Page 23 of Snowed Under

Lucky fucking cat. He gets to snuggle up with her, and she’s not even mad about it. She’s a keeper. “Nobody has the heart to turn him away. I think he uses it to his advantage.”

“Like his owner?” Her lips press together as she fails to hide her amusement.

I pique an eyebrow.Well, well. Hello heart palpitations.“Which part, turning me away, or playing on my neighbor’s heartstrings?”

“Both.”

I lean closer. “Are you flirting with me, Ainsley Parsons?”

She’s so cute when she’s in a playful mood. “No. I’m just trying to have a little fun. Apparently, my mom and Emma say I’m too serious.”

“You? Serious? Never. I mean, there’s nothing wrong with that. If you ask me, there’s not enough serious librarians out there.”

She elbows me in the ribs. “Very funny.”

I hold my hands up. “Careful, tiger, almost cracked a rib. It’s always the cute ones that give the most hell.”

“I studied taekwondo as a child. I have some moves.”

“I have a black belt in origami, so you better watch it.”

She bursts out laughing and I can’t help but join in, too.

“A black belt in paper folding, huh? Sounds serious.”

Before I can respond, a kid comes over and takes a Shirley Temple as we clown around. I forgot how much fun we have when we do stuff together. It reminds me of the speed dating last year and how seriously Ainsley took all of it with her timer and clipboard. When she puts herself into something, she gives it her all.

I clap my hands together. “What do you need me to do?”

“Right now?”

I glance up. “Yeah.”

“Find me irresistible.”

I frown, and it’s not because I dislike the idea. She just takes me off guard. I’m about to follow that with a ‘Huh?’ when I glance up and I see Drake the snake headed this way. Fucking perfect. I don’t even have time to respond because he’s looming over the table, and he doesn’t look happy.

“You haven’t returned any of my calls,” he mutters. His tone has all the sharp edges of accusation. All that’s missing is a pointy finger and the drop of his bottom lip. Yep, I can see his teeth being rearranged across the other side of his mouth in the very near future.

Ainsley glances at me, but I’m glaring at Drake, who’s choosing to ignore me. “Uh, I’ve been busy, and last time I checked, I didn’t owe you a phone call,” she says.

“Right, but the movers came and took all the stuff out of the garage.”

“Yep, because it’smystuff and you agreed I could keep it there until I got a place.”

For the first time since he walked up, he notices me. His eyes briefly flick to mine, his face balled into a scowl, and I put my hands on my hips. “Cole.”

“Drake.”

His head moved back to glaring at Ainsley. “So? What gives? We can’t even talk now?”

“Why don’t you take a hike?” I suggest, before he can get another word in, thumbing behind me. “Or you and I can talk about this somewhere where there’s no little kids present.”

Ainsley moves closer to me and by some miracle I resist the urge to put my arm around her shoulders, only because I don’t know how far she wants to take this fake dating thing.

“This is between me and Ains,” he seethes.

My hands bawl into fists at my sides. My restraint for this asshole is wearing thin.

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