Page 17 of Read Me, Baby
“I just need to make a quick stop at the library and make sure I closed everything up for the night properly,“ Jay explains as we pull to the curb in front of the building.
“No problem.” I get out of the truck to follow him inside as I add, “I love being in the library at night. As if it wasn't peaceful enough, being here at night is even better.”
We enter the dark building and Jay responds, “It is so peaceful. Wow, I should have brought all my dates here.”
I laugh. “Like you haven’t been sneaking into this place all along. I bet if I ask Mrs. Holly she’ll tell me the truth.”
“I never had a girl that would enjoy this place like I do.” I stop just inside the doorway, but he keeps going, saying over his shoulder, “I’ll just be a couple minutes.”
I have to keep reminding myself that Jay is a good guy. He’s easy to speak to and always wants to make others feel good. Saying he ‘has a girl’ doesn't mean anything.
Hearing him head downstairs I take the elevator to the second floor. Entering the Read Me, Baby room at night suddenly takes on a different feel. It's gone from the sweet hallmark romance vibe during the day to a sexy and seductive room at night.
The moonlight filters through the windows and I grab the latest novel by Bella Valentino and sit on the couch. Thumbing through the pages I begin to read.
“I’m falling for the boy next door. It was the last thing I envisioned myself doing while trying to find my way in this new town. He’s the one thing I didn’t see coming but now that I know he exists, there’s no way I could walk away. There’s no way I could give up on a chance that this could be my forever.”
I forgot how sweet romance novels are. How they sugar coat love and glorify relationships that can’t ever exist.
“Just words on a page, Nina,” I mutter to myself more loudly than necessary. “It’s not real life.”
Banging on the pipes startles me and then a muffled voice says, “Think about it, Nina. It could be real life. You deserve a love like that. Everyone does.”
I gasp, recognizing Jay's voice, “Jay?”
“Yeah, baby.”
“Y-you can hear me?”
“I can. Stay where you are.”
My heart races at the thought of him coming for me. It also races at the question of how much else has he heard?
A minute later, Jay enters then closes the door behind him, leaning on it. He’s absolute perfection in jeans and a collared shirt. The moonlight picked up that tribal tattoo covering his arm. His eyes that watch me with awe and a smile on those kissable lips that make me want to forget everything I’ve sworn off about romance and men.
“How much have you heard?”
“Tonight?” He asks with a smile and then he walks toward me.
I cover my face with my hands, letting the book drop to the couch beside me. “Oh god, I’m so embarrassed.”
The couch dips beside me as he sits and gently pulls on my arms turning me to look at him. “What in the world are you embarrassed about?”
“Have you heard,” I pause, swallowing the sudden lump in my throat. “Everything?”
He chuckles. “If you're asking if I heard you reading about licking a dick and it tasting so good–”
“Jay!” I exclaim, dying more of embarrassment at actually hearing him say the words.
“I did hear all that. And it was hot as fuck.”
I giggle, attempting to cover my face again but he grabs my hands with his. “I’m just teasing you, Nina. Don’t you dare hide that beautiful face. If it bothers you, I won’t say it again, but how are you going to read to the town if you can’t even hear me say it?”
“I don't know,” I whisper. “I didn’t know all of this was part of the job.”
“What if I help you?”
“How are you going to help? No one knows you read romance books and I doubt you want to put that tidbit of info out into the world. The town would never stop trying to set you up. A real life book boyfriend living in Magnolia Point? Oh the scandal!”