Page 57 of Swan

“I remember Dad bringing me here when it was story time. But you do a better job than the lady who used to,” Aeila said after she’d nodded to my question.

Snorting, I told her, “It’s not the first time I’ve heard that.” Mildred retired last year, and she’d been a hard woman. There hadn’t been as many children in for reading as there were now.

“Excuse me, Swan?”

I turned to Ryan, who was Danny’s father. “What can I help you with?” Danny was by the touch and feel section near us.

“Danny wanted more dinosaur books. Can you point me in the right direction?”

“Of course.” I pointed to the left. “Try the second row over there.”

“Thanks. Yeah, ah, he has some at home. I mean my ex-wife’s house, but not as many at mine.” He nodded to himself. Why was he telling me this? “I just bought a place. A three-bedroom house out north. Danny loves it. Has a big backyard where I can barbeque.”

I hummed. “It’s, um, good to have your own space.” I still lived at home at twenty-four, and I was in no hurry to move out. It was safe and stable and allowed me to save.

“It is.” He nodded. My stomach twisted from the way his gaze ran over me. “You should drop?—”

“Birdy,” Drake called. When I faced him, he said, “We have to go. I’ll see you later, yeah?”

I will?

“Um, yeah?”

His lips twitched as he winked.

“Bye, Swan,” Aeila called.

“See you.” I waved and turned back to Ryan. Only he was still looking over my shoulder and had paled a little. “What were you saying?” I asked, praying it hadn’t been what I thought it was.

Ryan shook his head. “Nothing. I better get Danny those books.” Then he walked off.

Well, thank God for that.

He hadn’t been the first father to hint at a date. I was flattered by the attention. I didn’t really understand it, but it was nice to know some guys found me appealing.

However, there was no one that could gain my interest.

Not back before Lockland, but especially not now.

What about Drake?

I bit my bottom lip and shook my head at that quick thought.

He wasn’t an option—no matter how many times butterflies erupted and tried to escape when he was near.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Instead of heading home right after work like usual, I headed to the mall since it was the only one with late-night shopping.

I hadn’t been in one since before Lockland, but since I needed a few things, I wanted to try.

The thought of walking into one, though, made my throat close up and heart pound to a point that I worried I’d black out.

My reaction stemmed from the whole town knowing what happened in that restaurant. News of a famous singer’s death—I swallowed hard and closed my eyes—had spread like wildfire, making international headlines.

The thought of going where I could be talked about and stared at made my skin crawl.

It’d been another reason why I didn’t venture anywhere else other than home or the library. Both places had been guarded—home with Dad and work with security—and anyone, reporters included, who tried to approach me for my side of the story was quickly sent away. Talon had offered for me to have my own protection with the brothers of the club, but I hadn’t wanted to make things any harder. I didn’t want to take them from their own work to babysit me.

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