After vacating the room I grabbed the bag of garbage, stepped out the back door, and tossed it into the big blue dumpster on the side of the library. I took a few deep breaths while fanning my hot face, then returned inside and rejoined Bobbie Jo and Cowboy just as she was about to leave.
“You know, darlin’, you really do look familiar,” Cowboy said to me as Bobbie Jo stored the baby’s teething ring. “I just can’t place how we met.”
Of course, he couldn’t. I sighed. “I could just tell you.”
“Aw, now where’s the fun in that?” Cowboy gave me a quick wink.
“Oh, Lord,” Bobbie Jo said, rolling her eyes. She looked up at me. “Sorry I can’t visit with you longer, but I need to get Austin home and ready for his bath. I’ll call you tomorrow. Maybe we can go to dinner or something this week.”
“Sure,” I replied.
Bobbie Jo pushed the stroller toward the door.
“Let me know if you want me to stomp Jeremy’s ass into the ground,” Cowboy called out after her.
She turned back long enough to give us a half-hearted wave, so I planted a smile firmly on my lips. But it was a ruse. The last few patrons had used the self-checkout scanner and had already vacated the library right before Bobbie Jo. That knowledge combined with the nervous energy zinging under my skin left me flustered. Deep inside, I was angst-ridden by the thought of being left alone in the same room as Cowboy.
To busy my trembling hands, I stood at the desk with my back to him, fiddling with a stack of flyers for a chili cook-off to be held over the weekend. I straightened the lime green papers until they were all neatly aligned with the edge of the counter.
Cowboy reached past me, brushing my body lightly with his, as he placed the book he held on the counter. “Mind holding onto this for me until tomorrow?”
The scent of his cologne lingered in the air. I turned toward him, carefully measuring him with my eyes. “You can check the book out.”
“No library card.”
“Oh. Okay, I can issue you one. I’ll just need your driver’s license and—”
“Won’t work.”
I paused, not entirely sure what he meant by his rude interruption. “All right. If you don’t have identification, then a utility bill with your name and address will suffice.”
“Sorry. No can do.” He smiled at the puzzled look I gave him. “I have identification, but very few people in this town know my real name, and I’d like to keep it that way. If I told you what it was, then I’m afraid it might be all over town by morning.”
“Excuse me?” When he grinned at my surprised tone, I lifted my chin to portray my exasperation. “If you’re suggesting I’d speak to anyone about the library’s confidential records,” I said, my tone bordering on contempt, “then you’re—”
He raised his hands in surrender. “Whoa! Hold up, darlin’. I wasn’t doing any such thing. Relax a little. Good Lord, are you always this uptight?”
My eyes widened. “I beg your pardon?”
“Guess so. Judging by your clothes, I should have figured that.” Cowboy grinned and leaned one hip lazily against the counter next to me. Then he gave me a quick once-over and his eyes twinkled with shameless mirth, as if he were enjoying my exasperation…and proving his point.
I glanced down at my clothes and shook my head in disbelief. My black skirt fell respectfully below my knees and my long-sleeved blouse was buttoned all the way to my throat. I imagined my old-fashioned attire probably bored most men since it was about as stimulating as watching grass grow or a car rust. Which is exactly why I wore it, you jerk!
I gaped at him, not caring if he saw how offended I was. And I was offended. “Well, excuse me if I’m not dressed to your liking. I’m sure the kind of women you’re used to shed their clothes whenever you enter a room, but as you plainly see, I’m not like most women.”
When he stepped closer, I assumed he did so to intimidate me with his overwhelming masculine presence. I straightened my spine, ready to give it right back to him. But instead he said, “Did you know your blue eyes brighten when you’re all fired up?”