“It does seem that way sometimes. Are there no snakes in Scotland?”
“Aye, but nae this many.” We both look back down at what we’re reading. It’s impossible for me to focus when someone so gorgeous is sitting across from me. Finally my curiosity gets the better of me. It could get me in more trouble than a proverbial cat, but I have to know more about him.
“So, what are you doing here? Are you a graduate student? Obviously you’re not working at becoming a Herpetologist.” His eyebrows dart up to his beanie in surprise before he barks out a laugh. It’s a sound that flows all the way through me down to my toes. Of course, no one hushes him.
“Naw,” he says when he recovers. My God, even the word no is hot rolling off his tongue. “Ye’re the smart one at this table. Are ye asking whit am I doing in the library? I thought they were public in this country,” he says with a smile that promises to melt my panties right off my body.
“I mean, what are you doing in the country if you’re not a student? Particularly in Portland? It’s not exactly a vacation destination.”
“I’m helping a friend with a new venture,” he says before changing the subject. “I think ye’re wrong too. Portland may just be the vacation paradise of the world.” He grins when I snort out a laugh, drawing more shushing. Seriously?
“I swear, the next person who shushes me gets a throat punch.” This time it’s Alex’s turn to laugh. “See! You didn’t get even one dirty look, but with me they get all bent out of shape!” This time when I’m shushed, I spin around to glare at them. “Throat punch,” I say, looking right at the people at the other table.
“Dae ye like it here in Portland?” He’s trying very hard to hold in his laughter when I spin back to look at him. I have to smile at his efforts to distract me from punching someone and landing in jail.
“I’m just here visiting my parents for Thanksgiving. They’re why I’m hiding in the library. I’m actually in graduate school in Texas.”
“Texas sounds nice,” he says.
I grin at him. “I haven’t told you anything about it yet.”
“Aye, but ye live there, so it must be nice.” The red creeps back up my face. This guy takes flirting to a whole new level. How does a person even train for this much coming straight at you?
I stare back down at my notes, trying to remember what I'm studying at this point. Looking through my eyelashes at him, I see he’s still watching me while taking an occasional glance at his book.
“I’ve really come tae hate snakes, it’s starting tae make me nervous aboot gaun back ootside.” He laughs.
“Maybe it’s time for a new book,” I suggest. “I take it you won’t be rentingSnakes on a Planeanytime soon?”
“Christ, no! I think maybe a book on Texas sounds better? Can ye help me find one?” He stands up, waiting to see if I’ll join him. I wonder if he’ll ask me out? Do I want to go on a date with someone that I probably won’t see again?
There’s also that problem of him being a complete stranger, but I wouldn’t say no to coffee. Lily did tell me to do something crazy before we all went our separate ways for the holiday. I’m not really sure what my college friend meant, but this would qualify, right?
“Sure, but I’ll warn you, we have snakes in Texas.”
“I’ll take my chances.” With a shrug, I stand, spreading my notes out.
“Leave your book here so nobody will take the table. I plan on staying until they chase me out tonight.” Motioning for him to follow me, we head to the stacks. Alex follows me down the shelves, hunting for a travel guide to Texas.
As we search deeper into the library, I become aware of how close Alex is actually standing behind me. Is it my imagination or is his hand now lightly resting on my back? Does making out in the back of the library count as something crazy?
I stop at one of the last shelves. This is a large library and no one has wandered back this far, except us.
“This one?” he asks, holding up a book he’s found on the shelf down from where I’m standing. At least we are far enough away from anyone we don’t have to whisper anymore.
“It’s not bad, if you’re looking for Texas in the 1800s.” He looks back at it, flipping a couple of pages. “I think this one might work. If I can reach it. I need one of those stupid squatty stool things.” I reach up on my toes to try to pull one off the top shelf.
I can feel him laughing gently behind me as I jump a couple of times trying to grab it. I’m pretty tall for a woman at five foot nine, but I’m no match for a library shelf.
“Let me, before ye bring the entire stack down on yerself.” I feel Alex press against my back, reaching above me to get the book. My breath catches as I feel his erection rub against the small of my back. Did he just smell my hair? When he has the book in his hand, he eases back from me, just leaving enough room for me to turn around.
“Did you just sniff my hair?” I don’t know what possessed me to ask such a ridiculous question. Who cares if he likes my shampoo? I really have no natural gifts when it comes to flirting. That might be the top contributing factor of why I haven’t dated in quite a while.
He looks at me, his hand still above my head. Slowly he leans in, brushing his lips over mine.
“Guilty. It daes smell amazing though. I cannae really be held responsible for my actions when ye smell so good.” Hum, this guy might have a little too much of a natural gift in the flirting department. I admit, I might be in over my head this time.
“That’s ridiculous!” I say with a giggle. Oh, please don’t tell me I just giggled!
