Page 77 of So Right
“He’s staying with me. I wanted you to know how sorry he is. He’s in counseling and doing really well. I just thought you’d want to know.”
Actually, she didn’t. Anxiety tripped through her, and she began to shake. “Lisa, I’ve moved on with my life.” She couldn’t even bring herself to say she was glad he was doing well. She didn’t want to feel anything where it came to him—good, bad, ugly. She’d worked damn hard to push him out of her life, and she needed him to stay there.
“I understand,” Lisa said quietly. “I’m sorry to have bothered you.”
“Thank you, and please—” Kelsey swallowed her apprehension and summoned the steel she’d strived to hone. “Please don’t call me again. Good-bye.” She hung up without waiting for a response, then went into the settings on her phone to block Lisa’s number. In fact, she’d blocked Lisa ages ago. It must’ve been a new number.
Kelsey stood and went to open the box of books, which patrons had ordered from other libraries. As she busied herself with shelving them in the pickup area, her adrenaline settled and she began to relax. She forced herself to think of something other than Noah. Dorinda and the ranch. Rather, the brothel. Ugh. Okay, not that.
Luke, duh. Luke would cheer her up. Just conjuring his handsome face with his super-sexy stare made her smile. Much better. She finished the shelving and planned to go upstairs to work on the exhibit for a bit. Story time was in full swing, and Marci had it handled.
As if he’d been summoned right out of her brain, Luke walked into the library at that moment. Kelsey’s heart tripped as she caught sight of him. He wore dark jeans, his scuffed work boots, and a plaid shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows over a blue T-shirt. He scanned the interior before his gaze landed on her. His eyes lit, and his lips curved into a smile.
She met him in front of the checkout counter. “You finally made it in.”
“Technically, I came in the other day, but I think we’ve agreed to forget about that.”
Because that was when he’d brought the stupid flowers. She winced. “Sorry. Well, I’m glad you’re here now. Do you want a tour?”
“Of course.” He arched a sexy brow at her. “I hope it includes your office.”
She laughed. “I don’t have an office. There’s a conference room and kitchen upstairs. Will that do?”
“I don’t know. Let me check it out.” He raked her from head to toe with a provocative stare that made her shiver.
“Come on, I’ll show you around before you thoroughly distract me.” She linked her arm through his and took him on a tour of the downstairs. When she was finished, she led him toward the stairs. “I’ll take you up to show you the Ribbon Ridge exhibit space.” She gave him a sidelong look. “Notthe conference room.”
He huffed out a breath and donned a look of mock disappointment. At least she thought it was a put-on. Maybe it wasn’t.
“You’ve put together an impressive library,” he said as they climbed the stairs.
“I owe it to the Archers and their generosity. It wouldn’t have been possible without their grant.”
He chuckled. “They can afford it.”
“Sure, but not everyone who can would give back the way that they do.”
“Very true. And they do it because they want to, not for the tax breaks.”
They reached the exhibit space, and she showed him around everything she’d set up.
“Also impressive,” he said. “I keep forgetting to ask if you’ve had any news from the archaeologist. Do I need to worry they’re going to classify my vineyard as some valuable historic site?”
She shook her head. “You were there. She said she didn’t think that would happen. But no, we haven’t heard anything. We did learn today that the ranch became a brothel at one point.”
He turned to look at her. “A what?”
“A brothel.”
His brows climbed his forehead. “Whoa. That gives our property some unintended character.”
“The historical society is doing more research,” she said. “We’d love to know how that came about.”
“Yeah, me too. Let me know when you find out.” He snaked his arms around her waist and pulled her close. “In the meantime, I have something for you.”
She saw the mischievous glint in his eye and was instantly curious. “You do? Does this involve the conference room?”
He laughed. “Itcould. But no.” He reached into his pocket and pulled something out. Then he took her hand, and her breath caught. What was hedoing?
