Page 23 of Haunted Hearts
Maybe Zeke’s right. Maybe the reason it ended where it did this afternoon wasn’t because ofme, but because of her. Would I have kept going if she’d wanted to? If she hadn’t turned suddenly icy, pulling her skirt back down and shoving me away?
I honestly don’t know. I thought it was obvious that Lydia hated me—and that I found her annoying as shit—but do people who hate each other really do what we just did this afternoon? Zeke seems to think so, but this kind of thing is entirely out of my wheelhouse.
One thing’s for sure: I know I’m no good for her. I’m no good foranywoman. But as I stand here in the empty kitchen, loading the dishwasher, there’s a weird sort of sinking in my gut when I realize that Lydia really maynotwant anything to do with me.
And I don’t know how the fuck to feel about that.
fourteen
LYDIA
Autumn: Any developments??
Lydia: I don’t know what you’re talking about.
Autumn: Oh, come on. I thought you were going to keep your enemy close!
Lydia: No, YOU said that. I’m keeping my enemy far, far away.
Autumn: Girl…
Will and I don’t talk for five days after what happened in the mystery section.
Two of the days were the weekend when—thankgod—I didn’t run into him around town, but for three days since then, he’s only been in and out of the library, and we’ve been completely cool to each other. We barely even say hi in greeting and only flash brief, civil smiles when absolutely necessary.We’re like awkward high schoolers, pretending to be busy when one of us walks in the room. If Nancy’s noticed anything, she hasn’t said so. But then again, she probably just chalks it up to the renovation. It’s not exactly a secret that I don’t like what Will was hired to do.
But I haven’t been able to get his touch out of my head. The way his huge hands felt around my waist, how his kiss was somehow gruff and tender at the same time. And the other stuff… I’d be lying if I said my mind hadn’t strayed there while I was in the shower. That I hadn’t touched myself while thinking of the way his fingers had grazed my clit.
And I hate that I’m thinking about it now while I sit behind the library desk, scanning a shit ton of books before I return them to the shelves. I didn’t say a word to Will today when he strode through here with some engineer or other. Hell, I barely even looked up when I saw him come in this morning.
But I did notice how good he looked when I stole a glance after he’d turned away. His broad back, shoulders straining against his t-shirt as he points out all the wiring and electrical stuff to the guy he’s brought in. The scruff on his chin that felt so surprisingly good when he kissed me. Just looking at him makes me ache between my legs.
I jump as Nancy’s voice breaks into my thoughts.
“You feeling any better about the renovation? This Will Holloway’s a damned good architect, you know. He’ll do the town proud.”
I look up, glance around the faded, yet homey space around me. It’s hard to wrap my head around the fact it’ll be changing so much in only a few short months. While I have to admit the plans Will has drawn up for the place are pretty impressive, they’re a clear deviation from the building’s original features.
The wooden framed skylights, the elevator and automatic door at the front entrance, and the all new glass-walledcomputer lab are, admittedly, nice in theory—just not forMom’slibrary. This stuff is an automatic no-go for the Hawthorne Bay Historical Society. And they’re not even keeping my fucking banister.
“Well,” I say. “I still don’t know why the board wants to move so far from the historical authenticity of the building. It’s a shame, if you ask me.”
“Oh, cheer up,” Nancy says, giving the desk next to me a playful rap. “You’ll get used to it. You’ll see. And anyway, your mother would’ve loved it. She’d have wanted it to better suit the needs of the community.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her she has no clue what my mother would have wanted, but I manage to stop myself. The only thing worse than the library not being the library anymore is the library not being the libraryandI’m out of my job there. I’ve got to tread carefully.
I fake a smile. “Maybe you’re right.”
“I’m at least glad to know you’re keeping an open mind,” Nancy continues, beaming. “Because I keep meaning to mention—Ethan thought it’d be a good idea to have Will help us man the fundraising booth at the fall festival. You know, so in case anyone in town has questions about the renovation, they’ll be able to ask the architect himself. I have to say I agree with him—I think it’ll get everyone excited.”
A cold wave of panic rips through me. I’m more than happy to help Nancy man the library’s fundraising booth—in fact, I’ve been brainstorming ideas on how to spin our book sale—butgod. They’re seriously going to make me spendmoretime with this scruffy, arrogant man outside of work hours? Will’s already taking up way more of my mental real estate than he’s entitled to—and working next to him with only Nancy as protection is not going to help matters.
I’m about to protest when someone clears their throat from across the room.
Well, speak of the devil.
Ofcourseit’s Will. He’s leaning against the doorframe, hands shoved deep in his pockets, looking as infuriatingly sexy as ever.
I stifle a groan. I hate that he has a key, that he can let himself in whenever the hell he wants. But when Nancy sees Will, her face lights up. It’s clear this guy has my boss wrapped completely around his little finger.
