Page 22 of That Rush

“Apology accepted.”

“That easy?”

“Were you hoping to grovel?”

“I can if you require it, but I should warn you, I’m not practiced at it.”

“I suspected as much.”

His smile arrives slowly, changing his entire face. I understand why women in town lower their voices when they discuss the Slade men. It would be easy to mistake that smile for an invitation.

The circulation clerk glances toward us from the return cart. Her attention moves from Aiden to me before she becomes intensely interested in shelving a stack of mysteries.

Virginia Dale will turn two minutes of eye contact into a relationship announcement if given enough time. I refuse to help.

I nod toward Josie. “You handled the quiet part well once you stopped trying to negotiate with her.”

“Once you ordered me to stop.”

“I offered practical guidance.”

“Your ‘practical guidance’ was to sit down and be quiet.”

“And it worked.”

His eyes drift to my mouth again. “It did.”

The look coils low and tight in my stomach, which irritates me. This man was argumentative ten minutes ago. An apology and a well-timed smile should not make him more appealing.

Josie returns with three bookmarks fanned between her fingers. “Miss Paige, which one should I get?”

“You may take all three.”

She looks delighted. “Really?”

“Librarian privilege.”

Aiden takes them when she hands them over, examines each, then slips them carefully into the front pocket of her backpack. He handles the flimsy paper carefully because it matters to her.

That gentleness is more appealing than his smile, which feels deeply unfair.

“Are you working tomorrow?” he asks.

My gaze lifts to his. “Does the horse book require professional supervision?”

“Josie reads fast. She might need another recommendation.”

“She has been here often enough to know where the books live.”

“That wasn’t my question.”

“No, it wasn’t.” I fold my hands on the counter. “I’ll be here tomorrow morning.”

He holds my gaze long enough that I feel the beat of my own pulse in my throat.

He holds my gaze a moment longer. “Good to know.”

Curiosity is harmless. It does not explain why I am already wondering whether Aiden Slade plans to use that information.