Chapter 3

Isat at my desk in the library, meticulously cataloging the new arrivals, but my mind kept drifting back to the mysterious biker who had captured my attention earlier that day. The sight of him striding confidently into the library had left me breathless.

The guy knew he shook me up and enjoyed it. I was sure he probably got that same reaction from all the women he looked at with those eyes that were so hard to read. I couldn't say if he wanted to snarl at me or kiss me.

Maybe that was just wishful thinking. A man like him did not want to kiss a woman like me. He probably dated edgy women with black hair and smokey eye makeup who wore leather and showed off their beautiful bodies.

That was not me.

But I bet I knew someone that would be exactly his type—my roommate Rylee. She was the rebel. She would be the kind of woman the dude would like. Her crazy style and willingness to buck tradition would probably be just his thing.

The thought bothered me, even though I wasn't totally sure why. I didn't know the guy or even like him. I supposed it just sucked always being the one that was overlooked when I was surrounded by all my beautiful friends. I loved them, but why did they have to be so gorgeous?

After the crappy day at the library, a night to unwind with my girls was just what I needed. I made my way to the restaurant that was a few blocks from the library. It was one of our favorite places to go to get dinner and drinks. Now that we all weren't still living in the same house, sometimes meeting at a restaurant was easier.

My friends were already waiting for me when I walked in. Rylee, Karen, Lauren, and Jenny were gathered around a table with drinks already in front of them. Their laughter filled the air, and for a moment, all the worries and frustrations melted away.

Rylee smiled when she saw me. "Mary Ellen."

"Hi, guys," I said and took the last remaining seat at the table. "Lauren! You look amazing!"

Lauren had just returned from a trip to Fiji with Jameson. Her glowing tan and radiant smile were evidence of a wonderful time. I couldn't help but feel a pang of envy. Oh, how I wished I could spend two weeks reading on a beach somewhere, far away from the chaos of my life.

"We ordered you a strawberry margarita," Karen said.

"This is why I love you," I said, sitting down. "Tell us all about your trip, Lauren. I don't care if you already told them. I didn't get to hear about it."

Lauren launched into an animated retelling of her adventures in Fiji. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she told us all about the exhilarating activities and breathtaking sights she had experienced. We were all caught up in her tales of snorkeling in crystal-clear waters and hiking through lush rainforests. She was really making me jealous. I wanted a beach trip.

"How is the wedding planning going?" Lauren asked Jenny. "I feel like I'm way out of the loop."

Jenny was going to be marrying Ward soon. Ever since Ward proposed back in June, we'd all been excited about the big day. Sunny, his adorable daughter, was thrilled with the thought of being a flower girl. She was excited to have a mom and hopefully a baby sister.

"I've finally made some decisions about table settings and floral arrangements," Jenny said. "Now there's only one thing left on my to-do list—picking out bridesmaid dresses."

We all smiled and clapped at the thought. "What colors do you have in mind?" I asked.

"I'm not sure," she said. "I was hoping you were all free to go shopping next weekend. We can narrow it down then."

"I'd love to," Rylee exclaimed.

"Count me in," Karen chimed in, raising her margarita glass high.

Lauren gave a slow nod, making a point to swallow her sip before answering. "I'm game."

"What colors are you thinking about?" I asked her.

She wrinkled her nose as she thought. "I don't know. I was thinking pastels, but I was also thinking about something classy and elegant.

"Like muted jewel tones," Karen suggested, swirling her margarita thoughtfully. "Emerald greens, sapphire blues."

"I do like the sound of that," Jenny agreed. "It would contrast nicely with the venue's white and gold accents."

"Or maybe even some soft blush or champagne tones," Lauren added. "It could really add the perfect amount of femininity and elegance."

Jenny's face lit up at that idea. "That sounds promising. I think you guys are onto something. But of course, we'll try a variety and see what works best."

"Any updates on the whole library situation?" Rylee asked.

I sighed heavily, the weight of the world settling back onto my shoulders. "Yes. Some woman delivered the blueprints. It's a nasty, massive apartment building with all the bells and whistles. It's terrible. She was a nasty woman as well. She said my library smelled like books."

Rylee laughed. "How weird."

"That's what I said," I muttered. "When I asked her questions, she told me it was need to know and I wasn't included in that group."

"She sounds like a shark," Karen said.

