Page 78 of Professional Consult

Lexi rolls her eyes and takes a small step closer.

I swallow hard, clearing the knot from my throat. “I don’t know why you’re here, but damn, it’s good to see you.”

“I’m here for you, silly.”

“You’re acting that bad?”

“There is no acting. Not anymore.”

I lift my brow. “Was it bad enough to get you fired?”

She wets her lips with that sharp little tongue of hers. “I took some risks, did some negotiating, made amends with a past foe, and here I am, ready for you. Oh, and I’m celebrating the announcement of the new library being built next to the elementary school.”

My brow lifts. “You’re serious?”

“You thought I’d forget that?” She scowls. “Of course it’s getting built. What do you think I am? A Scrooge? It’s not being called The Lexi Dash Library, though.”

“Then what’s the name?”

“Luke’s Book Playground. Inside, it’s going to have bookshelves built into actual playground equipment. The librarians are going to hate it, but it should be a hit with the kids.”

I shake my head slowly. “You are…unreal.”

“I have to have at least one place that will carry all the books I plan on writing.”

“I tell you what, I will read every single one of them to the kids at school.”

A surprised look washes over her face. “So…you’re going to read them all the smutty romance novels I put out.”

“Oh, um…sothat’syour genre.”

“Do you have a problem with that? Because I was hoping you’d provide me with good source material.” She winks.

“Uh, maybe don’t say that in front of the townsfolk,” I say as Barb doubles over in laughter.

“Why don’t we go outside? For privacy.”

I extend my hand, and she slips hers into mine, our palms cementing together.

In an instant, I know I never want to let her go. Not again. I don’t know if I can make it work with her, but I have to try. I’ll die without this woman.

CHAPTER19

LUKE

We walk out onto the patio and sit at a picnic table.

I look around in disbelief. “I can’t believe you guys trashed the place.”

“We had to make it believable that Bernard was getting some.”

“Who the hell thought up that story?”

“Alvin.”

I shake my head, chuckling. “Of course he did.”

“How have you been?”