Page 93 of That Rush

“You followed the label. Very attractive.”

He smiles. “Careful.”

I take an empty activity bin behind the freestanding display. Aiden follows with the books balanced on one forearm, shielding us from Josie’s view.

He sets them inside. “You remembered everything she likes.”

“I remember what most of my regulars like.”

“I watched you with all of them.” His voice lowers. “You gave her exactly enough responsibility to make her proud without making the day about her.”

He noticed the exact balance I was trying to protect, and the praise lands, too accurate to brush aside.

“She earned the job.”

“I know.”

His palm finds my waist. His thumb slips beneath the back of my blouse, brushing warm skin.

“You’re touching library staff during working hours,” I whisper.

“I asked what you needed.”

“I don’t remember requesting this.”

“Tell me to stop.”

I lean into his touch, shifting until his palm rests fully against my lower back. “Your version of ‘helpful’ is getting suspicious.”

“You didn’t object to it Friday.”

“Friday didn’t include twelve children and a dragon display.”

His attention shifts to my mouth. “We had fewer rules on Friday.”

A sharp coil of heat tightens low in my belly. “You should go back to the chairs.”

“Is that what you need?”

“No. It’s what would keep me employed.”

His thumb makes one slow pass over my skin before he releases me.

When we step out from behind the display, Josie is arranging her markers in a careful row. Aiden returns to the chairs, but the look he sends me is a clear promise he hasn’t forgotten where his hand was.

I am still flushed when the library doors open.

Axel and Adrienne Slade walk in carrying two overflowing bags of children’s books.

Adrienne’s gaze moves from Aiden to me. Axel follows it. Then both of them smile.

Axel and Adrienne remain suspiciously silent while I check in their books and clear the last returns. They make it all the way to the library steps before Adrienne looks at Aiden.

She lets Josie skip ahead before she speaks. “Do you know your face changes when you stare at her?”

“My face is fine.”

Axel shifts one of the empty book bags beneath his arm. “It was obvious before we walked in.”