"Nope, I didn't see anyone I recognized."
"Bummer. Well, it was a good story time before story time anyway." Then Sabrina turned back to her desk and the pile of books next to it that she was adding to the library inventory. "Speaking of, are you reading to the kids today or am I?"
"Today is you. I have Friday."
"Oh, you're taking fairy tale day this week! Are you dressing up?"
Emma hadn't thought about it, but now that Sabrina had mentioned it, she realized she had the perfect dress for it. It was blue with lots of tulle and cost a damn fortune. She would have to be careful with it. But at the same time, if she already spent that much money on it, why not get some more enjoyment out of it?
"I see that smile on your face," Sabrina said from her desk. "Please tell me it was the hot dress you bought for your hot date that you're trying to downplay?"
"Oh, it's definitely my hot dress. But don't worry. It's still appropriate for two-year-olds at story hour."
"Well, that's a bummer." A teasing smile started to spread across Sabrina's face. "For your boyfriend, I mean. Not for the kids."
"He's not my boyfriend," Emma muttered as she turned back to her desk.
Chase was the enemy, or at least a means to an end. Emma had to keep reminding herself that so she wouldn't get distracted from what she really had to do: spend this money and move on.
Emma had become used to leaving her phone in her desk drawer when she was out on the library floor helping patrons or shelving books. There was also that one time she accidentally left it in her pocket, and some spam call came through during story time with the kids.
"Ms. Emma, you're not supposed to have that on," one of the young readers said. "That's a no-no, remember?"
"I completely forgot, but thank you for the reminder."
She remembered that every time she went to story time after that. Nothing like being chastised by a four-year-old to make sure you alwaysremember the rules.
But when she was in her office, she left the drawer cracked open slightly to hear any texts come through. And sure enough, she heard the phone ding in her desk drawer as she was adding new releases to the library's database.
Dinner at 7? My place? ;)
Emma didn't take Chase to be an emoji kind of person, and yet there was a winking face looking back at her from her texts.
Sounds good, Emma texted back.Can you give me directions?
Hm. Did that sound like she was flirting with Chase now? Absolutely not. No. She was just being friendly. That's all that was.
But then three little dots popped on the screen as Chase typed something in, and she wondered why she cared that he was typing something out for this long.
Walk out your front door to the luxurious pool and a handsome man will be waiting for you
Emma couldn't help the small smile on her lips. Handsome? Honestly, yes. It was true that Chase Warwick was handsome and charming and she actually enjoyed talking to him last night. But she couldn't give into those feelings, and she couldn't let Chase think she appreciated them either.
Little confused, she replied.I thought I was having dinner with you. Who is this handsome man I'm meeting now?
Ha ha. Funny but deserved
She smiled down at her phone. Sure, it was a cheap laugh through text, but it was still a laugh from Chase.
I'll have Marcus send you some links to a few places that we can order from. Let him know what you want and he'll get it taken care of
OK, see you tonight, was all she responded.
Sure, she could've typed something witty in response, but she already felt weird about where that conversation was going. Jokes would lead to more flirting, if that's what was going on, and that would lead down a very slippery slope. Flirting with Chase Warwick was not a good idea.
"What are you doing?" Sabrina asked as she walked into their office.
"Oh, just sending a text, but I'm doing it at my desk and not in the biography section so it's OK."
