But something had drawn him back for a second glance. And then a third. After a close study, he’d come to realize that for some unknown reason Annabelle hid her sexiness from the world. The hair that she kept ruthlessly tamed was a rich mahogany color. He didn’t know if it was shoulder-length, hung to her waist, or somewhere in between. He longed to release it from its confinement and let it flow. He wanted to spend hours sifting his fingers through it and having Annabelle tease him with it.
The eyes behind the glasses were intelligent and kind. Both were pluses in Mike’s mind. He couldn’t abide silly women, nor did he like those who were cruel to others. Those baby blues were vulnerable, yet inquisitive. He’d seen her watching him. The longing in those eyes, and the fact that she was single and available, had given rise to some steamy fantasies. She wanted him, even if she hadn’t yet admitted that fact to herself. But she would. He wouldn’t settle for anything less.
Her lips were lush. There was no other way to put it. They were made for kissing and giving pleasure. Having finally tasted them, he knew he wanted more. Much more. As much as she would give him. He could easily imagine those lips working their way down his body and tasting him. Everywhere.
He shook his head to clear his thoughts. Walking across the parking lot in full view of the town was not the place to have a hard-on. He was just glad he had pulled on a work shirt over his tank top. The tails of the shirt helped to cover the large ridge at the front of his jeans. It was Annabelle’s fault for being so damn sexy.
His fingers itched to strip her out of her prim little librarian’s outfit and carry her to bed. She was built like a pinup model from the forties and fifties, lush and full. Her breasts were large, her hips and butt would be a handful. He grinned at the thought. Good thing he had big hands. She was built for him.
She hid her curves under unstructured dresses and long skirts with tunic tops. Which was fine by him. He didn’t want any other man getting the idea to try to entice Annabelle. In his mind, she was already his, and he aimed to have her. He couldn’t wait until she was in his bed and he could spend hours examining and sating himself with her luscious body.
He’d been trying to figure out the best way to ask her out. Harold’s misfortune had turned into Mike’s opportunity to spend more time with her. They were going to have dinner this evening.
But first things first. He pulled his toolbox out of the back of his truck and strode back toward the library. He whistled as he walked, feeling better than he had in a long time. He’d made his move. Now Annabelle knew he was interested. The trick would be to coax her out of her shell. He was looking forward to the challenge. Annabelle was a woman made for loving—his loving.
Chapter Two
Annabelle placed a sandwich and a bottle of water on the counter. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, she ate lunch at the library. She had two part-time employees, but budgetary restrictions meant she was alone until one o’clock on these three days. It was usually quiet in the mornings, but a lot of people liked to run into the library on their lunch hours, and she wanted it to be open for them. She didn’t mind eating at the front counter, and the library patrons didn’t mind either. In fact, some of her regulars had started bringing her treats for lunch. She loved Mrs. Casey’s apple muffins, and Mr. Johnson’s wife made the best scones, and always sent along fresh homemade strawberry jam to have with them.
Today was different. She just couldn’t seem to settle in at the front desk. It was all Mike’s fault. It was just her luck that he’d caught her when she’d snuck back to her office to grab some papers and plug in the fan. She was just thankful none of the library regulars had come looking for her. That would have been embarrassing and would have led to all kinds of gossip and speculation.
She could hear the noise from the back as he worked—the sound of metal on metal as he tinkered with the air-conditioning unit, followed by the muttering of his voice. Even when he was swearing he sounded sexy.
It all came back to the kiss. If she’d been aware of him before, now she was hypersensitive. She touched her fingers to her lips. She could still feel the softness of Mike’s mouth against hers, taste him. Until this morning, it had only been a dream. A fantasy. Now she felt hot and achy and knew it was due to more than the lack of air-conditioning. There was only one cure for what ailed her. Sex—sex with Mike.
