“Why not?”
“I love Steinbeck,” she said. “But I find few people nowadays who still read him.”
“Well,” he said. “Now you’ve found somebody.”
“That is…” She paused, feeling an uptick in her pulse and no decent explanation for it. “Unexpected.”
“Truth?” he said.
“Always.”
“I’m on a self-improvement kick and reading the classics is part of that plan.”
“Ooh,” she said, intrigued. “It’s good to know I’m not the only one trying to transform. I’d like to hear more about that.”
His grin was as warm as a flannel blanket. “It’s not that impressive. I just regularly seek out ways to hone my competitive edge. Reading does that for me, as does vigorous exercise, Tai Chi, and meditation. I’m all about constant, never-ending improvement.”
She liked that sentiment, because Jude too love learning. It’s why she had a master’s degree in library science. Commitment to continuing education was something she hadn’t expected them to have in common.
Captivated, she sent a lingering glance over his body. “Nourish the body and the mind.”
“The two do go hand-in-hand.”
“They do,” she echoed.
“Maybe we could take a class together sometime,” he said.
“I’d like that.” She paused. “Very much.”
His dark eyes captured hers and the back of her knees tingled. Then he glanced around the room, taking in the books, desks, and Thanksgiving decorations. “So this is your home away from home.”
She could look into his eyes for infinity and never get bored. Scary thought, that. She clutched tightly to the book she was still holding to her chest, using it as a shield against the intensity of her burgeoning feelings.
Oh, there was chemistry here. Lots of it.
While the air smoldered between them, she entertained images of kissing him until neither of them could breathe, tearing off his clothes, pulling him to the floor between the bookshelves—
Whoa! What was wrong with her?
The book stacks were sacred, and here she was thinking of desecrating them in a wholly inappropriate way with Tom Brunswick.
Her cell phone rang.
Thank God!
Eager to derail her crazy fantasies, she snatched the phone up from her desk and answered without even registering who was calling.
“Oh, Dirk, hello,” Jude purred into her cell phone.
Every muscle in Tom’s body tensed. His college buddy was at it again, trying to stir Tom’s jealousy. Be rational. Dirk doesn’t know you’re here. Which was actually worse. It meant Dirk might truly be interested in Jude for himself.
Jude looked at Tom, smiled, and shrugged. “Yes, yes, I agree.”
What was she agreeing with? Tom wanted to jerk the phone from her hand and hang up on Dirk. Of course, he wouldn’t do that. She had a right to talk to Dirk if she wanted, but he didn’t have to like it.
Tom jammed his hands into his pockets and paced a small circle around the library as Jude laughed gaily at something Dirk said.
His buddy was a funny guy. Tom had to admit that. When Dirk pulled out all the stops on his charm, women fell at his feet.
Scowling, Tom hauled in a deep breath. Steady. Being jealous played right into Dirk’s scheme. The man played to win. Always.
Yeah, well, so did Tom.
Even though he hated the idea of using Jude as a pawn in their power play, Dirk clearly did not, and he wasn’t going to let the son of a gun hurt her.
“Tonight?” Jude’s voice went up a note.
Tom stopped pacing and swung his head around to study her.
“That’s short notice,” she went on, not noticing that Tom was noticing her. Then she laughed again. “Yes, you’re right. Carpe noctem, seize the night as if there were no tomorrow.”
Tom waved his arms to get her attention.
“Hang on a minute, Dirk.” Jude muted her conversation and gave Tom her full attention. “What is it?”
“Did Dirk just ask you out for tonight?” he asked.
“He did.”
“And you’re considering going?”
She gave him a half-smile as if enjoying his discomfort. “I am.”
“Don’t go,” Tom blurted.
“Why not?”
“Because I came to ask you out for tonight.” When he’d dropped by to see her, he’d had no intention of inviting her to the family gathering where he was headed this evening—his aunt’s sixtieth birthday celebration.
“You did?”
Immediately, the impact of his invitation hit Tom. He would essentially be taking her to meet his family. Awk-ward!
“Yep.” He bit off the ‘p’ at the last minute, dithering, and it came out on a puff of air.
She angled him an odd look as if she were trying to read his mind. “Hang on a minute.”
“Huh?”
She unmuted her phone and said to Dirk, “I’m sorry I can’t tonight.” Jude paused and met Tom’s gaze. “No, I’m afraid I have plans for Saturday night too.”
With him. Ha, Poomph! Take that.
“Tomorrow? Bowling? Why, yes, I am free tomorrow night to go bowling.”
Tom grimaced. Was she seriously going out with Dirk?
“I do have to warn you that I used to bowl in a league,” she told Dirk. “Oh, you like competition? Be careful what you wish for; you just might get it.”
Could Dirk actually be serious about Jude? That thought did nothing to boost his mood.
“Sure. Seven thirty sounds good. See you then.” She disconnected and slipped the phone into her pocket.
Hungrily, Tom watched her graceful movements as her hands fluttered to her hips and her chin tilted down as she eyed him speculatively.
“You’re going out with Dirk?” he asked.
She shrugged. “Sure. Why not? The best way to get over a broken heart is to get back out there, right?”
“Um…I suppose.” He didn’t like this at all. “What about the other guy you were telling me about?”
“Oh, him.” She waved a hand. “You were right. If he can’t take me as I am, who needs him?”
Yes! One less guy vying for her attention.
“I’ve got to know one thing, though.”
“What’s that?” Tom asked, distracted. Her scent was tangled up in his head like fishing line.
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why are you asking me out now? You could have called any time this week. You could have texted. Instead, you show up at my place of work for a spur of the moment invitation. I want to know why.”
Tom squirmed. He didn’t want to answer that direct question, so he said, “I need a date for my Aunt Pru’s sixtieth birthday party tonight. You might have seen her at the wedding. She was one of my mother’s three sisters.”
“I met so many people that night, I’m afraid I sorted your mother’s sisters out by dress color. Puce, coral, and chartreuse. Which one was she?”
He couldn’t be expected to notice what his aunts wore and what color was puce anyway? “She’s the tallest. Has a gap between her two front teeth.”