Page 111 of Falling for Keeps

Carson holds me in a kiss for a few more seconds before stepping back, his smile happy and content. “See you later.”

“You might want to check out the silent auction,” I say, a little breathless. “There’s a great nail design kit with gels and a UV light.”

“Ooo. Perfect for Christmas,” he says.

“Exactly.”

Demi waits until he leaves to face me fully. “We have a problem.”

“Oh, come on, Dem. Don’t ruin the moment.”

“It’s been ruined. You want the good news first, or the bad news?”

“Bad, obviously.”

“Well, actually…” She scrunches up her nose in thought. “Maybe they’re both good news.”

“Hit me with it.”

“Seth applied for the position at the South Burlington Library. He starts in two weeks.”

“He already got it?”

“I guess he’s been schmoozing the people in Burlington for a while. He told me he greased the way to make him a shoo-in.”

That explains his ability to get his hands on difficult advanced copies. I draw in a sharp breath. “If he’s gone, that means the manager position is open. You should totally apply.”

Demi probably blushes, but it’s too dim to tell. “I’m going to send in my application tonight.”

“The other good news?”

Her grin stretches so wide, I feel anticipation rising. “We got that tech grant you applied for back in September. We’re getting all new computers, baby!”

“Yes!” I hug Demi. “We can fix the security cameras!”

“Maybe.” She pulls away and fixes her short dark hair. “Should we head back into the mix? We probably need to start the costume contests.”

“I gave the Ednas their clipboards earlier so they’re making their final decisions now, I bet.” I chew on my lip. “Hey, what do you think about me asking them to co-chair the Friends of the Library board? We can have a vote and put in a whole new board? Technically, the old board has no say in it, so we don’t need their permission.”

“Sounds like an excellent idea.”

We head back toward the group, and I find the women holding their clipboards together beneath the brightest lights, talking animatedly. “Wish me luck. I’m going in.”

When I reach them, I see three pink I VOTED stickers on Edna B.’s lapel. She’s in a black dress with a witch’s hat over her dark hair, in total opposition to Edna G.’s bright purple dress.

“Hi, ladies.”

They face me together. “We’re almost done choosing the winners.”

“That’s fine. I had something else to ask you. Don’t feel like you have to give me an answer now, but it’s clear you’re both good at managing things. I was wondering how you’d feel about heading up the Friends of the Autumn Ridge Library board.”

“Which one of us?” Edna B. asks.

“Both, actually. I figured you could be co-chairs. We have a lull during part of the year, but the fall is always really busy, then we do Reading with Santa, and of course there’s the whole Summer Reading Program.”

“Yes,” the Ednas say in unison.

That was fast.