Scored(2)

“Thank you, Barney the Magnificent.” I gesture to him. “Wasn’t he amazing, y’all?” I start clapping. The kids copy me almost immediately, but it’s not forced. This kind of joy can’t be forced. Barney is a natural, which makes my job of subbing for Layton a heck of a lot easier.

I nod at the moms, dads, and nannies sitting along the perimeter of the ginormous rug Layton purchased for the kids’ area. They start to gather their children, the chatter in the room rising to almost normal levels.

“Be sure to pick up a signed copy of Magic Me before you leave, compliments of the library. Barney the Magnificent will be around for pictures and personalization as well. Next Thursday, we’ll have Leonardo the Lizard Charmer and his Komodo dragons, Pete and Jane,” I call out.

A round of oohs and ahs from the crowd let me know that Layton has picked another winner. She’s pretty good at that.

“You were a great assistant,” Barney says, his thin lips curving into a smile. “Reminded me of my wife. God rest her soul.”

“Oh?” I get misty-eyed every dang time Barney mentions his late wife. It’s the glow that appears on his face, the emotions that shine in his eyes, and the grin he can’t keep off his lips. That’s the kind of love I want—one that lasts beyond the grave.

I really need to stop reading paranormal romance novels. It won’t happen, of course, but I should probably stop wishing for love beyond the grave.

“You were ready to strangle me, but you didn’t let the kids know. That takes a lot of restraint, young lady.” His faded blue eyes twinkle.

My cheeks flush. “Actually, it wasn’t you I wanted to bodily harm. It was Layton.”

He chuckles and pats my shoulder. “Still proud of you.”

I preen at his compliment. “Thank you.” I wave at the line forming in front of the table we had set up for him. “Go on. Your adoring fans await!”

He touches the brim of his top hat and shuffles off in their direction. I turn back to the children’s area and start to clean up the glittery star stickers left behind from where the kids were pulling them off their shirts and affixing them to their faces.

I should have waited until the end to give them out, but Layton didn’t specify when.

A few stick to my fingers, and I try to shake them off into the trash can. A couple fall straight in while the others simply disappear. Maybe some of Barney’s magic rubbed off on me.

“Pesto Chicken Pizza,” I whisper, then snort a little when the missing stickers don’t appear. This also might be why I can’t find a man to seriously date. Generally, normal people don’t laugh at their own jokes.

“Want some help?”

“No, thank you,” I automatically reply before looking up and nearly swallowing my tongue at the sight of sex on a stick walking toward me. Tousled, light brown hair, sexy green eyes, full lips, and shoulders that go on for days. His shirtsleeves are rolled up to reveal my one true weakness… forearms. The kind that are muscular, tan, and all bunched up with those veins…

Ahem.

All in all, the guy is built like a brick house.

As he stops in front of me, the scent of his cologne hits and sweet baby Jesus, it’s made of manly things and evergreen… and something so mouthwatering that I want to climb him.

Lick his skin.

Taste his lips.

Down, girl. I’m in public, and more likely than not, he’s already got someone playing with his sexy stick every night.

Lucky woman.

His vibrant eyes drift down to my chest, staying there far longer than necessary to let me know he digs what he sees. It turns him into a Neanderthal.

Ugh. Why do the pretty ones always have to be major douches?

Fully recovered from my lapse of judgment when it comes to seriously attractive men, I cross my arms and say, “I can take care of this.”

An amused smile touches his lips before his gaze returns to my face. “I’m wondering if you could help me…” His gaze dips again to my boobs. Okay, so I do have a name tag on, but seriously… “Paige.”

My brows lift. “Are you ready to check out some books?”

“Ah, no.” His lips twitch. “I’m here for something else entirely.”

I bet you are, Mr. Boob Ogler. “The gaming section is to your right, toward the back. You can check out two at a time, for two weeks. Nolan will help you. He’s at the information desk.” Yes, it’s a little bitchy of me and normally, I’m not judgmental at all. I’m usually happy to see everyone in our library, checking out whatever the heck they want because it means we have patrons.

I love my job.

I adore people.

But this guy is hitting all the wrong buttons.

His gaze drops for a fourth time.

Unable to take it a second longer, I blurt, “Why do you keep looking at my boobs? I can see you staring at them. You’re not even trying to hide it.”

He bites down a little on his bottom lip, worrying it. “You have stickers on your…” He points at my chest and I look down, letting my arms fall to my sides. “There and there.”

My jaw almost drops to the floor. Sure enough, there are two pink glittery stars on my chest, each one perfectly placed.

An awkward laugh bubbles up and I peel them off, then check for more on my skirt. All I need is a clit sticker.