Page 31 of Overdue

Fuck this. I need to do something, and I need to do it now. Not one more second should pass with Austen believing she isn’t as special as I know she is.

Stomping back through the stacks, I don’t stop when I reach the table. I step on the chair and onto the top. Placing two fingers in his mouth, I whistle to get the attention of a very full library. She’s going to kill me, but I don’t care.

* * *

AUSTEN

Did I just word vomit all over Reed? Again? It’s starting to become a habit. When am I going to get over wallowing in self-pity and accept the fact that this is my life?

I really can’t complain. I love the library—have since I was little. It’s just not where I want to be. Or not only where I want to be. I want to be spending my days crafting books that will reside here also.

Reed will never kiss me again at this rate. And that’s a shame because he’s great at it. After leaving Eliot last night, I took a good hard look at my feelings. She’s right. I am being unreasonably dramatic.

How many times have I wondered why the characters in a romance went through all of the angst instead of just having a serious conversation? And here I am, the ridiculously angsty heroine of my own story.

I just need a few minutes in my office to get my game face back on. Several of the middle school students greet me as I walk past. Mrs. Holcomb is at the circulation desk checking in several books. I alter my path to dodge her. She’s a sweet older woman, but she likes to talk.

I’ve made it halfway to my office when I hear a loud whistle behind me. What on Earth? Spinning around, I spy Reed standing on top of the back table.

“You’re wrong about three things,” he says, pinning me with those dazzling blue eyes.

“Reed—”

“I think you’re just writing about the wrong thing, because I know how good you are at telling a story. I’ve read everything you’ve ever written. It’s all brilliant. But, I think you should tell our story. I know people will be breaking down the doors to read it. You’re the only one who can do it justice. I, for one, would like to know how it ends.”

“Reed Campbell—” I try again before he cuts me off a second time.

“Second, no one has put as much time into making this the best library in the state as you have. And who has time to water a stupid potted plant? Instead of hiding out tending the plants, you spend your time assuaging a preteen’s fears about not getting the next book in the series, helping an old man fill out a tax form, and putting up with hunting down every book on landscaping you can get your hands on. Who cares about that stupid plant?”

He’s on a roll. I should probably remove him from the table and ban him from ever using the library again. Except, I really want to hear what else he has on his mind.

“Finally, I know for a fact you were on the other end of the best fucking kiss of my life. That’s right, I kissed Austen Caraway. Twice. Write that up in the paper because I plan to kiss her every chance I get. You’d all better get used to big, open displays of affection in public. Now, if you can give us some room, I plan to kiss Austen hard and long. And then, I’ll leave before the sheriff is called,” he says, staring directly at me.

He steps off the table and stomps, with a singular purpose, straight at me. Wrapping his hand in my hair, he pulls me to his lips. His tongue traces a path along mine, and I completely forget we’re standing in the middle of the Dansboro Crossing Public Library. I could stay like this forever, except a hoopla is breaking out around us. Reed turns me loose and walks to the door.

“You can expect me to be holding my boombox over my head later.” He grins and pushes through the doors. I’m frozen in place, with my mouth open, staring after him.

“Well, one thing about him. He doesn’t do anything half-assed,” Kim mumbles.

“Yeah, umm, I’m going…” I wave in the direction of my office.

“I would think you’d need to go cool off after that,” she agrees.

I manage a laugh that sounds like something between a schoolgirl and a hyena. Quickly, I slip into my office and close the door. The man is crazy.

Kim is right, though. I’ve never been kissed like that. My face feels like the sun, and that doesn’t begin to describe the throbbing in my nether regions. The phone on my desk rings. I jump at least a foot.

“Library.” My voice sounds like something from a phone sex call center.

“Or den of iniquity from what I’ve just heard,” Eliot responds.

“He’s nuts.”

“Infatuation and lack of sex can do that. I think it’s directly related to blue balls.”

“Eliot. Don’t defend him. It’s not funny. This is where I work. They’ll fire me for… something.”

“Did you at least kiss him back?”

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