Page 38 of The Billionaire and the Librarian

Adam’s hand darts out and grabs the broom, forcing me to pause and look up at him.

“Isa,” he starts, his eyes searching mine. God, why does he have to be so ruggedly handsome? Why can’t he be hideous? At least when he acts like an asshole, I can hate him, but when he’s sincere or kind…fuck. I wish I could bring myself to push my pride aside and say I need the damn books.

But if I admit that, then I admit defeat to Adam and my stubbornness will not allow me to do it. Hell, my stubbornness is how I got into this predicament, to begin with. If only my pride didn’t stop me from asking my parents to help with the library.

When I don’t reply, Adam clears his throat and suddenly looks all businesslike. What the hell?

“I have a proposition for you,” he starts.

Elisha cough-laughs and I glance at her with a harsh glare. She bites her lip and shrugs. Ugh! My friends are so irritating.

“I will still give you the books if you want them, but I want you to go out with me,” Adam states as if we are negotiating some sort of business deal.

My eyebrows shoot up to my hairline. “I’m sorry, what?”

“Three dates. You go out with me three times and I will personally hand-deliver the books to the library,” he says.

I shove the broom at Elisha and place my hands on my hips. “You said that I could have the books if I stayed the night,” I seeth as I raise my right hand and point my finger at his chest. “Or are you just a liar?”

His jaw clenches and he glares back at me. “You left.”

“I stayed until it was safe to leave,” I state.

“It wasn’t safe, not in that death trap you call a car,” he replies, motioning outside as if my car is there.

“It got me back home, didn’t it?” I reply.

“You broke your promise,” he says matter-a-factly. I want to contest his accusation, but it’s true, sort of. What did he say? I try to remember his exact words, but it had something to do with the roads being cleared. And they sort of were cleared…sort of.

“No, I didn’t. The roads were clear enough for me to go home,” I retort, doubling down on my stance.

He groans in frustration and runs his hand over his trimmed beard. “I’m not arguing about this any further. Three dates and you can have the books,” he replies.

“And what if I say no?” I raise an eyebrow.

“Then, I guess you’re out of luck,” he replies. I clench my hands in fists. This man is so exacerbating!

“And what would we do on thesethree dates?” I ask, making air quotes around the last two words.

“I have some work obligations and I need a date for them,” he replies.

“So, I’m an escort getting paid in historical books?” I reply in disgust. Who the hell does this man think he is?

“No…no,” he says, the firstnocoming out with hostility. “I…” He trails off and looks around us. The couple is still staring at us and so is Elisha.

“Can we speak somewhere…more private?” he asks.

I roll my eyes and grab his hand, hauling him outside. I open the side door and walk up the steps to my apartment. “You coming?” I ask.

He frowns but follows me. I unlock my apartment door and Felipe comes barreling toward me and then past me. He jumps up and places his front paws on Adam’s shoulders and licks his face.

Adam laughs. “Good to see you too, Felipe.”

“Felipe, down!” I yell.

Felipe whimpers and gets down. He cowers toward his sofa and sits. “Sorry, buddy, it’s alright,” I say more softly as I walk over and pat his head. His big tail wags and I feel guilty for yelling at him. I glare at Adam because it’s all his fault.

“What do you want?” I ask from behind gritted teeth.

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