuckle. “What the hell does that mean?”
“As far as I can tell, it means she’s never retiring, and I’m stuck helping you on my day off.” I put my glasses back in place and keep walking.
Jax follows in step beside me this time, and I’m struggling to ignore the way my body tingles with awareness every time his elbow brushes mine.
“You spend your days off at work?” he asks.
I can’t spend them in my cramped car, and it’s too cold outside to do much of anything. Small towns aren’t exactly rife with entertainment. That pretty much leaves work and books. I’m more than happy to disappear into a fictional world until the real one comes calling, but I can’t tell Jaxon any of that.
I shrug. “Sometimes.”
“You must really love your job.”
He’s right. Idolove my job. This library is my happy place—the one thing I can always count on to bring me joy.
A smile forms on my lips. “Don’t you?”
“It’s a job.”
He doesn’t elaborate, and I don’t ask. I know better than to pry into someone else’s life when I’m not exactly an open book myself.
We come to a stop in front of a giant sign that reads adultnon-fiction. “You should find what you need here, but I can also check the system for any eBooks that we might not carry.”
He scans the shelves, running the tips of his fingers along the spines. I can’t help the filthy thoughts that spring to mind.
In my defense, I’m still keyed up from my unfinished orgasm, and I’ve always had a thing for hands. Self-care hasn’t been the same since I let my Pleasure Peak subscription lapse so I could afford food.
Priorities and all that.
“If you’re good here, I should go check on Janet.”
“Thanks, Callie.”
When I get to the desk, Janet is finished with her cat nap, and she’s talking to Shelly, the mom in charge of Tuesday story time.
“Well, shit fire and save matches,” Janet says. “You’re really leavin’ us?”
Shelly’s eyes widen, and she speaks through gritted teeth. “Language, Janet.”
“I’m sorry. I just don’t know what we’re gonna do without you.”
Shelly catches sight of me and waves me over. “Why don’t you have Callie take over? She’s great with kids.”
Janet turns her attention to me. “Would you mind, doll? Just until we can find someone to fill the spot permanently.”
“I don’t mind. Do you need me to start today?”
Shelly's expression turns somber. “I’m gonna finish out the day and say my goodbyes. You can start next week.”
I give her a sympathetic smile. It’s gonna be hard to follow in Shelly’s footsteps. She’s like a ray of sunshine; those kids adore her. She does all of the voices for every book, and sometimes she’ll even use puppets and let the kids play along.
A long-ago memory resurfaces of two little girls perched on their daddy’s lap with a storybook in the middle. It’s one ofmy only good memories from my childhood, and it shaped my life in many ways.
I blink myself back to the present. “They’re really going to miss you. You sure you can’t stay?”
“Wish I could. My husband got a job in Woodstone Falls.”
It’s a struggle to keep the grimace off my face. I heard their crime rate is astronomical, but I don’t say that aloud. I wouldn’t want to put a damper on the move.
