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“Such as?” I press.

“Leave it to me.” He bops me on the nose lightly with his finger. “Let’s just stay calm, at least until we get hungry.”

I swipe him on the arm in jest. “Not funny, Cole. We could starve down here.”

“No way. I’ll keep you warm, as well as fed.”

“Oh, yeah, how and with what?”

He wiggles his eyebrows, which earns him another swipe on the arm. “I see you’re already resorting to violence,Shorty.”

“I would never.” I bat my eyelids. “But you didn’t answer the question.”

“I’m sure if you feel around, there’s something you can eat.”

I can’t help but giggle. “Is your mind always running rampant?”

“Not always. Sometimes I’m asleep.”

“Cole!”

He laughs cheekily, that boyish grin lighting up his face. “But it’s always running rampant around you, I can’t help it.”

“This quiet little librarian?”

“Yup.” Then he squeezes me around the middle and lowers his mouth to my ear. “And I hate to break it to you, Ains, but you ain’t that quiet.”

My hands fly to my face in embarrassment. I can feel the heat of my cheeks that I can never keep under control around him. “You!”

“Hey, I dig it. It’s never felt this good.”

My heart literally flutters at his words. “To hear you say that feels like a dream.”

“It’s no dream, baby. This is very real. I didn’t think I was looking for a girlfr?—”

“Girlfriend?” I finish for him.

“Why not?” He shrugs. “I like it. I wanna be your boyfriend. Plus, we already said I love you. Can’t take that back now.” He gives me a lopsided grin.

“That we did.”

“And we will have that second date as soon as we’re not snowed under.”

“Did your friends say anything tonight?” I ask curiously. “I’m sure Travis knows something.”

“I didn’t confirm or deny anything until I talked to you first. I just said we were getting to know each other, and Trav was most definitely not surprised. Rich was a little shocked.”

“What did he say?”

He pauses, and that only makes me encourage him to spill.

“Tell me,” I urge.

He pops a shoulder. “He said he didn’t know you were my type.”

I press my lips together. This has always been a fear of mine from the get go. That someone prettier, bustier, and just better in general might come along. Guys like Cole don’t usually go for gals like me; good little librarians that never do anything wrong. “What did you say?” I dare ask.

He wastes no time in continuing, “I said I didn’t have a type, words to that effect. Then Justin said it was pretty hot, the whole librarian thing, and the fact you’re clearly gorgeous. I told him if he said any more, I’d have to rearrange his face.”