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I was reaching for a book about a dinosaur going trick-or-treating with his friends when I heard my name from the entrance to the reading nook. “Alicia?”

When I turned, my eyebrows inched up, but a smile spread across my face. “Jane. Hi.”

Jane Thayer returned my smile, opening her arms for a hug as she crossed toward me. “It’s been a while.”

“You can say that again.” I wrapped my arms around her. “I was starting to wonder if you’d forgotten where the library was.”

She chuckled and gave me a quick squeeze before pulling away. “Don’t judge me. We’ve been busy.”

“I figured as much. There was a time you spent half your life here, but I haven’t seen you in months. We’ve missed having you guys around for story time.”

Jane smiled. “Trust me, you haven’t missed us as much as the kids are missing you.”

“Are they here?” I asked.

She shook her head and waved an immaculately manicured hand toward the conference room. “I have a planning meeting for the Halloween Gala.”

“We’re hosting that here again?”

“Indeed, you are.” She pumped her eyebrows at me. “And you’re helping.”

“I’d really rather not.”

“I’d really rather not beg you, but I will.” She pressed her hands together. “Please help to keep me sane during this planning process?”

I sighed. “Fine, but only because it’s you asking.”

She looked around the children’s department, her features softening. “Gosh, I’ve missed being here.”

I followed her gaze toward the story-time corner. “You can come visit anytime. Maybe bring some doughnuts.”

“I’ll think about it. But for now, I have to go plan how we’re going to raise funds to make sure this place isn’t going anywhere.” She smiled. “I’ll see you later?”

“Probably,” I said. “Unless the children revolt and carry me away to Neverland.”

Jane laughed. “Before I head in there, I actually came over to invite you to a little dinner Alex and I are having at our house tonight.”

My brain stopped functioning for a full few seconds. Jane and Alex were not just Jane and Alex. They were Jane Thayer and Alex Westwood, power couple extraordinaire. Both of them were CEOs of companies worth billions of dollars, the kind of people whose names regularly appeared on any list of the city’s most influential people.

And they’re inviting me to dinner at their house.

For a second, I just stared at her like she was inviting me for tea with the president. Jane Thayer had always been mildly intimidating to me. She’d never done anything to make me feel that way. In fact, she’d always been warm and kind, but she could buy my house, pay off all the outstanding taxes, and not even notice the transaction on her bank statement.

“Uh, okay,” I finally agreed. “It’ll be good to see the kids again.”

“Yeah, they’re going to love seeing you as well. I’ve been meaning to bring them, really, but ever since Cameron started grade school, it’s been hard to find the time to do all the things we used to do together. He still reads a lot, though.”

“Good.”

She chuckled. “He might be all cool and sophisticated now that he’s started big school, but that love you instilled for reading is definitely still there.”

Genuine happiness erupted in my chest. “That’s the best news I’ve heard all week.”

Someone called her name from the front desk and she glanced over, showing them she just needed a minute before she turned back to me. “I have to go, but I’ll text you the address. We’ll see you at eight, Alicia. I’m looking forward to catching up.”

“So am I,” I said, but I was already stressing about what I was going to wear.

Even as I waved before she spun and walked away, I was mentally rummaging through my closet. I had no idea what one put on to eat dinner with people who owned chairs worth more than the average car.