Page 31 of Honey Bee Library (Sweet Tea and a Southern Gentleman #7)

Like the silence right before a storm, they all stopped talking and peered over at me, intrigued. I gave them my widest smile as I held up the key. “I’m here to let you in, ladies,” I said as I slipped the key into the front door.

The chatter returned, and through the bits and pieces I overheard, they were all trying to figure out who I was and why Isabelle wasn’t there.

Some speculated that I was Henry’s long-lost daughter—I had no idea who this Henry was.

Some thought that I was Darlene’s niece from her first marriage.

Others thought that I was Bailey Ginger, all grown up.

They took their conversation with them as they filed into the library while I held the door open for them. One woman with tightly curled grey hair patted my hand and thanked me. I just smiled and waited for her to enter before I followed after and let the door swing shut behind me.

I wasn’t sure where Isabelle normally hosted book club, but thankfully the ladies knew exactly where to go, so I let them lead the way.

They started gathering chairs into a circle at the far end of the library in front of the large picture windows.

The sky was streaked with pinks and purples now that the sun had dipped below the horizon.

“Here, dear.”

I turned to see the woman with grey curls was holding a up chair.

“Let me take that,” I said as I hurried to grab it from her.

“This is the chair that Isabelle uses when she’s here.”

I nodded as I set it down and then turned to see that the other ladies were now seated on their chairs and had their books resting on their laps.

I scrounged around in my purse for my book.

I’d only read bits and pieces, so I was hoping that the ladies were chatty tonight and weren’t going to rely solely on me to drive the conversation.

I took in a deep breath and let it out slowly as I turned to sit on my chair. I glanced around at the women who seemed content to continue conversing like I wasn’t there.

“Ladies.” When the conversations didn’t stop, I cleared my throat. “Ladies,” I said again, this time with more force. A few women stopped talking and looked in my direction. I gave them a thankful smile as I turned to those who were still chatting.

“We should get started,” I said, raising the book up in front of me and tapping it a few times.

That seemed to do the trick. Everyone was now peering over at me, anticipating my next move. I swallowed, wishing that I had at least read through the questions that Isabelle had sent me.

“Let’s start with, how did you like the book?” I glanced around. “Anyone want to start?”

The sound of a man clearing his throat had everyone turning in his direction.

Confused, I turned, only to have my stomach sink.

Instead of Burt, Jenny’s husband, standing there with her forgotten umbrella—a conversation I’d overheard when I was holding open the door—it was Liam.

And he was grinning ear to ear as he glanced around at the women and then settled his gaze on me.

“I hope I’m not too late,” he said as he dipped his head and stepped closer to the group.

I glared at him. “You are?—”

“You can sit next to me,” rang out like a church choir on Easter Sunday.

Suddenly, these women who took their sweet time crossing the street in the middle of town, were racing around the library to find a free chair. Five miraculously materialized, and everyone waited to see which one Liam would choose—me included.

I raised my eyebrows at him as he glanced from chair to chair.

Whichever he chose, he would crush the hearts of the others.

We watched as he reached out and grabbed the chair nearest him.

There was a collective groan from the other women as Karen’s smile emerged only to have it disappear when Liam lifted the chair and began walking in my direction.

I frowned. What was he doing?

“You’re in for a treat, ladies. I’m actually here to co-host this book club with Sabrina.” He set the chair next to me and proceeded to plop down on it. I stared first at the chair and then at him as he turned, smiled, and then winked at me.

“What are you doing?” I hissed, forcing a smile as I glanced around at the ladies, who looked very intrigued. “Liam is just joking,” I said. “He doesn’t work at the library, and we are not cohosting anything.” I glared at him. “Right?” I said through my clenched teeth.

“That’s not how I remember the conversation with Isabelle going,” he said as he glanced around the room, winking at the ladies.

I tried not to roll my eyes, but it was hard. This man was insufferable.

And that insufferableness only increased with every question I asked. Instead of talking about the actual book, Liam’s answers told me he had no idea what he was talking about. He brought up characters that didn’t exist in the book and places that weren’t even accurate for the setting.

