“Just thinking, it’s a little warm in here,” he said.
She stuck her tongue out at him.
“You’re going to pay for that,” he told her.
She turned around and looked at him, her chin jutting out ever so subtly. “Oh yeah?” she said.
“Yeah,” he replied stubbornly.
“How?” she asked just as stubbornly.
Dean rose out of his chair and was standing in front of her within seconds. He bent down and placed tiny little kisses along her neck, up to her ear. “I’m going to take you home later and I’m going to rid you of every piece of clothing you’re wearing and I am going to run my hands over your entire body, followed by my tongue and then I’m going to make love to you until you beg me to stop,” he whispered in her ear. “But right now we really do need to get back to work.”
“Promise me you’ll do what you said,” Katie said before she went to the door.
“I look forward to it,” he replied.
With a quick hand to her hair, Katie left the office with a wave and went back to work.
“So what’s going on with you two?” Patty asked a little while later. Patty was like the mother hen. She had worked at the library forever and was close to retirement.
“We’re in love,” Katie told her.
“Really in love? Or just infatuated with each other?” Patty asked trying to snuff out Katie’s happiness.
“Really in love,” Katie reassured her. Is she jealous? Katie wondered as she started to walk away.
“I don’t see it working out,” Patty called after her.
Like it’s any of your damn business anyway, battleaxe, she thought as she rounded a column of shelves and stopped. Suddenly she burst into tears. This must be what it felt like for Grace and Donald. The disapproval. But why do I care? I haven’t known this person for very long and she’s nothing to me, she thought.
“What’s wrong?” Dean asked startling her.
“What? Where did you come from?” she asked him.
“Someone partially overheard your conversation with Patty and came to get me,” he told her. “What did she say? And don’t deny it, she obviously upset you.” He took her into his arms.
“She said she doesn’t think our relationship will last. I think she’s just jealous,” Katie told him as she looked around to see if anyone was looking. “But I don’t know why it’s bothering me so much.”
“Would you stop worrying about what other people think around here,” he said.
“Why?”
“You’re looking around like you’ve done something wrong. I’m a single guy, you’re a single woman and I have fallen madly in love with you and I’d like to get on the loudspeaker right now and announce to everyone who will listen that I love Katie Davis but we don’t have a loudspeaker because this is a library,” he said and laughed. “As for why it’s bothering you so much, I think you’re extra tired, and you’re extra stressed…”
“I’m…”
“You are stressed over the Grace and Donald thing and you know it. The sooner we get to the bottom of that the better but obviously we’re a little busy,” he said and he kissed her.
Katie wanted him to take her home right now. She wanted to open a bottle of wine, light a fire and cuddle until they could take it no more and then tear each others’ clothes off and make passionate love. Her thoughts turned to Grace and Donald who’d had the chance to make love only twice before his life suddenly came to a violent end.
“Penny for your thoughts before I go back to work,” Dean asked.
“I was thinking of Grace and Donald and how little time they had to be with each other and how much I want to go home right now, have some wine in front of the fire, get completely intoxicated and make mad, passionate love with you,” she told him.
“I’ll get my coat,” Dean told her.
“It will be even better if we wait,” she replied.
“You’re right and I don’t have any staff to call in at the moment,” he said. “Besides, I have to go out this afternoon but I promise I’ll be back before you’re done.” Before she could ask questions, he left her.
She went back to the desk. “I’ll take these books and shelve them,” she said to the others who were staring at her. “I’m fine, really,” she reassured them.
She pushed the cart from behind the desk and headed towards the Adult Non-Fiction section and began re-shelving the books.
She placed the first few on the shelves and went to pick up the next book. The Art of Reincarnation the title almost screamed up at her. She turned it over.
Do you ever have strange dreams? Does something from the past haunt you? Can’t figure out where that desire to cook, bake or anything else you just enjoy doing came from? Perhaps it came from your past life.
Katie held on to the book so tightly her knuckles turned white. Oh my God, this is it isn’t it? She thought. She flipped open the book to a chapter.
We are all souls who spend a short amount of time on earth in our bodies. Our soul travels from lifetime to lifetime. You could have been your uncle in your last life and his grandmother before that. As long as that person has died before you’re conception, it could easily be the same soul.
Katie stopped reading and shut the book. This is it, this is why I’m having these dreams and this is why I found that stuff, she thought.
She placed the book on the cart and left it there so she could sign it out later. She would show it to Dean and see what he thought about it.
She emptied the cart slowly and carefully as she still wasn’t great at this part of the job. It took time to get down the routine of finding the exact place on the shelf. It took her so long that she was surprised when she found Dean at the end of the aisle.
“Are you ready to go home?” he asked.
She looked down at the cart and back up at him. “Is it that time already?” she asked.
“Yep. And you’re slow at this,” he said as he grabbed a handful of books and proceeded down the aisle to shelve them.
“I had no idea it was this late. I was kind of taking my time on purpose,” she told him.
“I had a feeling you might have been,” he said.
“You did?”
