Page 67 of Bookworm
I lifted the copy ofPride and Prejudiceinto the air. “This is the only book I’ve personally restored for resale. And it’s already sold to you. Or rather, to Dartmouth.”
“Well, then, Ms. Meyer. I suggest you find a couple more rare books to work on before this weekend, hm?”
With a pointed bounce of his brows, he turned and walked away, leaving me standing there in the library, heart pounding and future full of possibilities.
Chapter Twenty
As I turned the corner down the hall, I walked right into someone in front of me.
“Oh!” I cried and looked up to find I had run flush into Jasmine.
With an oomph, she steadied herself faster than I had, almost like she’d seen me coming and was ready for the blow.
More than I could say for myself.
Tall, willowy Jasmine wasn’t as delicate as I’d assumed. Beneath those nylons and stiletto heels was pure muscle.
I tipped backwards. But with the book still clutched in my arms, I couldn’t catch myself. Instead, I landed hard on my ass. But at least the copy ofPride and Prejudicewas okay.
“Harper!” Jasmine cried and bent to help me to my feet. “Are you okay?”
I glanced at Adam’s closed office door just a few steps behind her where it appeared she’d just come out of.
The question:What are you doing here? was on the tip of my tongue, but that would have been stupid, even for me. She was a law professor and she had every reason to be walking these halls. She even had every right to visit Adam in his office.
But I didn’t have to like it.
With a sigh, I brushed the dust off myself. “I’m okay, except for my pride. Do you have a Voo-doo doll of me or something?” I asked. “Is that why embarrassing things always seem to happen around you?”
Jasmine gave a lighthearted chuckle. “I can’t say I do. Although, I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought of getting one.”
I was hearing things, right? Because no self-respecting woman wouldactuallysay that to another woman, right? I stood there, mouth gaping open, unsure of how to respond.
Jasmine cringed, her face with its beautiful olive complexion heating to Scarlet. “I don't know why I said that. I'm sorry.”
I shook my head, not because I was saying no to anything, but because I just needed a second to clear my thoughts.
“I saw you the other night,” I said. “With Adam’s dad.”
The color drained from her cheeks. If I wasn’t mistaken, her expression looked panicked. “It isn’t what you think?—”
“How do you know what I think?”
“I just, I know how it probably looked. And what I would think if I were you. But Elijah wanted to talk?—”
“Yeah. He told me the other night. He wants you as his future daughter-in-law.”
She snorted. “That’s what he told you?”
I didn’t like her tone. Not one bit. “Yeah… is that not what he talked to you about?”
“Elijah’s made it really clear that he wants me… but not as a daughter.”
I gasped. Actually gasped. “Jasmine, you have to tell Adam.”
She shook her head. “I can’t. I can’t tell him. And you can’t either. What if he blames me? Or doesn’t believe me?”
“Come on, this is Adam we’re talking about. He would never blame you. Besides, I already told him I saw you and Elijah together.”
