Page 64 of Just a Little White Lie

I snicker. “Thanks for the warning.”

Bianca winces. “She doesn’t mean to be. She’s just very focused on music and her classes, and if anything ever messes with that… watch out.”

“Understatement of the year.” Aprils bulges her eyes at me. “She actually…” Her voice trails off, turning wispy as her eyes zero in on something behind me.

I glance over my shoulder in time to see a man approaching the desk. He’s got a tool belt around his hips, and his tartan shirt is rolled up to the elbows.How builder can you get it?

“Afternoon, ladies.” He greet us, and oh my gosh, his accent! Hello, Highlander! With his ginger beard and furry arms, he’s like the quintessential Scotsman, and all I can think of is Jamie fromOutlander.That’s how I pictured him when I read that book.

“Hi, Angus.” April’s voice is remarkably bubbly and cute.

I turn back to watch her smile. A red hue is climbing up her neck. Someone’s got the hots for—

“This is our new caretaker.” She points at him. “Lauren, meet Angus.”

“Hi.” I wave my fingers at him. He gives me a polite smile, then turns back to April, obviously not one for prolonged pleasantries.

“What’d you need me for?”

“Oh, there’s a light in the back corner that needs replacing, and one demon bookshelf that insists on constantly coming loose.”

“It’s not that one I fixed last week, is it?” He frowns.

“She’s stubborn.” April shrugs, and for a moment, I wonder if it’s the smitten librarian who’s making the shelf loose on purpose just to get Angus up here in his butt-hugging jeans and tartan muscle shirt.

I lean across to Bianca and whisper my theory. She covers her mouth to hamper a giggle, then tells me off. “Don’t be mean.”

We giggle together while April leads the Celt through to the back of the library.

“She’s adorable.” Bianca pats her chest. “I remember how awkward I used to be around Cam. We got together in high school, and I liked him so much, but I just couldn’t believe that he’d like me back because he was so gorgeous and popular. But I was all he wanted.”

Her smile is sickeningly dreaming, but I find my heart tugging at the story.

Imagine being someone’sall I want.

Imagine being Jack’sall I want.

A shiver runs through me. There’s something kind of appealing about that idea.

Bianca’s dreamy smile turns bright, her eyes lighting with love hearts as she walks around me and starts talking. “Hey! I thought you had a department meeting.” She runs up to a tall, sporty-looking guy. He’s wearing a huge smile and wraps his arms around Bianca, lifting her off her feet.

“It got canceled,” he murmurs into her hair, looking happy as a clam.

Newlyweds.

I shake my head and turn to leave but then have to stop and meet Cam. I shake his hand, and he asks me how it’s going.

“I heard a teacher had been employed to do something with those kids.” He doesn’t look that impressed, and I’m bold enough to ask him why.

He shrugs. “I just hate that they’ve been rejected by the people who are employed to actually help them. I sure hope you can do something worthwhile.”

“She’s signed them up for a dance comp.” Bianca slips her fingers between Cam’s.

“Well, that’s something.” He grins. “And, you know, if I think about it, Arlo and Mav were really settled for my PE session this afternoon. I had them running sprints, and they actually did it with minimal complaining.” He gives me an impressed smile, and my heart blooms in a whole new way.

Did Jack and I actually reach those misfits this morning?

“Thanks.” I let out a light laugh and wave goodbye, walking out of the library with a bounce in my step.

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