Ava:Hey stranger, you coming over tonight? Dinner?
Ava:I mean, you moved to town and I barely see you. I’m beginning to forget what you look like.
Me:Overreact much? I saw you a few days ago for coffee.
Ava:Too many days ago, my sweets. That’s too long. I spend my days with seventeen-year-olds who believe they are the center of the universe. I need to see my little sis. That’s why you moved here after all. Right? Come over.
Me:Working now. Maybe later?
Ava:Working where…
Me:…
Ava:You’re at the library again. Right?
Ava:For God’s sake, Elle, ask the guy out.
Me:If he wanted to ask me out, he would have. I don’t need to embarrass myself.
Ava:Grow a pair, baby sis. One, how would he ask you out? From what you said, you run away from him when he has the chance. And, I’ll note, you’ve talked about nothing but that glorious hunk of man since moving here six weeks ago. I asked around, he’s unattached—
Me:YOU ASKED AROUND?
Ava:Shh. You’re in a library.
Ava:So, is he as beautiful as ever?
I glanced over at Nate to see that he was looking over a stack of books on the front desk, typing something into the computer. I took in the tousled brown hair to the stubble on his jaw to the Henley that stretched across his lean chest to his jeans that cupped what I knew from advanced study was a glorious ass. Yeah, you could say he wasn’t a chore to observe.
My phone vibrated again.
Ava:Well…
Me:Out of my league.
Ava:Shut up.
Ava:Clearly I need to come down and kick your ass. You are gorgeous.
I grinned at her reply.Avawas gorgeous. And I’d worked a hell of a lot on my self-image not to play the comparison game against anyone, including my sis, not that she was about that. However, Ava’s wavy brown hair, long lean legs, killer ass, and breasts to die for, tended to be what our screwed-up society elevated. Ava took after our dad in height. I was a mirror image of our mom.
Long thick brown hair, freckles, an hourglass figure that on someone taller than my whopping height of five foot three would’ve been gentle curves. For me, I heard a lot ofbaby got backin middle school. Thanks, Sir Mix-a-Lot. Grateful you liked those big butts.
As I grabbed my phone to reply to Ava, I jumped after hearing a throat being cleared. Looking up, I saw faded jeans, then a forest green Henley, then Nate’s beautiful face.
“Sorry to startle you,” he said, his eyes gleaming. “You look lost in thought over here, Ms. Robinson. Anything you need?” He slid a coffee cup next to my computer, perfectly made, as usual.
“One, thank you. Two,Elle.” I said, taking a sip and sighing with enjoyment. Today he had also somehow added a peppermint flavor. Perfection.
Nate grinned, his eyes dancing with amusement. “One, you’re welcome. And two, I know,Elle. Just teasing. Anything else you need?”
I couldn’t help it. I felt a tremble sweep through me. All the folks that worked here knew me by name, but the way that Nate said it, mmmm. It warmed me up.
“Elle?”
I looked back to see Nate watching me with a touch of concern. Good grief, must have zoned out there for a minute.
“What?”