"You have no idea," I replied, shaking my head. "She looked like she was going into court or something, all decked out in heels and a short skirt. I disliked her the moment I laid eyes on her. Is that terrible? I know I shouldn't judge anyone, but I really didn't like that woman."

"You have the right not to like her," Lauren said.

"Maybe she was just doing her job," Jenny offered.

I shook my head. "I doubt it. She seemed almost proud to be trampling over my dreams." I could still see her smug smile, hear her condescending tone.

"Is there a way you can fight this?" Lauren asked, her brow furrowing with concern. "You know we all love the library you've put so much work into."

"I don't know," I sighed. "It's me against Goliath. I know the library is in need of updating. It's not pretty, but it could be."

"You should start a Facebook page," Karen said.

"For what?" I asked.

"To save the library," she replied. "A grassroots movement."

"Maybe," I said. "I'm just not sure it's something that will make a difference."

"But it might," Jenny said.

"I don't know. I'll think about it." I took another drink. "You should have seen the guy that came in after she left."

"Another lawyer?"

I laughed. "The very opposite. He walked in and I thought he was going to hold me up."

"You thought someone was going to hold up the library?" Rylee laughed.

"I didn't know! He was scary looking."

"How?" Rylee asked. "How was he scary looking?"

"He just had this look," I said. "And he was wearing a leather jacket. I couldn't see all the tattoos, but I'm guessing there were a lot. I saw a little bit of one on his chest. He was rough looking."

"A biker?" Karen asked, her eyes wide.

"I guess. I don't know. It was just a very strange day." I finished my drink and thought about the man that had shaken up my world.

"What did he want?" Lauren asked.

I shrugged. "He was just reading. Can you believe it?"

"In a library? Yes." Rylee laughed. "You make it sound like that's strange."

"I'm judging yet another book by its cover," I sighed. "It was just weird. What if he was casing the joint?"

"Why would he be casing a library?" Karen asked, trying to hold back a laugh.

"I don't know!" I threw up my hands in exasperation. "Maybe he was a book thief! Or a crazed bibliophile!"

They all laughed. I knew how silly I sounded.

"Or maybe he was just a man, reading a book," Jenny proposed gently.

"Perhaps," I admitted reluctantly, casting my gaze downward to my empty glass. The day had been long and exhausting. The library mattered to me more than anything else in the world, and to see it under threat was distressing.

"How old was this guy?" Rylee asked.

I shrugged. "I don't know, maybe late twenties, early thirties."

"He sounds hot." Rylee fanned herself dramatically.

Heat rose to my cheeks as I remembered the man's striking appearance. "He was," I admitted. And then I thought about it. "But it was like the don't-touch-or-you'll-get-burned sort of hot."

The girls burst into laughter at my words, their teasing remarks only serving to deepen my embarrassment. But deep down, I knew the man, whoever he was, was trouble. Yes, he was attractive and intriguing, but I'd learned the hard way that looks could be deceiving. And I had no intention of getting caught up in that kind of drama.

"If he comes in again, get his number," Rylee teased. "If you don't want to take him for a spin, I might."

"Uh uh." Jenny shook her head. "Mary Ellen saw him first. Remember the rules. We don't snatch men from each other."

"I didn't see him first," I said. "He's not mine."

"If he comes back, you'll know he's interested," Karen said.

I gave an unladylike snort. "Yeah, I don't think so. Trust me when I say I could not be more not his type. Rylee is his type."

"Hey, I would be happy to give you some fashion tips," Rylee offered. "You can borrow my leather pants."

That made me laugh. "Yeah, that is not going to happen."

The girls continued to tease and joke about the mysterious man in the leather jacket, but my mind kept drifting back to him. There was something about his intense gaze and the way he seemed to be lost in his book, completely absorbed in another world. I couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to him than met the eye.

As we chatted and laughed, I let myself imagine me actually talking to him. Maybe I could have an actual conversation with him. He did check out a book and would need to bring it back. That could be an opportunity to talk to him.

But what would I possibly say? Why bother? Like he would be interested in me. Besides, that was not the kind of man I was looking for. I needed an intellectual. Someone who would talk books and want to go to a movie that wasn't based on killing or sex. I doubted I had anything in common with that leather-clad biker dude.

"What are you thinking about?" Rylee asked.

"Nothing."

But deep down, I couldn't shake the memory of the mysterious man. Restlessness stirred within me. I found myself wondering about the title of the book he had chosen, about the words that had captivated him in that moment. He'd been deep into it.

I shook myself, dismissing the thoughts from my head.