Chapter 73

The week had been long, and now that Sunny was back home with Jenny and Ward, it was time to clean the house and get back to the land of adulting. I had done the cleaning and now it was time to hunt for a job. It wasn't something I wanted to do, but I had to.

I carried my cup of tea to the table and opened my laptop to begin my search for a job that would be satisfying and fun. I pulled up one site and searched for a librarian job. As expected, there were zero postings for librarian positions. It was a disappointing dose of reality. I opened another job site and went through the same process.

"Come on," I groaned.

With a frustrated sigh, I scrolled through the endless assortment of unrelated job opportunities. It felt like I was facing an uphill battle with no end in sight. It seemed that no matter how hard I searched, I couldn't find a path forward that aligned with my passion for books and literature. I didn't know what job I was looking for, but I knew what I wasn't looking for.

I had to find some kind of job. It had been almost a month. Sunny had been right. I was too young to retire. I couldn't keep putting it off. I was going to have to suck it up and start applying for jobs that I might not want.

I reached for the cup of tea that Jenny had left for us at the big house over the weekend. The fruity aroma wafted up to greet me. I took a sip, momentarily distracting me from my worries. Maybe there was something else out there that I could love just as much as the library.

Jenny loved tea, Lauren had her candles and entrepreneurial pursuits. Maybe there was a new passion waiting for me to discover. But the thought of leaving behind the world of books and storytelling felt like a betrayal of everything I held dear. But Archer had shown me it was okay to step out of my comfort zone. Maybe there was something out there I really did love. I just had to go out there and find it. I wouldn't know until I tried.

Who was I kidding? There was no escaping the reality of my situation, no easy solution to be found in job listings or career changes. Nothing looked exciting.

With a heavy heart, I closed the laptop, feeling defeated and lost in a sea of uncertainty. Nothing looked appealing. I didn't want to change. I felt like I had already found my dream job. I didn't think anything would compare to being a librarian. I knew it wasn't everyone's cup of tea, but it was mine.

No one understood the joy I got from my job at the library. It was exciting in my eyes, each new book an adventure. To me, libraries were not just about books. I loved when someone asked me for a recommendation and I could show them a book and it made them happy. I loved when little kids got to look through the picture books. That was how I felt when I got a new shipment of books.

The familiar sound of a motorcycle caught my attention. I smiled and jumped up from my chair to see if it was him. Archer pulled up to the front of the house and hopped off his bike. "Damn," I whispered.

He was looking hotter than sin in a tight white T-shirt that showcased his muscles and tattoos, paired with his usual jeans and black boots. He had a helmet in hand as he walked to the front door. I quickly opened it.

"Hey, good-looking," I said. "I didn't know you were coming over."

"Are you busy?"

"Nope." I shook my head. "Even if I was, I wouldn't be too busy for you."

He flashed me a grin that sent my pulse racing. "I got you something," he said.

"Oh?" I flashed a sexy smile. "Do you want to show me in my room?"

"Get your mind out of the gutter—until later," he joked. "I got you this." He held out the helmet.

"A helmet?"

"You should have one that fits you," he said. "I see many bike rides in our future."

I took the helmet and pulled it on. "It fits," I said.

"And of course, it looks sexy on you."

"Thank you. This is exciting. My first helmet."

"Let's go for a ride," he said.

I shrugged. "It's not like I have anything else going on."

"Good, because I have a surprise for you."

"A surprise?" I asked.

"Yes, and don't start asking me a bunch of questions, because that defeats the purpose of a surprise."

I chuckled at his playful warning and followed him outside. Straddling the back of his motorcycle, I wrapped my arms around his waist as we rode off. Unlike the first time I had been on the back of his bike, this time I felt free and wild, embracing the thrill of the ride with abandon. I trusted him and his riding skills. Archer's strong frame in front of me brought a sense of safety and comfort, allowing me to let go of all the uncertainty that had been clouding my mind.

I was excited to see where he was going to take me. But as we pulled up outside the library, a wave of apprehension washed over me, replacing the excitement with a sense of dread.

I thought maybe he was just going to drive by, but nope, he cut the engine. He got off the bike and turned to help me.

"Come on, take off your helmet," he said.

"I don't want to be here," I confessed. "Why did you bring me here?"

He took my hand in his, kissing the back of my knuckles. "Trust me," he said. "Just trust me."

"I will, but I have to say, this isn't hakuna matata. Is it closed? Are you giving me a chance to say goodbye? Because I really don't think I can. I don't want to look at the empty shelves."

"Come on," he said.

Reluctantly, I followed him toward the front doors of the library, my heart pounding in my chest with each step.

I peered through the windows, my heart sinking at the sight of the barren interior. All the furniture was gone.

