what she would see in those eyes of his, Julia was surprised to find a similar passion there and a matching confusion.
What did he have to be confused about? The fact that she wanted him? Or that he wanted her?
And he did want her. He let her see that, but he kept so many other things secret in his increasingly complicated gaze.
Julia stared at him, at his mouth, at the tiny scar along his jaw, at his mouth again.
His fingers branded her bare skin with their warmth as he moved her closer to him. Was he going to kiss her? Have his wicked way with her?
The moment was shattered by Walt’s bellow over the phone she’d forgotten she still had pressed to her ear. “Disaster! Julia, are you there?”
“Yes.” Her voice was unsteady. So were her knees. But she managed to grab the foil packet of Pop-Tarts anyway and rip it open.
“That was the National Enquirer . They want an exclusive.”
“Too late. I already gave an exclusive to Fred.”
“Fred?”
“Over at the Serenity News .”
“You don’t understand. The National Enquirer is calling me. This is totally unacceptable! Do something!”
“Like what? What am I supposed to do?”
“You could always send Luke streaking across the front lawn.” Skye joined them with Toni in tow. Her suggestion was accompanied by a wide grin in his direction. “That might provide an interesting distraction.”
“Is Luke there?” Walt demanded. “I should have known he’d have a hand in this.”
“He didn’t have anything to do with it,” Julia stated.
“I wouldn’t put it past him to put this entire idea into Sue Ellen’s head.”
“She was called Our Lady of the Outlandish long before Luke returned to town,” Julia pointed out.
Walt ignored her. “The important thing now is to do some spin control.”
“Fine. You send the Serenity Falls spin doctors right over.”
“As mayor, I’m also head of the publicity committee.”
“Then it looks like controlling the media is your job, not mine.”
“You’re on-site, so you’ll have to do it. It would take me too long to get over there. They’re your llamas. You deal with it.”
“There not my llamas.” But Walt had already hung up. Julia’s aggravation was building, had been building since the moment she’d looked up from “New Releases” in Publishers Weekly and looked out the library window. “Okay, fine. Everyone out of my way!”
“Uh-oh. She’s got that look in her eye. Better watch out,” Skye warned Luke. “She’s really pissed now.”
“Do not use language like that in front of your daughter,” Julia instantly reprimanded her.
“It’s just a word. I have no trouble with my daughter using whatever words she wants to express herself.”
“Well, I do, so stuff it.”
“My big sister has such a dirty mouth.” Skye ducked as a Pop-Tart sailed through the air at her. “And she throws like a girl.”
“First a riot out front and now a cat fight.” Luke rubbed his hands with anticipation. “Is this a great day or what?”
“Where’s the cat?” Toni demanded.
The little girl’s question returned some semblance of sanity to Julia. The red mist was lifting from her vision. No way she was wasting another Pop-Tart on her sister.
She was a librarian. An information professional. She could leap tall mountains of data in a single bound and answer reference questions on everything from algebra to zoology.
The bottom line was that she could kick butt as well as the next bibliophile. Probably even better.
Too bad she wasn’t wearing those Librarians Have Tighter Buns briefs Pam had given her last Christmas.
It didn’t matter. She’d go out there and set these idiots straight.
She just had to think of something brilliant to say.
Something both charming and decisive, powerful and persuasive.
Piece of cake.
Note to self: You rock!
Second note to self: Restock Pop-Tarts ASAP.
Taking the doorknob firmly in her hand, she pulled the back door open and stepped
What did he have to be confused about? The fact that she wanted him? Or that he wanted her?
And he did want her. He let her see that, but he kept so many other things secret in his increasingly complicated gaze.
Julia stared at him, at his mouth, at the tiny scar along his jaw, at his mouth again.
His fingers branded her bare skin with their warmth as he moved her closer to him. Was he going to kiss her? Have his wicked way with her?
The moment was shattered by Walt’s bellow over the phone she’d forgotten she still had pressed to her ear. “Disaster! Julia, are you there?”
“Yes.” Her voice was unsteady. So were her knees. But she managed to grab the foil packet of Pop-Tarts anyway and rip it open.
“That was the National Enquirer . They want an exclusive.”
“Too late. I already gave an exclusive to Fred.”
“Fred?”
“Over at the Serenity News .”
“You don’t understand. The National Enquirer is calling me. This is totally unacceptable! Do something!”
“Like what? What am I supposed to do?”
“You could always send Luke streaking across the front lawn.” Skye joined them with Toni in tow. Her suggestion was accompanied by a wide grin in his direction. “That might provide an interesting distraction.”
“Is Luke there?” Walt demanded. “I should have known he’d have a hand in this.”
“He didn’t have anything to do with it,” Julia stated.
“I wouldn’t put it past him to put this entire idea into Sue Ellen’s head.”
“She was called Our Lady of the Outlandish long before Luke returned to town,” Julia pointed out.
Walt ignored her. “The important thing now is to do some spin control.”
“Fine. You send the Serenity Falls spin doctors right over.”
“As mayor, I’m also head of the publicity committee.”
“Then it looks like controlling the media is your job, not mine.”
“You’re on-site, so you’ll have to do it. It would take me too long to get over there. They’re your llamas. You deal with it.”
“There not my llamas.” But Walt had already hung up. Julia’s aggravation was building, had been building since the moment she’d looked up from “New Releases” in Publishers Weekly and looked out the library window. “Okay, fine. Everyone out of my way!”
“Uh-oh. She’s got that look in her eye. Better watch out,” Skye warned Luke. “She’s really pissed now.”
“Do not use language like that in front of your daughter,” Julia instantly reprimanded her.
“It’s just a word. I have no trouble with my daughter using whatever words she wants to express herself.”
“Well, I do, so stuff it.”
“My big sister has such a dirty mouth.” Skye ducked as a Pop-Tart sailed through the air at her. “And she throws like a girl.”
“First a riot out front and now a cat fight.” Luke rubbed his hands with anticipation. “Is this a great day or what?”
“Where’s the cat?” Toni demanded.
The little girl’s question returned some semblance of sanity to Julia. The red mist was lifting from her vision. No way she was wasting another Pop-Tart on her sister.
She was a librarian. An information professional. She could leap tall mountains of data in a single bound and answer reference questions on everything from algebra to zoology.
The bottom line was that she could kick butt as well as the next bibliophile. Probably even better.
Too bad she wasn’t wearing those Librarians Have Tighter Buns briefs Pam had given her last Christmas.
It didn’t matter. She’d go out there and set these idiots straight.
She just had to think of something brilliant to say.
Something both charming and decisive, powerful and persuasive.
Piece of cake.
Note to self: You rock!
Second note to self: Restock Pop-Tarts ASAP.
Taking the doorknob firmly in her hand, she pulled the back door open and stepped
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