“Surely, visiting home couldn’t have been that traumatic?”
Nora grimaced and leaned against the counter, her fingers drumming a restless rhythm on the wooden surface. “You’d be surprised. Oh, here.” She set the library book she’d borrowed on the counter.
Darci logged it in. “I thought you’d be gone for several weeks?”
“Do I look suicidal to you? Two weeks is more than enough. My family makes me swear off ever having one of my own.”
“You must enjoy time with someone. What about your dad? Your brother?”
“Hmm…my sibling must do because he greeted me with ‘what in the blazes took you so long to get back?’”
Darci’s eyes widened. “You’re kidding, right?”
“I wish.” Nora’s expression turned pensive. “I’m doing some work for him. He’s so impatient to get it done. My father’s usually too busy, so I rarely get to see him.”
“I’m sorry,” Darci said softly. It was hard enough growing up without parents, but she was so grateful Declan loved her, even if he was a tad over-protective.
Nora had told Darci her mother had died when she’d been very young. And her brother had her working her tail off. He was a collector of rare and old artifacts. Right now, she was tracking a vase or something for him.
“Nora?” Irina cut a quick look their way. “You’re coming next Saturday, right?”
“For?”
Irina rolled her gray eyes. “Duh, my engagement.”
“Ah, so you and Thomas the hunk finally decided to make it legit?” Nora teased.
“Yup. Or be castrated, since my five brothers found out he’s been having sleepovers at my place for several months.” Irina added another book to the pile on the counter that looked in danger of toppling over. Darci hastily scooped up the wobbly stack of returns and loaded them in the cart.
Nora laughed. “Now, how can I miss that? I’ll be there.”
Darci’s cell phone vibrated near the computer. Her heart thudded as she took it and did a quick scan for Lester. The dried-up old stick didn’t care for personal calls, but she refused to ignore hers in case it was Blaéz again. Or Grace.
“Take it, I’ll keep watch.” Irina winked.
“Thanks.” Darci answered her call. “Hello.”
“It’s me.”
The sound of his voice, like cool velvet stroking her senses, was enough to make her knees give way. She leaned against the counter and tried to calm her racing heart.
“Darci?”
“I’m here. Are you all right?”
“You asked me that once before,” he murmured almost absently…then, “I want to see you.”
“All right. I get off at six—”
“No, now.”
Her fingers clenched around her cell. He sounded too cold, distant. The knot in her stomach intensified. Damn, Lester would go ape-shit if she took off at their busiest time. “Blaéz—”
“I’m outside.”
The knot loosened. “Okay, see you in a minute.” She ended the call and glanced around the busy library. If Lester found out she’d ducked work, he would so fire her ass. But much as she loved her job, she had to see Blaéz, see that he was okay, especially after the way he’d left her that morning, followed by his odd, silent call.
“Cover for me,” she whispered to Irina.