He nodded as he came back for more books. Then he noticed the one she’d set back. He picked it up and looked at the spine. “This doesn’t go over here,” he told her.
“I know, I’m signing it out,” she told him.
“Why?” he asked. He turned it over and started reading the back. He nodded as he finished. “Do you think…” he trailed off.
Katie nodded. “It makes some sense. She was my great-grandmother after all and she did die before I was born.”
Dean set the book back down and grabbed as many books as he could handle and went around the corner to the next aisle. He shelved the books as fast as he could. He just wanted to get her out of here and into the warmth of her house. I really need to stop off at my place and pick up a few things, he thought. He patted his pocket and smiled.
They shelved the last of the books together and Dean wheeled the cart back to the desk for her. “Good night ladies and gentlemen,” he said. “Have a good evening.”
He went back to his office to gather his things and wait for Katie who had gone to the staffroom to get her own things.
“I’m all set,” she said quietly from the doorway.
“Me too,” he replied. “Do you mind if we make a couple of stops on the way?” he asked her.
“Not at all. There’s nothing pressing at home,” she replied.
He crossed the office and pressed her against the doorframe as he bent to kiss her. “There is something pressing at home, but I thought of a few things that are probably important,” he told her.
She stepped back so he could turn out the lights and close his door. She slid an arm into his when he offered and they slipped out the back door with no further confrontations from the rest of the staff.
“So where to
first?” she asked when he slid in behind the wheel.
“My place. I know this isn’t the right time or place to say this, but is it okay if I leave a few things at your place? I’m really going to need to change my clothes at least once or twice a week,” he teased.
“Not at all. If you want to bring your closet over, feel free,” she offered. I just said that? She thought. Out loud?
“Thanks,” he said. “Are you okay? You look funny.”
“I’m fine. I just can’t believe I said that,” she said honestly.
“I don’t have to if it makes you uncomfortable,” he replied.
“No, I’m not uncomfortable at all,” she said. “That’s why it was such a shock to me when it just popped out.”
“Then I will move in half my closet,” he said.
Katie giggled. It had been a long time since she’d been able to be so open with someone.
He started the car and pulled out of the lot. It wasn’t long before they were at his place gathering up quite a large amount of his things. They made a few trips to the car and when it was full, he locked up.
They got back in the car and Dean pulled out of his driveway in the opposite direction of her place.
“Where to next?” she asked.
“Somewhere special,” he replied noncommittally.
A few moments later he pulled into the lot of the best restaurant they had in town.
“What are we doing here?” she asked.
“We have to eat don’t we?” he asked her back.
“Well, yes, but…”
“No ‘buts’,” he replied as he got out of the car. He rounded the front quickly and opened her door for her. He offered her a hand and waited while she hesitantly placed hers in his. He smiled at her and led her to the door. “After you.”
She went inside and looked around. “It looks so cozy,” she said.
“I hear it is quite cozy,” he replied as he gave his name to the gentleman waiting patiently behind what appeared to be a podium.
“Right this way sir,” he said as he picked up two menus and led them between the tables to one near the back right next to a huge fireplace.
Dean held Katie’s chair for her and asked for a wine list before he sat down and accepted his own menu. “Thank you.”
“You wanted wine in front of a roaring fire,” he told her when she kept looking at him.
“It’s beautiful,” she told him.
They turned their attention to the menu and discussed a number of items. A waiter walked up to their table. “Good evening, I’m your waiter, my name is Paul,” he said. “Here is your wine list, sir.” He handed Dean a little card and stood by waiting as Dean read down the list.
“A bottle of, uh, ‘Number 3’,” he said. He didn’t want Katie to know what he had ordered it until she had tasted it.
“Very good, sir,” Paul said and walked away.
“So have you decided yet?” Dean asked Katie.
“Yes, I have,” she said and closed her menu briefly to look at him.
“What’s it going to be? The lobster?” he teased.
“No, it’s going to be the chicken, it sounds delicious” she told him.
The waiter returned quickly with the wine and poured a small amount which he handed to Dean. He waited for Dean’s nod and proceeded to fill both glasses.
“Thank you,” Katie said when he’d finished filling her glass.
“Are you ready to order?” Paul asked.
Dean nodded and they told him they both wanted the chicken.
“Wise choice this evening, sir,” Paul said again and walked away after taking their menus.
“So now what?” Katie asked.
“We just sit here in front of the fire and drink our wine and get intoxicated, just as you wanted,” Dean answered as he picked up his glass. “I would like to make a toast though.”
Katie looked at him before she picked up her glass. “To what?” she asked.
“Not ‘what’, ‘who’,” he replied. “To you. The most beautiful woman in the world,” he said quietly.
Their glasses met and they each took a drink.
“I love you Katie,” Dean said looking into her bright blue eyes.
“I love you too Dean, more than I thought I could love anyone,” she replied.
Just as she said that, an orchestra began playing on a small stage across the room and a number of diners were rising.
“Would you like to dance?” Dean asked.