Annabelle recognized that she’d never really had the opportunity or inclination to discover her sexuality. She’d been an only child, born to an older couple. To say that she’d been a surprise to them was an understatement. They’d loved her, she’d never doubted that, but they’d been strict and set in their ways and she hadn’t been the kind of child who challenged their authority.
She’d gone away to college to study and get her degree. Suddenly free to do as she chose, Annabelle had finally had her first boyfriend and lover. But when her father had died suddenly of a heart attack she’d moved back home. She’d taken a job in the local library and cared for her mother, who’d never really recovered from her husband’s death. When her mother passed away a year ago, Annabelle had been sad, but determined to finally start living her own life.
The advertisement for a librarian in Summersville had been a godsend. When she’d secured the position, she’d sold her childhood home and moved. She’d wanted a fresh start in a place where no one knew her.
The one problem she hadn’t anticipated, which she really should have, was that nothing had changed. Sure, she could move to a new place, but she was the same old Annabelle. Wearing clothing her parents would approve of and not bringing any unnecessary attention to herself. Well, that wasn’t quite true. She’d drawn quite a bit of attention to herself. None of it wanted.
It had started the first time she’d seen Mike. He’d been going into city hall when she’d been coming out. She’d been excited at signing her contract with the town and had run straight into him as she’d hurried out the front door. He’d caught her easily before she had a chance to fall, and when she’d looked up to thank him, she’d been struck dumb. She’d never experienced such instant attraction to a man. Her whole body had gone on alert, and she’d tried to absorb everything about him. Unfortunately for her, he’d thought she’d been hurt or was ill and had called out to Dr. James, who had just happened to be walking by.
After all these months, she could still feel the embarrassment. Annabelle had quickly assured them she was fine, thanked them for their concern, and hurried back to her apartment. She’d replayed the scene over and over in her head in a never-ending loop. She wished she were one of those women who could have laughed off the situation with a witty or funny comment. The scene had haunted her waking hours for weeks.
From then on it had only gotten worse. She’d spilled her coffee on Mike at a town meeting when he’d stopped to speak to her. Then there was the time she tripped walking up the stairs at city hall because she’d been too busy looking at him to pay attention to where she was going.
The incidents were endless.
Mike probably assumed she was clumsy, and she certainly hadn’t done anything to change that assumption this morning. Her head was still tender where she’d smacked it on the edge of her desk. But better that than him suspecting the truth. She’d never live it down if he found out she’d been ogling him for months.
Now, for some unexplained reason, he was attracted to her. He wanted her. And there was no denying she wanted him. She picked up her peanut butter sandwich and nibbled on a corner. If there were some way to keep their affair a secret, maybe it would work. They were both single adults. It was nobody’s business but theirs if they slept together. And if no one else knew, well then, she wouldn’t have to be embarrassed when it ended.
This was the opportunity she’d been waiting for. A chance to experience everything she’d always been curious about. To try things she’d always wondered about. Dreamed about.
Somehow, she knew that Mike could make her feel things she’d never had before. And she wanted to feel them.
Had waited long enough to experience them. This was her time. And better still, she would get full, uninhibited access to Mike’s body. There were things she’d always wanted to do. Fantasies she wanted to fulfill. Just the thought made her nipples tighten. To cool her thoughts down she reached for the water bottle and took a long sip.
The light brush of something on her neck made her jerk forward. She tried to swallow the mouthful of water that she’d just taken, but ended up choking instead. She coughed and sputtered, trying to regain her breath. A large hand tapped her gently on the back, and she knew who it was without even having to look. Why did Mike always seem to see her at her worst?
She turned and glared up at him through watery eyes. He didn’t look the least bit contrite. He looked . . . amused. She jumped to her feet. “What do you think you’re doing, sneaking up on me like that?” She placed her hands on her hips and waited for him to explain himself. Her defiant pose was ruined when she coughed once more, and then had to swipe at the tears in her eyes.
