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“Now that I can’t promise!” He smirked.
My hands shook as I held onto the sides of the ladder and began to climb the few narrow steps. “I’ve never seen so many books in all my life.” I stretched my arm out as Adam slid the ladder down the row. I shut my eyes, feeling totally goofy, but also young and carefree. I couldn’t remember the last time I felt so free.
“You like it, then?”
When he stopped, the ladder stopped with him. I opened my eyes and looked down, my chest tightening with emotion. “I love it. I used to dream that someday I’d go and visit places like this, like I’d read about in books.”
“Like Ireland?” His voice was deeper than normal as I climbed back down. One hand secured around my hip to steady me on my last step down.
I faced him and our eyes met. “Yes,” I whispered. His hand was over my jeans, but it might as well have lain on my flesh. I could feel the heat radiating from his fingers.
“I’m glad that your dreams are coming true.”
I wondered if he’d kiss me again—he was so close. But then we heard the sound of voices growing closer.
“We’d better get out of here,” I whispered, and we escaped the roped-off area before the librarian turned the corner.
“Ma worked here at the college,” he said a few moments later as we reentered the long room, which was actually known by that name. “She was a professor of literature. I remember her bringing Sean and me here all the time. We’d run around the library playing pirates and getting in loads of trouble.”
I could definitely picture a young and feisty Adam—smaller, but with the same mischievous smirk on his face. “I can’t believe you didn’t inherit her passion for books.”
He laughed and faced me. “No. I’m a great disappointment to her.”
“I hardly think so.”
He cupped the back of his neck but didn’t say anything. His eyes darkened, and he looked away.
“It’s impressive your mother worked here. I mean, she’s married to a billionaire businessman. I’m betting a lot of women wouldn’t work.” I blew out a breath as my eyes greedily took in the library again, absorbing every visible inch as I stood in the middle of the main walkway. “I’d probably do the same. I’d go nuts without something to keep me busy.”
He nodded at me and said, “She retired a few years ago, and now she dedicates most of her time to our foundation.”
“Oh, yes. Delivering food to those in need.”
“It’s become a lot more than that now. But yes.” His eyes fixed on mine as a group of tourists brushed past me, maneuvering around us, chatting in what I thought to be German or some other language. But honestly, I could barely notice anything when he was around. And that made me nervous. “Did you always know you wanted to work at the family company?”
“Why don’t we save that story for another day? You shouldn’t be out too late, with work and all in the morning. And there’s one more stop I’d like to make.”
“Oh. Okay. Where to?”
His eyes glinted. “You’ll see.”
“You like surprising me, huh?” I asked as we walked side by side out of the library, down the steps, and into the courtyard again.
He moved in front of me and faced me, opening his arms wide. “Now, what gave you that impression?”
“Ha. Ha.”
He winked at me before turning around, guiding me back out to the streets.
“You should hit up the Guinness Storehouse at some point,” he mentioned as we strode down the sidewalk.
“Yeah, definitely,” I answered as a horse-drawn carriage pulled up alongside us. I studied the black-haired, short-shinned powerhouse of an Irish Draught horse that pulled the dark green carriage.
“Care for a ride?” the driver called down to us.
“Beautiful,” I said to the driver.
The driver slapped a hand to his chest. “Why, I know I am. Thank you, my lady,” he teased, and his whole face moved as he smiled. Even the long, white hairs of his mustache curled up at the ends.
