Page 2 of Wild Dreams

Chance frowned. "I'm not going to let you carry ten books to your car."

It was sweet that he'd offered, but I routinely hauled books back and forth between my house and the library. It wasn't like he could be here every day to lighten my load. What would it be like if we were dating? Would he stop by every night at close to walk me to my car? My heart contracted.

We passed the empty circulation desk. "Are you alone here?"

"I'm usually the last one to leave." I was the only employee who didn't have a family to rush home to.

"Do they lock the door when they leave?"

"I do that when I walk out."

Chance frowned, glancing at the clock. "But it's after closing."

"I don't mind."

"I don't think it's safe. Especially if you're tucked into the children's area and can't see the front door."

"You don't have to worry about me."

Chance stepped in front of me to push open the door.

There was a homeless man at the corner of the building. He stopped by every evening, probably because I saved food for him.

I moved toward him, pulling out the cheese and crackers I'd saved from my lunch and a bottle of water. "Here you go."

Darren held out two hands to accept the package. "I appreciate that, ma'am."

I frowned at his shabbier than usual state. "Are you staying in the shelter tonight? It's getting cold already."

"I'll make my way over there eventually."

"The doors close at nine," I reminded him gently.

"Thank you." His eyes darted toward Chance. "I'll do that."

I frowned when he disappeared into the alleyway. "Darren usually sticks around to talk to me. I think you spooked him."

"You always stop to talk to homeless men?" Chance asked as I led the way to my small SUV.

I'd bought one with four-wheel drive. It was necessary living here. "Darren has been hanging around the library for a while. Sandra doesn't like him to come inside, so I take food out to him."

His forehead wrinkled. "Do you know anything about him?"

"His wife left him a few years ago after he lost his job. He hasn't been able to find one since. And you know how it is. You have to have an address to apply for a job. The longer you stay on the streets, the harder it is to get out. I told him about the county programs, but he's too proud to accept help. I can only get him into the shelters because it gets dangerously cold at night."

"It's not safe to be alone with people like that. He's hungry and desperate and might need money for drugs or alcohol."

"I'm willing to take the risk." I couldn't walk past someone who was hungry and cold and do nothing.

"Aren't you worried for your safety?" Chance asked when we reached my SUV.

"I'm not worried about Darren. We're friends." I clicked the locks and took the books from him, setting them in the back seat.

When I turned back to him, he was scanning the empty lot. "I don't like you walking out here alone at night."

"There's plenty of light."

"It would be easy for someone to follow your routine, knowing you're the last to leave, and hide in wait for you."

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