“I would love to,” she replied and began to rise as quickly as Dean.
He led her to the dance floor and pulled her into his arms. She pressed against him so tightly he wasn’t sure he’d be able to keep control. He looked around the room and thought how wonderful it would be to have a wedding reception here. Now I’m starting to think like a girl, he scolded himself.
“It would be a gorgeous place for a wedding,” Katie said quietly.
Dean felt a tingle up his spine as the last of her words reached him.
“What’s wrong?” she asked as she felt his body go rigid.
“I was just having that exact same thought,” he told her.
“Great minds think alike don’t they?” she said.
Dean thought about that for a moment. He had heard of married people who really connected that way, finishing each others’ sentences all the time. He smiled down at her. “I guess we’re just good at it,” he said as he pulled her tight to him again. “You feel so good,” he whispered in her ear before he placed a tiny little kiss on her neck in a place he knew was her favourite.
“So do you. I didn’t know you could dance this well,” she told him.
“I didn’t think I danced well,” he replied.
They left the dance floor but didn’t return to their table right away. Instead they went and sat on one of the loveseats that faced the fireplace. He pulled her down next to him and they sat quietly watching the orange and yellow flames leap in front of them.
“It’s so warm,” Katie said.
“You’re so beautiful,” Dean replied. He hadn’t been watching the fire for long before his attention had turned back to Katie and he watched as the firelight lit up her face and reflected in her golden hair and blue eyes.
Katie turned and looked at him. “I want you to make love to me right now,” she whispered.
Dean was having a hard enough time controlling himself, the invitation was not helping. “I want to make love to you right now and every day for the rest of my life,” he whispered back. He pulled her to him and kissed her. Do it right now, his mind yelled. He pulled away and took her hands in his own. “Katie, I love you, you know that,” he began.
Katie nodded. “I love you so much I want to burst sometimes,” she told him.
“I know we haven’t been together for very long but I can’t stand the thought of being apart from you. This evening, dancing with you, sitting here with you, wanting you so badly, I can’t wait any longer,” he said.
Katie looked at him and her brow creased. She didn’t know what he was trying to say. She watched as he slid down onto the floor on one knee.
“Katie, I love you with all my heart, soul and being. It’s crazy I know but will you do me the honour of being my wife?” he asked.
She turned in time to see that all eyes were on them. Even the music had stopped playing as everyone waited for her answer. Don’t think, just say ‘yes’, something told her. “Yes,” she said. “Yes, I will be your wife,” she replied and threw her arms around him and kissed him.
They kissed so long and hard that Dean thought he wasn’t going to make it home before he had to have her. He finally found enough strength to pull away and reach into his pocket. He pulled out an engagement ring and held it out to her. “This is for you. That’s where I went this afternoon,” he told her. “I wasn’t planning on needing it right now but I had to ask you. I couldn’t wait any longer.”
Everyone in the restaurant clapped while he slid the ring onto h
er finger.
“Oh Dean, I can’t wait,” she told him.
“Looks like our food is just arriving,” Dean pointed out as he stood and held his hands out for her.
She slid her hands into his and let him help her up. She slid into his arms for another hug before he led her back to the table and helped her into her chair once more.
“Congratulations,” the waiter said as he set the plates down in front of them.
“Thank you,” Dean said as Paul walked away. He picked up his wine and held it up to her. “To you my love. My only love, and my future bride,” he said.
She lifted her glass to his and they each took a sip and began eating.
“This is really good,” Katie said after she had swallowed her first taste.
Dean nodded as he chewed.
They ate quietly for a bit and when they were near finished, Dean was the first to speak. “So any ideas on when and where?” he asked her.
“I don’t know but I’m thinking about here,” she told him. “An altar set up in front of the roaring fire. Tables for guests obviously, and then the dance floor,” she said.
“I can see that too,” he replied looking around.
The maitre’d from the door approached their table a short time later. “I understand congratulations are in order,” he said.
Dean nodded and Katie held her left hand out for him to admire the ring.
“Very nice,” the man said. “We have had wedding receptions here before so feel free to call us for a quote,” he told them.
“We were just talking about that,” Katie told him.
“See me before you leave and I’ll get you a brochure.” With that he walked away and left Dean and Katie to look at one another.
Dean poured them each another glass of wine and they drank quietly as they waited for the dessert they’d ordered amongst the hustle and bustle of congratulations.
Katie raised her foot under the table and began running it up Dean’s leg. She watched as his reaction turned from calm, to surprise, to desire. She noticed how his blue eyes changed from a light blue to a dark blue.
“It’s time to go, right now,” he said huskily. He raised his hand to Paul to indicate the cheque and they began to gather their things. When Paul arrived a moment later with a small, leather-bound folder, Dean picked it up, placed cash inside it and handed it back to the stunned waiter. “Everything was wonderful, don’t worry, we just have something to…um…do,” he stammered. Dean slid Katie’s hand into his and led her out the door stopping quickly to take a brochure as they past the podium.
Til We Meet Again Page 4
