Page 1 of Wild Dreams

1

MARIGOLD

"You have that book for me?" Chance stood in front of the children's counter of the library in his uniform.

His voice zapped through my body like an electric charge. "Chance."

He moved to sit on the counter, and my cheeks heated. Did he know the affect he had on me? I was on high alert anytime he was nearby, aware of his every movement. I breathed in his scent, a combination of leather and the outdoors.

He cocked a brow with an amused expression. "You had a book reserved for me? You thought I'd like it."

My face flamed hotter as I fumbled around under the counter for the book I'd reserved for Chance St. Claire, my best friend's older brother. I'd carefully written his name on a Post-it and fixed it to the cover of a thriller. It wasn't my preferred genre, but I'd read it to ensure it would be a good recommendation. "I already checked it out to you so no one would take it."

Chance winked at me as he accepted the book. "The guys are relying on me to pick a good one."

"Good books are subjective. But it got an average of four and a half stars on the review sites," I said, my words running together. As a police officer, he had to know when someone wasnervous. If it were anyone else, I would have assumed it was the uniform that had me on high alert. I was a rule follower after all. But I'd crushed on Chance since I'd turned thirteen, before I even understood what the butterflies were swirling in my stomach.

Chance covered my hand with his, and my heart stuttered. "You researched the reviews for me?"

I blinked up at him. "You wanted a book recommendation. That's how I determine if a book is worth reading. The blurb, cover, reviews, and word-of-mouth recommendations."

Thankfully, he removed his hand because my heart was racing out of control. "You take your job seriously."

"Don't you?" I shot back, knowing some men thought my job wasn't worthy of their respect. I wasn't in academia like my parents, nor had I ever published anything myself. I was just a librarian. I'd heard that more times than I could count.

"There's something hot about a woman who can talk books." Chance stood then, one hand clutching the book, and the other ran down the front of his uniform shirt.

What would it be like to unbutton them one by one, knowing there were still several layers to go through to get to his sculpted chest and chiseled abs? He'd taken his shirt off enough over the years when I was at his house with his sister, Scarlett, that the image was embedded in my brain forever. My eyes narrowed on him. "Are you messing with me right now?"

Chance barked out an amused laugh. "Not at all." Then he sobered. "Why? Did someone say something to you?"

I shrugged. "Guys I've dated in the past haven't looked too favorably at my job choice."

"They're obviously idiots."

"Did your ex-girlfriends like to read?" I searched my mind for names but couldn't think of anyone beyond his high-school girlfriend. Chance was private about his personal life, butrumors indicated that he only dated outside of town since he was the sheriff. "Shelle Taylor?"

Chance scoffed. "Wow. I haven't heard her name in forever."

"She's married with three kids and lives right here in town." She was the quintessential popular girl. She was tall and blond. All the boys wanted her, and Chance had dated her all through high school.

"Yeah, but—I haven't thought about her since we broke up. She didn't want to date someone who wanted to be a police officer. Not that I was interested in anything long-term with her. But thinking back, I don't remember seeing her with a book."

I stood, gathering my things because the library was set to close in a few minutes.

Chance glanced at the cover of the book on top of the neat stack I'd made. "You're reading children's books?"

"It's for the school's Battle of the Books competition. I read the books and create practice questions."

Chance smiled. "That's a great program."

"You know about it?" I asked him.

"We organize security for it, and I've worked the event myself. I like to be seen in the community as much as possible."

I settled the strap of my bag on my shoulder and picked up the books. When I came around the edge of the counter, Chance held his hands out. "I'll get those for you."

"You don't need to do that." I was a little flustered that he wanted to carry them for me. I loved men who were chivalrous, but I'd only read about them in books. No guys I'd dated held doors or even paid for the check. They all expected me to pay half. Not that I wouldn't offer, but I wanted a man to take care of me in that way even if I had money in the bank. Good manners were attractive.

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