The next night, Rachel walked into the double doors of the library greeted with the smell of wood and old books.

Scott peeked from behind the computer at the front counter. “Rachel?”

She walked to the counter, grinning. “Surprised you?”

“Yeah.” His face brightened. “We closed at nine.”

She glanced at his nametag. “You want me to go?”

“No.” He leaned forward on his elbows. “I was adding some of the new arrivals into the computer so I’ll be here a while. What are you doing here?”

“I love books too, remember?” She laid her purse on the counter. “Plus, I was curious how you spent your time when you weren’t rescuing women in the park.”

He sat, sticking out his lips. “You send a lot of mixed signals, Rachel.”

“Do I?”

“Yeah.” He typed, while reading off a handwritten list of book titles. “When we met you pushed me away. Then, when I went to your house, you flirted with me.”

She leaned against the counter.

He looked at her. “Then you pushed me away again yet came to my place last night.”

She straightened her mouth.

“You pushed me away again last night and now you’re here. What’s going on?”

“After last night you don’t know what I want?”

He slid his chair from the desk. “How about you tell me instead of me having to guess?”

“I meant what I said last night, Scott. I like you, and I need a friend.” She tugged on her giant hoop earring. “I don’t know what else to say.”

“What if I said I wanted to be your boyfriend?” He crossed his arms. “Then what?”

She stepped back, holding on to the counter.

He touched her hand, rekindling that arousal she felt last night. “What do I have to do for you to let me in? You’re dying to tell me what’s going on.”

“I can’t.”

He let go of her hand and continued typing. “Any other incidents happen?”

“I don’t wanna talk about that, please. How was your day?”

“Okay.” He yawned. “Been tired because I was out late. A friend of mine went to the hospital.”

“I’m sorry.”

“We thought he had a heart attack.”

“Is he okay?”

He nodded. “He’s already on medicine for heart disease so the doctor put him on more meds.”

“I’m glad your friend is all right.”

“He’s like an uncle.” He stopped typing. “He was a friend of my father’s.”

She nodded, smiling. “I still don’t believe you.”

“About what?”

“Knowing where every book is in here by memory.” She peeked at the computer. “That’s not possible.”

“It’s true.” He held a sneaky grin. “Care to challenge me?”

“Sure.”

“Let’s make a game out of it.” He licked his lips. “You name some books and I guess where they are.”

“Okay.”

“And every time I’m right, I get a kiss.”

Her toes curled, and she got goose bumps. “There’s gotta be a million books in here. It’s impossible to know where every book is by heart.”

He walked from behind the counter. “Test me.”

“Okay.”

He lifted his finger. “I get a kiss every time I’m right.”

She rubbed her hands together. “Guess you won’t be getting a kiss.”

“We’ll see about that. Name a book.”

“Um.” She put her hands behind her back, swaying. “Let me think of a good one. Anna Karenina.”

“Easy. J-one.”

“J-one?”

He waved his hand, signaling for her to lead the way. “J-one.”

Rachel started on her mission, zipping through the tall, regal wooden bookshelves until she came to the first row in the J section. “No way.” She yanked Anna Karenina from the shelf.

Scott waltzed into the aisle. “Looks like you found it.”

“How the hell did you do that?” She looked over the worn hardcover.

“Doesn’t matter how I did it.” He approached, puckering his lips. “As I recall, I get a kiss.”

Rachel’s heart pounded as she struggled to relax for Scott to claim his reward.

“Relax.” He caressed her hand as the delicate kiss made her clit throb.

She unlatched her mouth from his, exhaling from the pit of her gut.

“That was better than last night.” He tugged on his lip. “I didn’t think that was possible.”

She broke eye contact and put the book back on the shelf.

“Wanna try again?”

Course she did. Anything and everything for him to kiss her again.

She studied another book on the shelf.

“Rachel?” He touched the back of her neck. “Name another book.”

“The Monk by Matthew Lewis.”

His eyebrows rose as if impressed. “You’ve read The Monk?”

“I’m still not convinced that you know where every book is in the library. I say the first time was luck.”

“Ah.” He rocked on his heels. “I don’t mind convincing you if it means more kisses.”

She turned away, hiding her grin.

He spoke into her ear, his breath warming her lobe. “R-five.”

She waltzed past him with her head in the air, determined to prove him wrong.

He laughed, following her to the R section. “This is so much fun.”

“Don’t gloat.” She searched the shelves. “I’m gonna win this one.” She got on her tiptoes to reach R-five and found The Monk sitting right where Scott said. “Uh-uh.” She snatched the book. “There’s no damn way.”

“Way.” Scott laughed, clapping. “I won again.”

“Scott, this is impossible.” She did a double take. “No one can have a memory like this.”

He pointed to his temple. “I do.”

“No, you’re tricking me somehow.”

“How?”

“You’re using some device.”

“Device?” He guffawed. “What device would I be using?”

“Your phone?” She glanced at his pocket. “Something.”

“The only device I’m using is my mind.” He took the book from her and put it back in place. “You’re losing so take it like a woman.”

“I don’t believe this is genuine. There’s just no way you can…”

He gripped her wrists, lowered her arms and planted a juicy kiss on her open lips.