“I had to taste that little space at the back of your neck.” He reached out and wrapped his hand around her nape, his fingers caressing the small area left vulnerable between her blouse and hairline. “It looked so tempting with you leaning forward that I couldn’t help myself.”
Annabelle was stunned. She’d never considered her neck to be an erogenous zone before. It was, after all, just a neck. But now she could feel his fingers moving slowly back and forth across her skin. The caress made her feel tingly all over. Almost against her will, she found herself moving closer to him. Her neck arched to one side. She wanted him to kiss her there again. Lick her. Bite her.
Oh, Lord. The man was making her crazy. They had to come to some agreement before she spontaneously combusted. He had started this, but she would darn well finish it. Reaching out, she tentatively ran her index finger up his chest. His muscles were hard, and his shirt was slightly damp with sweat. His hand stilled at the back of her neck and his breathing deepened.
“What are you doing, Annabelle?” His voice was deep and husky.
She gave him what she hoped was a seductive look. “You started something I want to explore further . . .”
Before she could say anything more, his arms encircled her and his lips covered hers. There was no tentative seeking this time. This was as carnal as it could get. He swept inside her mouth, laying claim to it. His tongue, hot and moist, dueled with hers in a most primal way.
Again and again, he plunged his tongue into her mouth, mating with hers. The heat and sensual sensations threatened to overwhelm her. Annabelle closed her eyes and gave herself up to the moment. She was consumed by the maelstrom of desires coursing through her.
His hands moved from around her waist and slid down to cover her behind. She gasped and then moaned when he pulled her close. He was aroused, his thick erection pressing against her stomach. It was difficult for her to believe she was the cause of his arousal.
Then she couldn’t think at all.
With his hands on her bottom, he rocked her hips against his erection in a seductive motion. It wasn’t long before she was moving on her own. Closer, she needed to get closer. Their breathing was labored and hard.
The front door slammed shut and Mike jerked back as if someone had yanked him away. Annabelle started to sway, her balance unstable after that mind-numbing kiss. Gasping for air, she tried to catch her breath. Her head was spinning. Mike reached out with one hand to steady her. They could hear voices closing in on them. Annabelle stared at him in horror.
She couldn’t let the library patrons see her like this. Anyone with half a brain would be able to tell what they’d been doing. She’d be the subject of local gossip. Worse, it might affect her job.
He pushed her toward the ladies’ room in the back. “Go. Hurry and pull yourself together and I’ll stall them.” Grateful, she fled.
She pushed into the bathroom and shut the door firmly behind her. That was too close for comfort. She’d lost all semblance of common sense. What had she been thinking to kiss Mike like that, and while she was working? Obviously, she hadn’t been thinking straight at all. And it wasn’t entirely her fault. No woman could be expected to keep her equilibrium when Mike Sloan was kissing her.
Annabelle leaned her hands on the cool porcelain sink. She took a deep breath, raised her head and looked at her reflection in the mirror, almost afraid of what she would see. The woman staring back at her was not the one she was familiar with. This was the one from her dreams, the one not afraid to embrace her sexuality and go after the man she wanted.
The woman in the mirror was flushed, her eyes bright, almost feverish, and her lips red and swollen. Her breathing was shallow, causing her breasts to push against her blouse. She looked hot. She wanted more. Some of her hair had come loose from her bun and made her look almost wanton. She ached and throbbed in intimate places. This was a woman ready for the bedroom, not the library.
But she wasn’t home. She was at work.
Annabelle turned on the cold water tap and dampened a paper towel. She ran it over her face and neck, doing her best to cool her heated skin. As drops of water trickled down her neck, she remembered the feel of Mike’s hand and moaned. This wouldn’t do. She tossed the paper towel away.
She removed her glasses and set them on the side of the sink. Cupping the water in her hands, she splashed it over her face until the warm flush on her skin subsided.
