Page 60 of Splintered Hearts

“Why don’t you make me a personal list of recommendations.”

While I could totally do that, I know this man’s not here to read gay romances. “How about I help you find a horror book.”

While flirting is nice, I’m not in the mood today.

Not for the first time, my mind drifts to Jamie’s stomach. I’m more bothered about how upset he seemed, that shame on his face. Over what? Scars?

Whatever happened to him had to have been painful, and I want to know what caused it. Was it his birth mother? Or something else?

“I’d like something with a mystery.”

Blinking back to reality, I smile at the man looking up titles on the computer.

“Here are some authors that may interest you. The fiction books are to the left, alphabetically.” Smiling at him, I slide thepaper over, and without moving his eyes from mine, he grabs it.

“Thank you.” Ben takes the pen lying on the counter, rips off a piece of the paper that has nothing written on it, and writes something down. “And here, in case you’d like to discuss books over dinner.”

Um . . .

He slides over his number and I smile uncomfortably. Ben’s nice. Maybe a little basic looking, with blond hair and blue eyes. Handsome, but in a cliché way. Normally, I would eat this up.

“Maybe next time.” I wink, but even that feels hollow.

Ben smiles wider. “Have a good night, Noah.”

Ben’s eyes drift over me one more time, making me feel squirmy in my own skin. “Night.” Finally he turns to the stacks, letting me take my first real breath of air.

“Noah.” I jump and turn. Isa stands behind me. She giggles. “Sorry, I didn’t want to interrupt whatever that was.”

“I was helping him find a book.”

“Helping him find something,” she mutters, and I playfully push her away from the desk. Nudging me with her hip, she laughs. Okay, I’m happy to have this job. I truly love the people who work here, they’re all so welcoming, and Isa is a dream.

There are four clerks at the desk, along with Isa, the children’s librarian. There’s Marcus, the adult-program director, Lianna, a retired teacher who is Lia’s secretary, and Lia, their director—and mother to one of the most frustrating men I’ve met.

Being new, I’m stuck with mainly second shifts, but I don’t mind. At night, a student and I work at the desk, and it’s so quiet that I’m allowed to read as long as things are done. It’s a dream job.

Isa is a tall Pakistani woman with sparkling chestnut eyes. They’re striking, and filled with so much warmth, and her pink hair is usually piled on top of her head with a clip. She’s just finished college, getting a degree in children’s education,and watching her with the kids during her programs is awe-inspiring. She’s fun and creative, so it’s no surprise her classes are full each and every time. “I just have a question. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“Nothing to interrupt.”

“Seemed like it.”

“Not interested.”

Putting her hands up, she laughs. “Fine. I’ll play matchmaker another day.”

“Looking forward to it. Do you need any help with a class?” As well as learning how to use the computer, I also help with her programs because it’s so slow at night. She’s always coming up with elaborate crafts for the kids to do.

“I got markers for my teen program. They just came in today and they aren’t the right ones. Sometimes the descriptions in the catalog aren’t the best. I meant to grab edible ones for baking but these are body-ink markers.”

“You don’t want to do a body artwork shop?” I laugh.

“If I send some of these kids home with tattoos, their parents will fucking kill me.” She hands them to me and I look at them. “Do you want to give them to Jamie? Lia said her son might want them. We got a credit for them and reordered the right ones. We can’t really use them here, unfortunately. A body ink program would be so awesome, though!”

“Uh, yeah, I’ll give them to him.” I take the markers and she goes to leave, then turns.

“He’s cute.”

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