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“I normally take mine black, but that does sound good.”
I slip out from under his hold to make us both a to-go cup.
“You look like a man that takes his coffee black and has to shave twice a day.” Eve polishes off her bear claw and grabs another. I have no idea where everything she eats goes. She’s like a damn bottomless pit. If I ate the way she does, it would go straight to my hips.
“I bet you’d look handsome with a bit of scruff.” I hand him his coffee. “Hope it’s not too sweet.”
“Never.” He winks at me before he takes a drink. My face flushes with more heat, but I turn to go back to get my own coffee to hide it. I steal the donut covered in green and red sprinkles and powdered sugar that I know was ordered for me.
Both Eve and my mom pepper Crane with questions about his job and where he’s from. Things he already told me last night. He sips on his coffee and answers them all without hesitation.
“You sound like you drift around a lot.” Mom cocks her head to the side. “You don’t like to stay in one place long?”
A tightness fills my chest that I can’t explain.
“I’ve been looking for a change of pace. Something different.” His eyes come to mine and linger there.
“I should really get over to the library,” I say, not wanting to talk about the fact that Crane could only be here temporarily.
“I’m going to walk you,” Crane says before polishing off his coffee and dropping it in the small recycle bin. “Thanks for the coffee, ladies.” He gives them the same nod he had when we came in before he snags my hand again.
“Bye, guys.” They both watch us go. “I’m sorry about them,” I say again when we exit out of the front of City Hall. Crane is from the city. I’m sure he’s not used to people being up in his business.
“Nothing to be sorry about,” he reassures me.
“Morning, Liza, Crane,” a few people say as we pass them on the sidewalk.
“Everyone really knows everyone around here,” Crane observes.
“Yeah, Snow Hills has more good to it than bad, but there are for sure some downsides.”
“As?”
“I’m sure everyone in this town is buzzing around talking about the two of us.” I peek over at him to gauge his reaction to that. “This is probably the most excitement they’ve had in a while.”
“Good.”
“Good?” I stop walking when we get to the front of the library.
“Yeah, good.” He leans down and kisses me again. This one is not as quick as the other, but it’s definitely not all-consuming like last night.
“They're really going to talk about that.” I can feel people's eyes on us even now.
“Let them talk.” He gives me that half-smile of his. Okay, maybe a small town won’t scare him away. He’s so unfazed by what others might think or say. It only makes him sexier. “I want to walk you in.”
“All right.” I put my key in and unlock both front doors before I step inside. I gasp when I see my front display of holiday romance novels dumped over. “How the–”
“Don’t move,” Crane orders, pushing me back out the doors before he pulls a gun out of the back of his coat. “Stay right here until I’m back.”
“Should I call—”
“Give me a second.”
I nod, my heart racing as he slips into the library. I swear an eternity passes before he’s back, his gun now gone.
“Maybe the table just gave out. One of the legs or something,” I suggest as he finally lets me step into the library.
“Someone was in here.” His voice is solemn. “This building needs a security system. I don’t understand why it doesn’t have one. You should have one at home, too. You’re a single woman walking into these places all alone.” Everything about Crane has changed. His demeanor is no longer playful. It’s like a different man stands in front of me.
