Page 2 of Bella and Her Beast
“Thank you, they match the necklace.” I pull on the chain for visual effect. “The set was given to me after being blessed by my ancestors. My Gigi, grandmother, says they protect me.”
“Ugh, you talking about your jewelry again?” Joy asks, as she picks up another stack of books to categorize.
I dismiss her and continue checking out the patron and look at her information on the screen. “Okay, Corrine White. I will be here waiting on your review so we can have our talk.”
“I look forward to it.” She smiles and walks towards the exit.
“You know it’s just a mind trick, right?” Joy continues.
“What is Joy?”
“The belief that a piece of jewelry will protect you.”
I roll my eyes and wave her off. “Joy, you have no idea what you are talking about. Mi bisabuela has never filled my head with fairy tales about ghosts and monsters, but she told me about the power of my antepasadas, ancestors, and how if we believe in them they will guide us and protect us from the heavens. And like I said, not a scar on me yet.”
“You know you can’t be jumping from language to language with me, Isabella Marie,” she laughs.
I take a swing at her hand. The next patron walks up to be checked out. We continue our normal conversation about the newest deliveries and what our plans will be for our day off. I catch the strange mysterious man gazing at me, but not at my face.
“Is he staring at my chest?” I mumble.
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
“That man is gawking at my titties.”
Joy looks at me and shrugs her shoulders. “I mean, them puppies are sitting up right nice,” she giggles. I swat at her, and she continues to help the next customer.
“Will this be all, Mr.?” Joy says, as he hands her his card.
He nods his head and glances in my direction, then redirects back to Joy.
I raise an eyebrow and excuse myself to finish shelving the last of the recent arrivals. No sooner than I am a few feet away, I can hear him talking with Joy. With the last book in place, I walk the aisles checking to make sure the other books are in order and discarding any trash that’s visible. The sound of the door locking catches my attention and I glance at my watch to check the time. I return to the counter and begin our clean-up process. Joy’s gathering the bags from the receptacles around the floor and I wipe down the counters with the provided spray. Once that task is complete, I go to the office and run the reports for the next day and put them for the opening staff to review.
I grab my purse and keys, snatch up Joy’s also, and walk out the office closing and locking the door.
“Okay, all the trash is ready for the cleaning crew to dispose of,” Joy says on her approach.
“Here’s your purse and keys. What are your plans for tonight?”
“I’m having dinner with a few people. You should come with. We are going to hit up that soul spot over on Frenchmen St. Have a drink or two and a few bites.”
“Sounds fun. I think I’m just going to go home and finish reading. But you enjoy yourself. See you tomorrow at noon.”
“Later my best book nerd.” She hugs me, then strolls off to her car.
I check my pockets for my keys and realize I forget to leave the office keys for the opening team. I bounce back inside and return to the desk and place the keys on the hidden hook before exiting again. When my shoes hit the pavement, the rain returns. I rush to my car, hitting the unlock on my fob, so I can make a quick entrance to prevent my hair from frizzing up. With my hand positioned on the handle to open the door, a feeling that someone is watching me takes over. I look around quickly, but no one is visible. Shaking off the sensation, I climb into my car and drive home.
* * *
Greyson
Her scent travelsthrough the air tickling my nose making me more aware of her presence. She has no idea what she could be. Neither do I, to be honest. But down in the depths of me, including the part I fight against daily, down to the wolf inside that threatens every day to escape-- she’s the one. Every fiber of her being, every odd quirk, from her oversized glasses to the stack of books in front of her. My wolf needs her, demands her, wants her.
I glance at her until our gaze meets. Quickly, I avert my eyes to fixate on the material before me so as to not appear pervert-ish. Her laugh reveals I am no longer on her radar and that her attention has been elsewhere directed. I glance back up, and her bust line catches my attention. The way it heaves up and down with her giggling entices my wolf even more. He craves her touch, actually yearns for it, and I’m afraid if I get too close, he’ll take her for his own.
Seeing how his appetite is growing at a rapid pace, I exit the library to protect her from the beast within. I hurry out of the building to my car and press the button for it to start. Looking in my rear-view mirror, the lights dim on the structure, an indicator the building is closed for the evening. A few moments later, she and her friend exit and a low guttural growl escapes from my throat. I salivate when I watch her talk with such expression. Even in the rain, her scent isn’t dull. She turns back to the library and re-enters only to reappear a few minutes later.
My glare follows her across the street to the lot where her vehicle is parked. I never take my gaze from her and I sense she knows someone is watching by the way she looks around checking for a presence. I’m out of her sight line so she doesn’t spot me, but I am watching her-- intensely. Once she is secure in her car, she pulls off heading home; I presume. I will not follow, but I know I need to find a way to speak with her before it is too late. I throw my car in drive and head home to put my animal away for the night. Hopefully tomorrow will prove to be a better day.