"Why did you bring me here?" I repeated, my voice tinged with sadness. "I know this place I love is dead. I don't need to look at the body."

"I wanted to show you something," he said softly.

Taking a deep breath, I nodded. "Okay," I whispered, my voice trembling slightly. "Show me."

He reached into his pocket. My eyes widened. My heart pounded. Was this it? Was he going to propose? It seemed like an odd place, but it was the place we met. Maybe he wanted to pop the question before they tore it down. My mind was spinning.

But instead of a ring box, he pulled out a single key. I frowned in confusion as he gave it to me.

"I don't understand," I said. "Is this like the key to your heart or something?"

"No." He nodded at the door of the library. "Go ahead," he said, his voice tinged with a hint of excitement.

"Go ahead and do what?" I asked with confusion.

He smiled. "Unlock the door."

With trembling hands, I took the key from him and slid it into the lock. The metal clicked softly as I turned it. I was surprised the key worked. I turned the handle and the door swung open, revealing the gutted interior of the library.

"Go in," he encouraged.

I stepped inside, my confusion mounting with each passing second. "What are we doing here?"

"It's yours," he replied simply, his eyes shining with emotion.

My heart skipped a beat at his words, a surge of disbelief coursing through me. "The key?"

"The library is yours."

"How?"

"The fundraiser was a success in the community's eyes, but it wasn't enough to sway the city's decision to change the zoning for the high-rise condo. There wasn't enough money to change the owner's mind either. He had his eye on a condo in Florida and there was no way he was walking away from his retirement package."

"I don't understand," I said again. "The owner wouldn't sell."

"Nope, not at first." He grinned. "But the fundraiser did catch the attention of a very wealthy citizen."

"It did?" I asked. My brain felt foggy. I was overwhelmed with so many emotions. I couldn't believe I was in the library—my library? Archer wasn't making any sense.

"My father," he said.

Tears welled up in my eyes at his revelation. "Did you buy me the library?"

He shook his head. "No. My father did. The guy fucking loves libraries."

I laughed at that. "True."

"I would have bought it for you in a heartbeat given the chance. I wanted to, but I didn't have the money. My money is tied up in investments."

"None of you had to buy a library for me!" I exclaimed.

"Over the next five years, I plan on repaying the loan," he said. "I'm going to be working alongside Murray at the family business. I'll be a little more liquid. Although my dad doesn't want me to pay it back."

"Why?"

He smiled. "You impressed him. He wanted you to have the library as a gift."

Tears streamed down my face as I processed the enormity of the gift. The library, a place that held so many memories for me, was now mine to cherish and protect. I turned to Archer, my heart overflowing with gratitude and love.

"How can I ever thank you?" I whispered, my voice choked with emotion.

He took my hand in his and squeezed it gently. "Just keep the spirit of this library alive. It deserves to be shared with generations to come."

I nodded fervently, words were impossible around the lump in my throat. "I will."

He leaned in close and smiled at me. "And if you can recommend more books like Captain Hotness, that would be a good way to say thanks too."

I sobbed happy tears. "Deal."

Archer pulled me into his arms. The front of his shirt became soaked with my tears. But he didn't seem to mind, wrapping his arms around me in a comforting embrace.

Archer pulled away slightly, his hands framing my face as he looked into my eyes. "I know this is a lot to take in," he murmured softly. "But I truly believe you are the perfect person to carry on the legacy of this library."

I gazed into Archer's eyes, my heart swelling with love and gratitude for the man. "This is an incredible gift. I don't know what to say."

"You know how much my family loves books," he said, smiling.

"I do."

"Remember when we first met and you told me about the library being sold?"

I nodded. "I do."

"I went to my parents and asked them for the money to buy the library back then," he explained. "They pretty much laughed me out of the room. As you can imagine, my mother assumed I was going to take the money and run down to Mexico to buy a few kilos. They shut me down."

"What changed?"

"My dad met you. He was impressed with the fundraiser and how much you care about the community. When I talked to him about the investment again, he jumped at the chance."

"I'm overwhelmed. I will make sure I thank him. If I can ever wrap my head around this."

Once I had composed myself, he looked around the empty space, a smile playing on his lips. "What do you want to do first?" he asked. "Tear up the old carpet? Paint? Get new shelves?"

I had a different idea in mind. Grinning mischievously, I grabbed his hand and led him to our reading corner by the window.

I pulled the blinds closed, pushed him down onto a chair, and straddled his lap. Then I pressed my lips to his. The kiss was filled with a mixture of gratitude, love, and excitement.

"You are a special, special man," I whispered against his lips. "Now I want to thank you for your generosity."

"Oh yeah?" he asked with a goofy smile. "I like the sound of that."