She quickly dried her face and gave herself a critical stare in the mirror, squinting to get a better picture. She looked more like herself. With years of practice behind her, she quickly took down her hair and twisted it back into its habitual style. She jammed the clip back in to hold it in place. Annabelle tucked her blouse back into her skirt, donned her glasses and gave herself one last glance. Satisfied she no longer looked like a woman who’d been engaged in a sensual activity, she took a fortifying breath and left the bathroom.
As she approached the desk, she heard ladies’ voices followed by Mike’s deep rumble. She plastered a smile on her face as she addressed the woman wearing the wide-brimmed straw hat and the long, flowered dress. “Mrs. Casey, how are you today?” Annabelle took her position behind her desk. She didn’t glance at Mike, but she could feel his presence. She tried to ignore it.
“And how are you, Mrs. White?” Annabelle gave her attention to the woman in the faded jeans and baseball hat. The two older ladies were as different as day and night, but they were best friends and often came to the library together. “What can I get for you ladies today?”
“I brought you some apple muffins, Annabelle.” Mrs. Casey removed her hat, carefully patting her hair into place. “There’s more than enough if you want to share.”
The aroma wafting from the bag was incredible and Annabelle knew she had no choice. Both ladies were watching her expectantly. “Thank you, Mrs. Casey. You do make the best apple muffins.” Lifting the bag, she opened it and held it out to Mike. “Muffin?”
“Don’t mind if I do.” He took his time and selected a muffin from the bag. Never taking his eyes from her, he bit into the treat. He chewed slowly and licked his lips after he swallowed.
Annabelle could only stand there and stare at him. His actions were blatantly sexual to her. Yet, as she glanced at the older ladies, they seemed to see nothing amiss.
Mike turned to Mrs. Casey. “They’re delicious, as always.”
Mrs. Casey blushed like a schoolgirl, and gifted him a big smile. “You’re a charmer, Mike Sloan, and that’s a fact.” She turned to Annabelle. “Did you get those new mysteries in yet?”
Annabelle smiled. This was one of the reasons why she loved being a librarian. Interacting with others who loved books and reading as much as she did. There was something extremely satisfying about matching the right book to the right reader. “I put out some new ones this morning, but I kept this one back just for you.” She pulled the latest Janet Evanovich hardcover from under the counter.
Mrs. Casey beamed her a
pproval. “You’re an angel, Annabelle. You just keep that here and we’ll be back in a few minutes after we look at the other new ones.” They nodded at Mike and then hurried off in search of more books.
Annabelle said nothing as she watched them head down an aisle. Mike slid his arms around her from behind and his voice was a soft whisper in her ear. “This isn’t finished.”
She nodded her agreement. It certainly wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.
“Have dinner with me tonight.” His lips teased the outer whorl of her ear, his breath hot on her neck. “Dinner and maybe more. But only if it’s what you want.” He continued to trace the edge of her ear with his lips and his tongue.
“Yes.” She tipped her head to one side to give him better access. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the shivery sensations running through her body for one lingering moment before she reluctantly pulled away.
“We need to discuss the terms of our relationship, if indeed we’re going to have one at all.” She tried for a brisk tone, and knew she had succeeded when she caught a glimpse of irritation in his eyes.
“We already have one and you know it.” Mike reached out for her, but she stepped back out of reach.
“Not here.” She glanced nervously around the library, afraid the women would wander back before she and Mike were finished. “We’ll talk tonight.”
Mike followed her glance and then nodded abruptly. “Tonight. I’ll pick you up at your place at seven.”
He made no move to leave, and she knew he was waiting for her agreement. It was only after she nodded that he turned away. He picked up his toolbox, which she hadn’t noticed sitting by the side of the counter, and strode toward the front door. She watched him leave, unable to tear her gaze from his departing form. The way the man’s butt filled out a pair of jeans should be illegal. At the last second, he glanced over his shoulder. “Your air-conditioning is fixed.” The door closed behind him.
Uncovering Annabelle Page 3
