“Sounds like a lot of work hours.”
She shrugged. “It paid tuition.”
Something in his expression softened, and Wren had to look away before she drowned in it.
“Also sounds like you and Lark got the same work ethic. She was incredible this weekend. Never seen anyone work so hard.”
Wren’s cheeks heated at his compliment, aware that was the worst possible response—because the astute guy instantly saw her blush. A small wrinkle appeared between his eyes, revealing his confusion over her reaction.
Who blushed when someone else was paid a compliment?
“Lark is a very hard worker,” she said, with a little too much stress.
Grayson held his hands up. “You’ll get no argument from me.” He looked around the library again and, for a moment, she got the sense he was stalling, like he was searching for a way to keep talking to her.
Or maybe that was just her wishful thinking.
“Are you a reader?” she asked, despite knowing it would be a hell of a lot smarter to cut this conversation short.
“I try to be.”
“And yet you never come to the library,” she said, unable to stop herself from grinning.
“I mostly download books onto my phone.”
Wren’s eyes widened and, for a moment, she was transported back to the festival, to their easy camaraderie and teasing. “You read on your phone?!”
“I know,” he joked. “I’m a monster.”
“A barbarian.”
He laughed, low and warm, and the sound wrapped itself around her. “Feel like recommending me something better in print?”
“Seriously?”
He nodded. “Sure.”
Wren came around the desk before she could think too hard about it. “Okay. What kind of books do you like?”
“The kind that read like an action-adventure movie. Like Jack Reacher or Mission Impossible.”
She gestured toward the stacks. “Challenge accepted.”
They wandered slowly through the fiction shelves together as she pulled off half a dozen titles, giving him a quick synopsis of each. Luckily, Wren was a fan of all genres, and there wasn’t too much she didn’t read. That served her well, since she felt it was important in her job to be able to discuss all kinds of books with her patrons.
Grayson listened to her descriptions with amused patience, sometimes teasing her about the intensity of her opinions. “I should have started making my own list,” he said, after several minutes. “Because every book you suggested sounds great.”
She held up one of her favorites. “Start with this one. If you enjoy it, I’ll steer you toward another.”
“Okay. I trust your guidance on this.”
“I am a librarian. We’re basically literary matchmakers.”
His eyes darkened slightly as he took the book from her. “You’re very passionate about books.”
“You say that like it’s surprising.”
He grinned. “I think it’s cute, actually.”
