"But that doesn't mean I expected you to show up here this morning."
"I was worried about you."
She finally cracked a smile."I guess passing out on the floor will cause that reaction."
"It's not really a big deal to buy some groceries."
She turned slightly, taking in the living room where I'd spent most of the day."Did you unpack my books?"
I rubbed my neck, worried about her reaction."I'm sure I didn't organize them how you'd like.You own a bookstore, so you probably arrange them alphabetically or by author."
She smiled softly."That was really nice of you."
"I was bored and figured you were busy with the store.It wasn't a big deal."
She gave me a look that said it was a huge deal to her."I appreciate everything you've done.I don't know how I can ever repay you."
"If you ever find me puking, you can make me soup."
She smiled wider."I can do that, but I don't know where you live.It's not like I'd ever be close enough to you to provide that kind of help.And you have so much family in the area.I'm sure you wouldn't need me to step in."
"I'm sure we'll think of something."I had a few ideas for when she was better, like getting on her knees in one of her librarian outfits and sucking me off.But that came with its own set of complications.When she wasn't sick and weak, we didn't get along.
I could concede that was mainly my fault.I hadn't made it easy on her.It was a defense mechanism and self-preservation.If I pushed her away and picked at all of her perceived faults, then I couldn't get close to her.I wouldn't act on my attraction.
It was working, but I hadn't counted on seeing her so vulnerable.It had made me think of her in a different light, as a woman who lived alone and who admittedly didn't have much of a support system.
To keep my hands busy and my eyes off her, I got out a cutting board and cut into a loaf of crusty bread I'd gotten to go with the soup.I shouldn't offer to stay and eat dinner with her, but I'd cooked, and it was the polite thing to do.I'd leave after I ate though.I'd say she needed her rest.Then tomorrow we'd go back to how we were before.
I wouldn't remember how she looked when she was sleeping in bed this morning, so relaxed.How her nipples were visible under her T-shirt when she'd sat up.She'd been so soft and vulnerable.Nothing like the woman I usually encountered, the one that could handle herself and anything I threw at her.
This woman was more open with me.I really liked her, and that was a problem.I'd steered clear of her because of something like this.I couldn't afford to get close.She'd always been my weakness.
I was supposed to go for girls who dressed more provocatively and did reckless things, like ride motorcycles or pick up men at bars.But instead, I was attracted to her, the sexy librarian who had her nose in a book, who wore glasses when she read to kids, and whose dream it was to open a bookstore where people could congregate.
I set the thick slices of bread on a platter I found in the cabinet, then checked the soup.I lifted the lid and stirred."It's ready if you want to eat."
"It smells good.I think I could eat."
I poured two bowls, placing one in front of her.I handed her a slice of bread, and she immediately dipped it in the broth.I set the second bowl next to her.She didn't say anything about me sticking around or eating her soup.
Her lips pursed."I hope you don't get sick."
I winked at her, and her face flushed."I'll know who to call if I do.You owe me nursemaid services."
She nodded seriously as if it was an even trade."That's fair."
I was getting much more out of this situation than I anticipated.I was discovering who she was inside.
I sat on the stool next to her, reaching for a piece of bread."You're nicer than my siblings.They'd grumble about how I needed to suck it up and get over myself.I can hear them now."
She chuckled, and I couldn't take my eyes away from her.I hadn't seen her laugh at something I said since we were teens flirting in the school hallways.It felt good to make her laugh.
"If you're not close to your family, and you don't have friends in town, why did you open your store in Christmas Town?"
She sobered."I was close to my grandmother, and she died a few months ago."
"I'm sorry."I hadn't realized that her grandmother had died.
