Page 9 of Stalked By the Recruiter

Not at all. Not even close.

My sweet colorful bookworm who played music way too loud at night was going to be mine. I might not have won the first battle, but I’d win the war. Then I’d claim her as my prize because Carmen was mine. I just had to retreat for a moment and come up with a new strategy.Recalculate.

“Okay.” I straightened and reached for my wallet in my back pocket. I could feel her eyeing me, and I didn’t want to know exactly how suspiciously she was staring at me. I found the paper I’d put in there in case of an emergency like this.Thanks again, Betty,I thought to myself. My sister and her endless book recommendations.

“Could you help me out with one thing before kicking me out?” I asked, sounding a little defeated.

“I wasn’t kicking—“ She made a frustrated maddeningly adorable sound before looking up at the ceiling. Her eyes shut,and I could have sworn she counted to five before staring back at me. “What do you need?” she asked with a tight smile.

“Could you help me find this book?” I handed her the paper, and she read it. Blinked down at it and glanced back up at me then at the paper.

“You want this book?”

“I do,” I confirmed. The usual cocky armor I wore like a second skin started to slip.

“Really?” One of her brows rose. “Do you know what this book is about?” She moved in closer, resting her hands on top of the counter. I rubbed the back of my head, knowing the tips of my ears were burning with embarrassment.

“I have an idea,” I answered, clearing my throat. My little sister and her book recommendations.

“You could buy this book. Online, I mean. You know that, right?”

“Technically, I could buy mostly any book online. I mean, what can’t you buy online nowadays, am I right?” I challenged. Finally, hope started to grow inside me when her lips started to twitch.

“You want to read about blue ice aliens?” she asked plainly.

“I mean?—“

“Blue ice aliens finding their mate?”

“Mate,” I repeated, and our eyes locked. Yeah, that’s exactly what she would be.

My mate.

My soulmate.

Mine.

A soft current of something electric zipped between us. She shook her head, but that hint of a smile graced her perfect mouth, and I relaxed.

“Okay, fine. Blue alien romance it is.” My sister and her ridiculous book recommendations. “Do you have your librarycard?” I stuffed my hands into my front pocket, trying to seem as innocent as possible, knowing there was nothing innocent about myself.

“Well, maybe I need help with two things?” I shrugged, and there it was again. She might not want to like me or be intrigued by me, but she was.

Carmen’s face didn’t give much away, but it was those soft green eyes that hinted she didn’t necessarily hate me.

And I could work with that.

CHAPTER 3

CARMEN

I turnedthe key to the back door of the library and pulled on the door to make sure it was locked. Usually, throughout the school year, the library was open twenty-four seven, especially during finals, so students had a quiet place to study. But during summer, we had limited hours. I turned and took in the quiet campus with a smile on my face.

The sky was a mixture of bright pinks and oranges. Usually, I missed the sunset, but with closing earlier and the longer summer nights, I was able to catch them a little more often. I breathed in deeply. I wasn’t a summer person. The heat and I were not buddies, but there was something different today.Maybe it’s because Mr. Tall, Dark, Stupidly Handsome, and Crazy Mysterious finally talked to you?a voice in my head quipped up. I shook the thought away.

Nope. That’s not it.Or at least I wasn’t going to admit it was. No way, no how. I didn’t do the whole getting-a-crush thing.

I was divorced and happily single.

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