Page 10 of The Librarian’s Familiar

The man shrugged. “Everyone but the humans.”

“I volunteered.” That was the truth. He had then been assessed and given some extra training.

“Why?”

Charlie took the book out of his hand and placed it on the shelf. “Why not? Why did you return?”

“Family.” He lifted his eyebrows as if to imply it wasn’t that hard.

Charlie crossed his arms. “I don’t know you⁠—”

“You must be the only person who doesn’t,” he muttered. “August North.” August held out his hand.

It would be rude not to shake his hand, and he didn’t want to be making enemies. “Charlie Quinlan.”

Heat flared in August’s eyes. “Now you know me.”

Laughter burst out of Charlie’s mouth. Was this a bad attempt at flirting? Had August watched his interaction with Sinclair and gotten jealous? He released August’s hand. “Oh, honey, I don’t know you at all. And if you want to get to know me, the least you could do is buy me a cup of coffee.”

If August wasn’t interested, he was going back up in a hurry.

August didn’t move. “From Sinclair…”

“There are two other baristas in that shop.” And he was friendly with all three. It always paid to be nice to the person who made your morning coffee.

“Have you slept with them too?”

“That’s a funny way to ask if I’m single. Unless you’re asking if I’m a slut and I’m going to sleep my way through the town. And the answer to both is the same as before. The least you can do is buy me a drink before digging into my personal life.” He smiled, fairly certain he wasn’t about to get punched in the face.

August rocked back like he had been slapped. His mouth opened and closed as a frown formed. “What makes you think I’m interested?”

“Honestly…the way you look at me like I’m an abandoned baby seal and you’re sniffing around looking for an easy meal.”

“Brutal.”

“You asked. And that’s the only free answer you get.”

“But if I buy you coffee tomorrow⁠—”

“If you buy me coffee, we can talk. I like to get a read on someone before I get naked.”

August snorted. “Cocky.”

“I’m not the one who came into the library to sniff around.” His heart was beating fast, and he was sure August could hear it, but he wasn’t about to be pushed around by a polar bear, or any shifter for that matter.

August huffed. “I was trying to be friendly.”

“Uh-huh. You don’t date much…are you freshly out of the closet or still in it?”

“If you’re not answering questions, neither am I.” August stepped back as if offended.

Charlie shrugged. “Well, you know what to do. Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow.” He brushed past to get another armful of books and felt the heat of August’s gaze on his back.

He was not going to turn around. Even though that is exactly what he wanted to do. Instead, he let out a little tendril of magic. It followed August toward the door and pulled on his shoelace.

It was only as August bent down to tie his shoelace that Charlie let himself look. August’s jeans hugged his ass in all the right ways. It was probably too much to hope that the polar bear liked to bottom.

August stood and glanced over his shoulder. Had August sensed the magic?