Not that he would have said no to sex with Scott regardless of whether or not anything else was on offer. Scott was hot.
“I’ve never had a dog,” Charlie said eventually. “My dad was super allergic to them. Then when he died I just… never got one. Maybe I should.”
Scott’s entire face lit up. “I can give you some advice, if you want? Introduce you to all the dogs that need homes right now and stuff. You’d be a great dog dad.”
Charlie had no idea how Scott could know that about him—or whether it was actually true—but the thought made his heart swell. He’d have to talk to his mom first, and it was really only an idea right now, but it was an idea he liked.
“I’ll think about it and let you know. How is Chewie, by the way?”
“He’s getting on great. Gaining weight, getting more confident. One of the other dogs took him on as her puppy, but he’s still getting formula. I think he’s gonna be okay.”
Scott was glowing as he talked about Chewie, which was incredibly cute. “I’m glad he’s okay. You’re clearly a good dog dad.”
A blush crept down Scott’s neck, disappearing into the collar of his t-shirt. “Maybe. That’s why I wanna be a vet, y’know? When I finished high school I didn’t know what I wanted to do. Picked up whatever work I could get, eventually fell into construction for a few years, and helped out at the local shelter because I was lonely. Now… this is my calling, I think. Probably not as noble as being a human doctor, but dogs are important. And cats. I like cats, too, and there are so many of them in need of homes right now if you’re more of a cat person.”
Charlie chuckled. “You’re a very good salesman. I promise I’ll think about it.”
“Good. Uh. I’ve taken up way too much of your time today, so I’ll get out of your hair, but it was good to talk to you again,” Scott said.
“Good luck with the books.” Charlie nodded at the stack he’d finished scanning a while ago. “And tell Chewie he’s a good boy for me.”
“I will.” Scott beamed, picking up the stack of books effortlessly.
Charlie absolutely didn’t deliberately check out his arms while he did it, but he might have caught a glimpse of Scott’s biceps straining the fabric of his plaid shirt.
Which was unspeakably hot.
He waved after him as he left, still smiling, and forced himself to think about unsexy things like vacuuming the staff room and dealing with the borrowing system maintenance guy.
He didn’t have the time or energy to have a totally unrequited crush on Scott. Or anyone else, for that matter. His heart seemed to have other ideas, though.
It had taken him a little too long to remember why crushes were awful, but it was all coming back now.
Chapter Four
Scott had never really thought of libraries as sanctuaries or happy places the way he knew other people did, but he was starting to get attached to this one. The college library was fine, but it was always full of stressed-out students and it was hard to find an empty spot at a desk.
The Hope Springs community library was different. Full of light and air and a kind of warmth Scott had never really associated with libraries before. He’d thought of them as intensely serious places with librarians who wandered around shushing people for breathing too loudly.
This one wasn’t like that. Charlie wasn’t like that.
Scott really hadn’t had time to make friends, but he was starting to hope that he could count Charlie among them one day. Hope Springs was a friendly place, but the locals all knew each other and being an outsider was hard. Just to start with. Scott knew that once he had one friend, he’d make more.
He just needed to make that first friend.
Today, Charlie was in the children’s section, playing with a toddler in a blue-and-white striped dress. Scott approached cautiously, not wanting to intrude, but hoping to get a chance to chat to Charlie before he left with the stack of books he’d picked out.
This time, he’d even picked up some fiction. He wasn’t normally the kind of person who read for fun, but it seemed like a waste not to get the most out of having access to a great library.
“Hey,” Charlie smiled up at him from the floor, still playing with the toddler. Was she his daughter? He seemed great with her, and she seemed to like him.
“Uh, hey. I’m just taking half your library home again,” Scott said, tucking his books under one arm and scratching the back of his neck. “Is that your little girl?”
Charlie laughed softly. “This is Kayla. She’s my niece, but my brother lets me borrow her sometimes,” he said, offering her a building block for the tower she was constructing.
“Well, she’s cute. You’re obviously good with her.”
“Thank you.” Charlie smiled up at him, heaving himself off the floor and smoothing his shirt down. “How’s Chewie?”
