Page 1 of The Overdue Kiss

Chapter One

Charcoal smoke billows from my bookmobile’s hood as multiple warning symbols flicker on the dashboard. Clenching the wheel in a death grip, I navigate this monstrosity of a bus as close to the side of the mountain as possible without crashing into the jagged boulders.

At least I wasn’t coming from the other direction or I’d be teetering on the mountain’s ledge. And,goodness, it’s a long way down.

A Jeep lays on the horn and swerves around me. I’m taking up most of the lane on this snug road, but there’s nowhere else for me to park.

Before I can switch on my emergency flashers, the engine sputters off on its own like an old man wheezing his last breath. The dashboard blinks dark, and the pungent stench of burnt electronics fills the air.

I’m not a mechanic, but I could take an educated guess that the bus won’t be starting up again without some professional help... which I am nowhere near.

I grumble under my breath.

After my tune-up last week, my cousin Rafe promised me this hunk of junk could make it up the mountain’s incline like a high school track star. Silly me for believing him. It’s what I get for taking the cheap route and playing the family favor card so I could save the library some money.

Agh.Which reminds me that I’ll be required to inform my boss, Sally Anderson, about the breakdown. Not that she’ll be angry. I’m more worried she’ll scrap my bookmobile project if I go over my allotted budget. Ms. Anderson took a chance on my wild idea, which has been three years in the making and is the capstone for my master’s degree. The idea of a partnership between schools and their local libraries by providing them resources they normally wouldn’t have access to—especially the smaller towns nestled in the mountains.

In June, I was granted a trial run, and I drove my bookmobile to lower-income neighborhoods, bringing the library to their front door. Sort of like the ice cream truck, but with books.

It was a smashing success!

So much so, that two months later I’ve been approved to extend my project’s reach to Rocosa, one of Golden’s closer communities in desperate need of an updated public and school library. Even though the quaint town boasts picturesque mountain views, I’ve been dreading the visit. Because along with my outreach project, Ms. Anderson requested I investigate the potential closure of their underused library, which is currently gobbling up our precious funds.

While it’s a compliment that I’ve earned her trust to be chosen, it’s the opposite reason why I got into this profession. An Outreach Librarian is supposed to bring the resources to people who need them most... not take them away.

With a groan, I rub my temple, the faint tinge of a headache blooming.

No, I can’t do it.I refuse to allow another library to disappear if I can help it. There has to be another way—a loophole I can find. I’ll just have to figure it out before I leave Rocosa.

Until then, I’ll keep the possibility of the closure to myself.

The bus hisses and gurgles up another dark plume of smoke that matches my mood.

It’s fine, I remind myself.This will only put me behind schedule but isn’t the end of the world.My shaking fingers glide over the smooth surface of my cross necklace, the motion soothing as I realize how much worse it could have been. At least I’m in one piece up here and didn’t lose control of my brakes or something.

I pull out my cell and hit the contact for my cousin Marco, who owns a tow truck. At least, I think he does. If not, he would know a cousin who does. Perks of a big family—there is always someone who can help me.

My phone beeps and disconnects. I hit the button again with the same result. This can’t be happening. I slam my palm on the wheel as the No Signal symbol mocks me.

It’s fine, I repeat as I angrily unbuckle my seatbelt and let it whip back behind me. Venturing outside, I press close to the bus, squeezing between it and the rock face, shimmying through until I’m at the rear of the bus.

A car whips by, cruising at an obnoxious speed past me. Not a second later, another one zips around the blind curve and zooms by just as fast.

“¡Ay, caray!” I shriek, molding myself to the bus’s rear bumper.

As the next one flies by, I frantically wave my arms, only to be disappointed when it leaves me coughing in its dust. It’s impossible to flag anyone down at these speeds.

Despite my zealous attempts, nobody stops, and the time between each passing vehicle gets longer and longer. The sun starts to set, painting orange and pink streaks in the sky. Normally I would lean back and marvel at God’s artistry, but it only increases my anxiety. In about thirty minutes, I’ll be stranded in the dark.

Thankfully, I had the forethought to move my emergency kit from the back of my car to the bookmobile. I strike the end of my flare with a little extra force, thinking of the ways I’ll make Rafe pay for this.

Deep rumbles from a motorcycle ricochet off the mountain, signaling someone’s approach. I don’t think but just leap into action, waving my flare like a maniac and screaming for the rider to stop.

A sleek black bike drives around the bend, hugging the tight curves of the road. For a moment, I’m worried he won’t stop, but his head snaps up, and the bike slows as he pulls up behind me.

I toss the flare on the ground, and relief floods through me. My heart thumps wildly in my chest, and I scrub a hand down my face.

He cuts off the engine and drops the kickstand.

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