Page 11 of Tempted

He raised in hand in solidarity. “You tell them, sweetheart.”

Margret smoothed out her bob. “Some things in life are worth the wait, and joining the society is certainly one of them.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” Linc said as he watched Lucy lead a teenager with bright pink braids toward the large wooden desk that dominated the center of the store.

Lucy set down a stack of books. “Zelda, let me put these on your account, and then you can be on your way.”

Linc gave the teenager a nod and noticed she had the same hard stare as one of his former commanders. “Are you attempting to confirm the rumors or disprove them?”

“Not sure yet,” Zelda stated firmly. “I’ll let you know when I decide.”

“Appreciate it.”

Zelda blew a sizeable pink bubble and let it snap. “See ya.”

Linc watched the teen give the Bennett women smiles before she headed toward the door. “I’d keep that one in my sights because she’s going places.”

“Absolutely,” Margret trilled before checking her watch and sliding off the stool. “I better be off, my darlings. It’s four, and I’m meeting the ladies for a martini at Jasper’s.”

Lucy walked around the desk and hugged her grandmother. “Thanks for watching the store.”

“Of course.” She kissed Lucy and winked. “Don’t fret, darling; things are working out just as they should.”

A confused expression crossed Lucy’s face, and before he could make sense of it, Margret enveloped him in a hug and then made a grand exit. “The Bennett women do not suffer from a lack of moxie.”

“Grams always said that when gumption was handed out, we got an extra helping.”

Linc moved to Lucy’s side. “Nothing better than that.”

She tipped her head toward the back of the store. “Let’s find something for you to read.”

He followed his book lady toward a shelf he thought might topple over at any minute. “Why is the front of the store perfect and the back so….”

“Dark and dank?” Lucy asked with a laugh. “And verging well into hoarding territory?”

“Yeah,” he replied before catching a stack of books about to fall. “Have you ever lost a customer back here?”

“I don’t think so,” Lucy said as she looked around. “If anyone comes up missing, this is always the first place the sheriff looks, though.”

Not sure if she was serious, he steadied her as she moved across the uneven floors toward another shelf. “Did you inherit this stash or intentionally acquire it?”

“This is all my doing,” Lucy said without an ounce of regret. “I’d rather a book come live here than be thrown away. All the librarians within a three-hundred-mile radius call me when they’ve got leftovers from the library sales. Once I get the call, I jump in my Volvo and ride off to save them from death.”

More than a little charmed by the idea of Lucy running all over the state to save books, he moved closer. “And here I thought you were just a pretty face and not a big softy who will risk life and limb for what she loves.”

She looked around and laughed. “The only risk I face is someday being buried under my obsession.” Turning her attention back to the shelf, she ran her fingers along the spines. “I know it’s hard to believe, but I have these organized.”

Linc never hesitated when in the company of something he desired, but he knew that Lucy wouldn’t hesitate to let a shelf fall on his head if he did his usual thing. Another battle plan needed to be formed to get the tempting book lady interested and damn if he knew where to start.

Lucy walked to the end of a packed shelf and slid a slim novel out of a precarious stack. “I’ve got some great options.” She held up the books she’d gathered. “I’ve got a true crime, a classic Kerouac, and a thriller.”

“Sounds like a winning trifecta.” They walked toward each other, and Lucy’s heel caught on something, making her tumble into his arms. “Are you okay?”

No response.

Unless he counted her hands fisting into his T-shirt and her eyes sparking with what he prayed was desire. “If you’re thinking what I am… just know that a kiss wouldn’t be the end of the world.” Bending his head to her ear, he inhaled deeply and heard the books fall from Lucy’s hand. “It’s simple curiosity.”

“I’m not really interested….”

---