Page 70 of The Overdue Kiss

“Des…” I grumble half-heartedly.

He spins me in the chair to face him, trapping me in place. Instantly, I’m fully aware of how close he is leaning over me, smelling of fresh soap and leather. My heart thumps wildly in my chest.

“I could have woken you up like how I wanted to. You know, the way they do in the storybooks.”

My lips part on a sigh at the thought. Now that he said it, it’s all I can think about, my lips tingling from his imaginary kisses.

With a smirk, he returns to his stack of paperbacks like nothing happened and scans the top book into the computer. His movements are so precise, hypnotic even, that I find myself resting my chin on my hand and admiring the strain of his shirt over his biceps as he works.

Um, what am I supposed to be working on?

“Ogling me again, Ms. Santos?” Des accuses and meets my gaze, his silver eyes darkening by the second. “What am I going to do with you?”

Blushing, I open my mouth to respond, but a couple of Des’s students enter, laughing and joking with each other. We tear our gazes away from each other and greet them.

“Mr. B, we’re here,” says one with a hoodie.

“You remember Ms. Santos from the bookmobile? This is Robbie, Evan, and Rianna. I promised the class extra credit if they came and helped today.”

“Oh, wonderful. I know there’s something around here I can find for you to do.”

Even more students show up in the next hour, and I put them to work stacking books, moving shelves, and helping Lewis rip up carpet. Poor Reese and Julia drew the short straw and are stripping the yellowed wallpaper in the upstairs bathroom.

Rianna holds my beloved clipboard, adding notes as I sort through the chapter books we have on hand.

“I think we might need at least fifty children’s books or more if we can afford them. Most of these are outdated or falling apart.”

“Do you think we could sell the vintage ones?” Robbie asks. “Aren’t old books, like, worth millions?”

“Not always.” I laugh, but really he’s on to something. “But maybe you could sort through the donation stack? If it’s dated before 1960, put it on this table.”

“Real deal,” he says and sits down to get started.

“Think you might find something useful in that dust pile?” Mr. Sherman asks, pushing up his spectacles.

“You would know better than I would.”

“I’m not so sure of that. With all the changes happening, I feel like I belong in that pile too. Out with the old and in with the new, as they say.”

“Oh, are you replacing Mr. Sherman?” Rianna cuts in, glancing between us.

I blink... having not considered that option before.

“No, of course not,” I quickly reply. “This library is his family’s legacy.”

Mr. Sherman places a callused hand on my shoulder. “That’s the thing about legacies, they are meant to be passed on.”

The door jingles as it opens, and Cai strolls in with two women. More bikers based on the girls’ jackets.

Des waves them over for a quick introduction. “Maya, this is Chantelle and Clover.”

“Oh, from your biker?—‍”

“Group,” he finishes for me and pokes my side playfully.

The one with the long dark hair seems familiar, grinning at me in a knowing way like I should know her. It only takes a second before I gasp and step back in shock.

“Y-you’re—you’re,” I bumble. Too many emotions rush through me that I seem to only be able to say the same word on repeat.

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