Page 14 of Conquering Conner

“So, you’re twenty-six. Hanging out in here is a little creepy, don’t you think?”

He shrugs. “There’s no one in here.”

I shoot a glare over his head and he turns, a slow smile spreading across his face when he sees the trio of women who followed him in here, crowded around a spinning book rack full of Sweet Valley Highs. “Afternoon, ladies.”

They giggle and wave.

At least one of them is old enough to be his mother.

“I’m serious, you can’t be in here.” I don’t know why I’m pushing the issue. He’s right. It hardly matters. I haven’t seen one kid come in here all day.

He cocks his head and gives them a crooked smile. I know because they look like they’re ready to faint. “You guys don’t mind that I’m in here, do you?”

All three of them shake their heads like their lives depend on it.

“See?” He turns his smile on me. “No one cares but you, Daisy.”

I almost threaten to get security to escort him out, but I don’t because I know how it’ll end.

The security guard on duty is a woman. She’d probably end up handcuffing him and frisking him as an excuse to cop a feel.

Taking a deep breath, I let it out slowly before trying again. “Sir, I really am going to—”

“Ma’am—” He flashes his dimples at me, a surefire sign he knows he’s getting to me. “I’m just looking for a quiet place to read.”

“There are plenty of reading nooks in the main—”

“I said quiet.” He shakes his head. “It’s too noisy out there.”

He’s right. The main floor is dominated by a large bank of computers and every single one of them is occupied. The incessant clicking of fingers on keyboards has been slowly driving me crazy all day.

“There are plenty of quiet places to read on the third-floor,” I say before I can think to stop myself.

Third floor.

Reference.

Like he can read my mind, Conner’s grin takes on a predatory edge. “I don’t know where that is,” he says. “Would you mind showing me?”

I can feel the women behind him staring at me, silently willing me to say no so one of them can be his guide. “You know where it is.”

He shrugs. “I forgot.”

“You have an eidetic memory.”

He grins again. “It’s selective.”

“Fine.” I’ll play along. Show him where to go even though he knows this library like the back of his hand, same as me. “Follow me.”

I turn and retrace my steps, the sound of my heels clicking across polished concrete as I cross the atrium, on my way to the elevator.

I push the button before stepping away from the panel, clasping my hands together in front of me to wait for the car. Conner is standing behind me, far enough away to maintain decorum. Anyone looking at us would think we’re total strangers. That we’re simply waiting for the elevator.

But they can’t feel the way he’s looking at me.

What having his eyes on me is doing to me.

The doors slide open.

I mean to direct him from here.

Press three and get out when the doors open.

Instead, I step into the car and turn, watching while he steps in after me.

Rather than look at him, I look out across the atrium and see Margo at the main information desk, still helping the same woman with her library card application. The doors start to slide closed.

Margo gives me a cheeky grin and a thumbs up.

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