Page 1 of Library Lovers

Chapter One

I’m the biggest nerd you will ever meet.

By day, I work in my small town of Shiloh Springs—in the local library—and by night, I devour every romance book I can get my dirty little hands on. I also look like the quintessential dork. Thick, red-framed glasses complement my bright blue eyes that just so happen to match my awesome blue hair. I like to think of my look as nerd-girl chic.

In my little town, I stick out like a sore thumb, but I don’t mind. I like being myself. And screw all the old fuddy-duddies who give me the stink eye whenever they see me in the grocery store, which is where I am right now, getting supplies for my Friday night readathon.

Betsy Carlisle, an eighty-four-year-old gossip queen is giving me a dirty look from the other side of the produce section. So, I pick up an extra-large cucumber and meet her gaze, gliding my hand over the length in a suggestive and, admittedly, vulgar manner.

I waggle my brows then shoot her a wink.

Betsy blanches and scuttles away as fast as she can, throwing judgy glares over her shoulder as she retreats.

I burst out laughing as I return the cucumber, and the kid restocking the tomatoes beside me, Arthur, snorts.

“You better be buying that after you’ve just molested it in public.”

The gruff voice I haven’t heard in nearly a year startles me, and I jump. Spinning around, I come face to chest with Jennings Tate, the sexiest man alive—or at least that I’ve ever seen—and the bane of my existence.

No, I’m not being dramatic. He’s been a constant pain in my ass since kindergarten when he chopped off one of my braids and then stuck it down his pants.

My top lip curls in a sneer. “I would but my vibrator will get jealous. Besides,” I say, bending down to retrieve the cucumber from the shelf again before placing it in his basket. “You look like you need this more than I do. Lube is in aisle three in case you forgot.”

His stupidly gorgeous, pouty mouth quirks in a panty-melting smirk. “Ah, Ava, how I’ve missed that sassy mouth of yours. It’s good to be home.”

I roll my eyes. “Uh-ha, I’m sure you did. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to be anywhere you’re not.” I make to step around him, but his hand shoots out, warm fingers curling around my wrist. I look up into his vivid green eyes, ready to rip him a new one for touching me, but the words get caught in my throat.

He steps into me until he’s so damn close that the heat from his toned body seeps into my soft one.

“I meant it, Ava. The whole time I was gone, all I could think about was coming home to taunt you.” He breathes the last word into my ear like a prayer, a promise, and a threat.

My insides light up, but I tug my wrist out of his grip and glare up at him before lust can fog my senses. “Well, I didn’t think of you once, Jenn.”

His expression sours at my use of the nickname he was tormented with relentlessly as we were growing up. Nobody calls him Jenn anymore though, because as soon as he was old enough, he beat the crap out of anyone who dared. The message was spread pretty quickly; Jennings Tate was no longer taking anyone’s shit.

Somehow, I still got away with it…

He shakes his head slowly, then a grin parts his mouth as he leans in and whispers, “That’s the last time you call me Jenn without consequences. I did a lot of thinking while I was away. You and me, baby, we’re done playing this cat-and-mouse game. I’m done.”

I frown. What the hell is he talking about? But before I can ask, he’s crushing his lips to mine, forcing his tongue inside my mouth.

Right in the middle of the fresh produce section.

My eyes widen and his close as he deepens the kiss. Tilting my chin with his thumb and forefinger on either side of my jaw, he angles his head. And good God it’s like freaking magic. I give in, my lids flutter, and I fall into the moment. His big palm cups my face gently while his tongue does delicious things to mine making me swoon.

When he breaks the kiss, I swear unicorns and Teletubbies dance in a ring around his head. I’m dazed, and most definitely confused.

“What the hell was that?” I murmur, my fingers tracing over my now swollen lips.

He smiles down at me, strokes my cheek with the back of his knuckles, and then walks away.

“Holy shit. I think I just got pregnant,” comes from a murmured voice behind me.

Slowly I turn around finding Snow Hunter staring at me with an amused smirk on her blood-red lips.

“By the way, I’m totally stealing that cucumber move. I like your style Blue,” she says, then she too strides away from me.

I knew when I left, I would miss her. But I didn’t know it would be as bad as it was. I trolled her Instagram account like a full-on creeper, careful not to like any of her pictures for fear she’d know I was essentially stalking her.

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