Page 9 of Trusting Trey
He laughed, shaking his head. “A most interesting woman. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy a well-read woman.”
“That’s refreshing,” I admitted. “There are only a few boys in my world who don’t think I’m a bookworm or a lesbian.”
“Are you?” he asked.
I squinted my eye. “Am I what?”
“A bookworm or a lesbian?” he asked, a sparkle in his blue eyes.
“I’m afraid I’ve been in the closet for long enough. It’s true, I am a bookworm.” I hung my head and I heard him chuckle.
“I’m glad you’re comfortable enough with me to come out of the closet. I accept you just the way you are.” He smirked and I couldn’t keep the smile off my own face. “But seriously, who are these boys you speak of?”
I raised my brow. “Is that your way of asking if I’m only twelve?”
He held his hands up. “You got me. Forgive me, but you’re petite and I don’t want Daddy Warbucks showing up to take me down.”
“No Daddy Warbucks, I promise. I’ll be twenty-three in February,” I informed him, rather pointedly.
“I never would have guessed that.” He smiled and pointed at the laptop. “Are you finishing college?”
“Yup, I’ll graduate in the spring with the hopes of becoming a full-fledged librarian. I know that makes me a nerd, but the written word has captured me since I was a baby.”
He leaned forward, laying a hand nonchalantly on my shoulder. “I don’t think that makes you a nerd at all. You have to do what your heart loves or you’ll hate every minute of what you do.” His eyes were serious now and I wondered if he was doing something he hated, but I was afraid to ask.
“I couldn’t do anything else if I tried. A little piece of my soul would die every day if I didn’t spend time in a library.” I motioned around, and then grimaced. “Like I said, I’m a total book nerd.” I slapped my forehead and he scooted forward again.
“What are you working on? Something for school?” He pointed at the laptop again.
“Sort of. This summer I started a book blog where I read and review books. I started it as a yearlong experiment to write my final thesis for library science class. I’ve met many wonderful authors through it and I’m sure I’ll keep it going after graduation. Anyway, I have a list of some of those books for you to check out.” I swung around and clicked open a document on my desktop. “You must be new to this area. I’ve never seen you here before,” I added.
“You’re also an observant woman. I just moved here a couple weeks ago from Minneapolis. I love it here. The people are friendly and it’s quiet. Even the hustle and bustle here isn’t stressful like the Cities.” He motioned around him and then gave me the palms up.
“I’ve lived here my whole life, so I wouldn’t know, but there is a reason I stay. Growing up here, I could never imagine living anywhere else. Did you come here for work?” I asked and he nodded.
“I’m working at St. Mary’s Hospital.”
He smiled and pointed to the open document. “I like mystery, dystopian type books, and romantic suspense.”
I couldn’t stop the bark of laughter from escaping. “Romantic suspense?”
“It’s my dirty little secret; what can I say?” he joked and I took a moment to see if he was serious. He was. “What I mean is I like suspense and I don’t mind if there is some romance in it, but I don’t want all romance,” he said, rolling his eyes.
“Okay.” I clapped softly. “Some sex, but not too much sex.”
He groaned and dropped his head into his hands before looking back up. His eyes were almost smoky now as he stared me down. “Oh I like sex, but I prefer to be an active participant.”
I felt my eyes go wide, and I remembered that vow from last week; the one about swearing off men. Damn if he wasn’t making it nearly impossible to keep that vow. “So you’re a bookworm, and a heterosexual?” I asked in a provocative voice. The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. Flirting was not my strong suit. What the heck had someone slipped in my gyro at lunch?
He leaned back again and clasped his hands in front of him. “Oh yes, I’m definitely heterosexual, and the bookworm part comes and goes depending on time. Lately, I’ve had a lot of time.”
“I guess you need to get out and meet people more. Don’t they have luncheons and such at the hospital?” I asked only half-paying attention as I read the list of books again.
“Are you twenty-two or seventy-two?” he asked and I whipped my head around, suddenly aware I hadn’t been paying attention. “Luncheons and such? Did you miss the turn of the new millennium?”
I could feel my cheeks turning red and I slowly dropped my head into my hands. “I just spent the weekend with my obsessively luncheon oriented mother. Please, accept my apologies.”
He scooted onto a chair next to me. I was surprised to see he was a bit of a shortie himself, and I tried to keep the smile from looking too obvious. Some guys don’t like girls pointing out their height issues.
