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She stood stunned for a second.

“Your new job. At the library.”

“Ohhh, right,” she said, finally coming to her senses. “Yes. Today is my first day at the library.”

“Well, I’d better let you go, then. We wouldn’t want you to be late.”

“No,” Paige said with an awkward chuckle. “Definitely not.”

They descended to the lobby, stepping into a warm fall day as they exited the apartment building.

“Well, good luck,” Devon said, with another smile that triggered the dimples buried under his carefully trimmed stubble.

“Thanks,” Paige breathed as she shot him a glance, smoothing a lock of hair behind her ear that had escaped her ponytail.

He held her gaze for a moment longer before he spun to head in the opposite direction. As he turned, something red flashed through his eyes. Paige’s smile faded, and a chill ran up her spine as she recalled the red eyes of the beast in her nightmare.

She swallowed hard and pushed the thoughts from her head as she spun on her heel and set off toward the library. On her way, she ducked into Shadow Brew and picked up an English breakfast tea. She sipped at the warm beverage. Despite the extended autumn heat, she enjoyed the comfort it brought her as her nerves set in over her new role.

She blew out a long breath, staring at the orange hand stopping her from crossing the street. “They picked you. You’ll be fine. Just be yourself.”

The person next to her wrinkled his nose and shot her an annoyed look.

“Sorry,” she announced, “I’m starting a new job today, and I’m a little nervous.”

He rolled his eyes, darting across the street between two cars despite the NO WALKING signal.

“Bye!” she called, waving her coffee cup in the air. A bit of tea sloshed out, spilling on her boots. “Oh, darn.”

She flicked the liquid off before she glanced up and found the signal already blinking to indicate the time to cross the street was coming to a close.

“Shoot!” Paige rushed across the street, nearly taken out by a car trying to turn.

As she walked the next block, she pondered her interview, tugging her brows together tightly. How did she land the job given her supposed lack of qualifications? And what if being herself wasn’t enough? What if they hated her klutzy, overzealous personality? What if they fired her on the spot just as they had hired her on the spot?

She shook her head, dismissing the thoughts as she rounded the corner and the impressive building came into view. After draining the last sips of her tea, she tossed the cup in the trash can, donned her ID badge, bounced up the stairs, and pushed through the door.

Olivia’s eyes narrowed at her as she stepped inside. Paige offered her a wide grin and waved.

“Good morning, Olivia!” she called as she headed for the stairs leading to Veronica’s office.

“Just a minute!” Olivia called, darting around the circulation desk.

Paige ground to a halt and swallowed hard as the brunette approached her. “You can’t go up there.”

Paige pressed her lips together as she adjusted her glasses. “I thought we cleared this up yesterday. Look,” she said, dangling the ID badge between her fingers, “I’m legit. ID badge, keycard, and everything!”

“I have to call and tell Ms. Lauren you’re here. You can’t just go up to her office any time you please!”

“Oh,” Paige said, bumping her glasses up on her nose again, “of course, sorry. I just assumed–“

“You know what they say about assumptions,” she said curtly as she spun on a heel and strode back to the circulation desk. “Follow me.”

She snapped her fingers and pointed to the desk.

Paige clutched at her tote straps as she let the bag fall from her shoulder to hang from her fingers. She forced a weak smile onto her face, unable to stop her nose from crinkling. Olivia eyed her, one eyebrow arched as she picked up the receiver of the phone and tapped a few numbers.

The line trilled as Paige waited for the all clear. Her fears of the offer being a mistake flitted through her mind again. The sum of money bounced around, too. It probably had been a mistake.