Page 18 of Between the Stacks

“Here you go,” Lowe said, bringing my food to the table. “Boys, tablets away.”

They exchanged looks. If I didn’t know any better, they carried on a conversation I couldn’t hear. “Right. Sorry Lowe.” Cole took the tablet from me and shut it off before placing the device on the shelf beside him.

“You stayed last night,” I said after taking a bite of pancake. I bit back a sigh as the pillowy soft confection coated in real syrup exploded on my tastebuds. “I saw your stuff in the bathroom.”

“I have the room here,” Lowe said, “plus I work weird hours. I thought you could use the company.”

“You didn’t have to do that,” I said, heat filling my cheeks. “I’m fine on my own. Besides, aren’t you married or in a relationship?”

“Nonsense,” he said, ignoring my last question. “It must be unnerving after everything you’ve been through to be in this huge house alone. Plus, Scott and Cole’s lease on their apartment was up.”

“Lowe here is Mystic College’s most eligible bachelor,” Scott said, wiggling his brows.

“Don’t inflate his ego,” Cole chided.

“Wait, but you’re so...”

“Debonaire?” Cole added.

“Sexy?” Scott wiggled his brows.

Not only did Lowe’s gaze turn downright sensual, but the way he rolled his bottom lip between his teeth, held me spellbound. Heat flushed my body, and my pussy ached. I was thankful for the sweatshirt I wore, because at least they couldn’t see my hard nipples. It was safe to say he perfected the smolder. However, when he grinned then winked at me, even while he wore those black square-framed glasses, my whole world imploded. No one should ever have that much sex appeal housed within their person. It was unnerving and unnatural.

“I think you broke her, Lowe,” Scott said.

“Blink twice if you’re okay,” Cole murmured.

I sputtered, shaking my head as I stuffed more of the pancake into my mouth. Even the way Lowe chuckled was inappropriate for any librarian. What the hell had I gotten myself into? I thought when I filled out the application for the library professor’s house, I’d walk into a creepy old manor or something with tons of lace doilies and spider webs. Okay, okay, that was a stretch too, but you get the picture. Not some hot bachelor’s home with two boys who didn’t necessarily need to be there, but I didn’t want them to leave...

To be perfectly honest, I don’t know what I expected.

This, however, wasn’t it.

“Good morning, everyone.” My attention snapped to a new arrival. The man glided into the kitchen like he owned the place. He wore the same kind of sleep pants as Lowe only he was shirtless. The man went straight to Lowe, kissing the back of his shoulder before snagging a piece of bacon off the plate next to the stove. “Mmm...”

Scott leaned in. “That’s Jonesy.”

He turned, as if hearing his name and smiled. “You must be the new girl.” He crossed to us, and my breathing picked up. He reminded me of prime Matthew Lillard. Pre-Shaggy. Post-Stu right about the time he played Dennis Rafkin in13 Ghosts,maybe? He even wore the same kind of glasses as Matthew Lillard.

Shit.I was spacing.

“I’m Lyra,” I said, unable to take my eyes off him.

“You didn’t tell me how stunning she is,” Jonesy said, turning his head. “Always being selfish.” He glanced back at me. “Lowe doesn’t share. He’s a naughty boy.”

“Now, now,” Lowe said, carrying two plates to the table, giving me a reprieve from Jonesy’s intensity. “Let’s not make Lyra uncomfortable. She’s had a rough couple of days.”

Jonesy’s expression sobered. “The boys told me everything. I’m so sorry. If there is anything I can do, my services are at your discretion.”

“What do you do?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.

Jonesy grinned, and two perfect dimples formed on either cheek. Yep, it was official. They were trying to kill me. “I’m a lawyer.”

August

My dick twitched in excitement every time Lyra squirmed. I didn’t get off on making people uncomfortable. Quite the opposite. Seeing her cheeks turn a shade of scarlet while her nostrils flared, and her gaze froze on my mouth gave me a perverse pleasure. She might not be a blushing virgin, but she also didn’t have experience. The idea of getting her under me had my pulse racing and my mind churning out ideas and scenes we could play out together.

According to her records, she was a few years older than most sophomores at the college. After her explanation of what her life had been like at home, I suspected getting away took more planning and saving than most students considered. The devastation of the fire took on a new meaning for her after watching her home away from home burn.

---