But instead of calling him out, everyone in the group was holding onto his every word. I started to wonder if I’d read the wrong book. When I finally got to the last question, I sighed, ready for this night to be over.

“So what do you guys think? Would you read the next book?” I glanced around, hoping someone else would answer the question first. But just like every question before, everyone was waiting for Liam to speak.

“Well, I already started it. Thought I might impress our fearless leader by being extra prepared.” He hurried to shake his head. “Not that I’m trying to impress anyone.” He glanced over at me and winked. “That would be terribly obvious.”

The women around me giggled in a way that I was certain they hadn’t in a long time. I balked at their reaction. Were they for real? That was the cheesiest line.

I shook my head and decided that this was the perfect place to end the meeting. Thankfully, everyone got distracted when Tabitha informed them she’d brought the snack and then proceeded to open a large rectangular Tupperware container that she’d put underneath her chair.

With everyone preoccupied, I turned my attention to Liam, who was leaning with one arm hanging behind the back of the chair and his legs sprawled out in front of him. He looked at ease, which just irritated me.

“Are you trying to get me fired?” I asked.

Liam flicked his gaze in my direction. “What?”

I sighed as I pinched the bridge of my nose. “You clearly never read the book.”

He chuckled before he shifted his weight and brought his body closer to me. “What makes you say that?”

I frowned. “Because it takes place in 1920.”

His eyebrows went up and he paused before he relaxed back into his previous position. “So I didn’t read that book.” He frowned. “I think I misheard your boss when she told you the title.” He held up a finger. “I did read a book. Do I get credit for that?”

This man was irritating. “What do you want from me?” I asked, my voice low as I smiled at the cluster of women who were whispering and watching us. When Liam didn’t say anything, I glanced over at him.

He was studying me with a darkness to his gaze. “Who says I want something from you?”

I balked. Was he serious? “Then why do you keep showing up at my work?”

He hesitated before he leaned closer to me. “It’s a library . You know, a public building? Are you only allowed to come here once?”

I wasn’t sure if he was trying to flirt with me or if he was just this dense. “Then why are you at a book club for a book you didn’t read? You don’t exactly fit in.”

Liam feigned offense as he glanced around the circle. His expression was smug when it made its way back to me. “I think everyone is happy to see me here.” He lifted his finger in my direction. “It looks like you are the unwanted one.”

“You’re impossible,” I said as I stood up and started to walk away from him. This conversation was going nowhere.

“Wait,” Liam’s voice was hushed yet desperate, and suddenly he grabbed my elbow and I was being pulled behind the nearest bookshelf.

I sputtered and yanked my arm away, but it didn’t matter, we were sufficiently hidden from any prying eyes.

I raised my eyebrows at him as I waited for him to speak. “What do you want?” I asked when it became clear he wasn’t in any hurry to explain himself.

He glanced down at me before he pushed his hand through his hair. “I…”

His voice trailed off, but I wasn’t going to let him off the hook. He got me here, and I wasn’t going to let him leave until he answered my questions.

“I wanted to know if you want to have a cup of coffee with me.” He flicked his gaze down at me for a moment.

Confused, I tried to process his words. Nope, I was still confused. “You want me to have a cup of coffee with you?”

He nodded.

I glanced around at the books that surrounded us. I was waiting for the “ Ha, gotcha ” to come, but it never did. When I glanced back at Liam, he looked…earnest.

I’d get coffee with him, but I wasn’t going to do it for free. I raised my forefinger and brought it up right underneath his nose. “A cup of coffee—if you promise to stop showing up at my work.” I narrowed my eyes.

He raised both hands in surrender. “I promise.”

I held his gaze, drawing out the anticipation before I dropped my hand. “Fine.” There were worse things he could be asking of me.

His grin made the butterflies in my stomach take flight, but I did all that I could to wrestle them back into the box that I’d buried them in.

“Friday night? The diner?” he asked as he extended his hand.

I hesitated but then took it. We shook hands, and I had to almost wrestle my fingers back from his grasp. “Fine,” I said again.

He winked, which induced an eye roll from me. He didn’t seem bothered as he nodded. “Good. I’ll see you then.”