Page 23 of Lessons in Heartbreak

“Five minutes,” I told him. “You have me for five minutes, and then I need to get back to work.”

“No, she doesn’t. Her schedule’s wide open,” Lauren called out. Kenny’s eyes widened. Someone from the other side of the library shushed her.

“See, now that’s helpful,” Griffin pointed out. “Thank you ...”

“Lauren,” she supplied graciously.

I rolled my eyes at the simpering smile on her face. Kenny looked like he was gonna pass out.

Griffin smiled oh so charmingly. “Lauren. You are a gem.” Then he locked his gaze on mine and spread his arm out. “After you. I am your humble student, Miss Tate.”

I was definitely going to punch him before this was over.

Chapter SixRuby

Trying to follow him was astronomically unfair. His legs were twice as long as mine, and I huffed loudly as I trotted off to where he’d disappeared down one of the nonfiction aisles. Lauren let out a satisfied sigh as I started walking, and I covertly flipped her my middle finger because there were no other patrons in my sight line.

The sound of her laugh was the last thing I heard before I caught up with Griffin, standing in the middle of the aisle, his head tilted to the side as he studied the spines in front of him.

“Ooh, not sure this is the right place for me.”

“No, it wouldn’t be.”

“Should we go one aisle over?” He tapped his finger on a book. “Never mind. I think I need this one too.”

When he pulled it from the shelf, I sighed quietly through my nose, just barely holding back the eye roll that threatened.

“The Art of Seduction,” he read quietly, gaze narrowed thoughtfully as he read the back cover. “‘Twenty-four maneuvers will guide readers through the seduction process, providing cunning, amoral instructions for and analysis of this fascinating, all-pervasive form of power.’” He whistled under his breath. “Yowza. And you keep this baby out for anyone to pick up? Seems dangerous.”

I snatched the book out of his hand, just like I had the other, and tucked it back into its place, my cheeks flaming. “What do you want? I know you’re not here for books.”

“Speak for yourself,” he murmured, leaning closer to me to grab the book back and tuck it underneath his arm. His arm brushed against mine, and the heat of his bicep seared through my shirt. The rolling muscle was the size of a python, for crying out loud.

I dug deep, letting out a slow, measured exhale.

By the time I opened my eyes, he was studying my face in a way that made my belly swoop weightlessly.

“No,” I said firmly.

Griffin blinked. “What? I didn’t say anything.”

“You’re looking at me funny.”

“Are you always so prickly when a man tries to converse with you?”

“Yes,” I answered in a grim tone.

“Ah. Hence the escort.”

I huffed, trying to move past him, but he easily sidestepped, blocking my path from the aisle. It was quite irritating how I had to crane my neck to look up at him.

Griffin clicked his tongue. “See, nowyou’relooking atmefunny.”

There was a moment where I considered lying, but honestly, my filter was just gone with how he loomed over me.

“It’s annoying how tall you are,” I told him.

“People have found me annoying for much less than that, so I can understand. Besides, you’re pocket-size. It’s cute.” Then he patted the top of my head. Like I was a child.

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