The Reasons to Stay (Harlequin Superromance) by Laura Drake Page B

used to the place, dude. Libraries are one of my favorite places.”
    His theatrical sigh was so big it almost fogged the windshield.
    “How can a brother of mine not like to read?”
    “Half brother.”
    “Oh, then that explains it.” Smiling, she took a left into the parking lot.
    They walked to the tall front doors of the building, through its columned portico. “We won’t be long. I already know the book I want. Then we’ll pick out a couple for you.”
    “Uh-uh. I’m good.”
    “Not according to the principal, you’re not.” She opened the door, and held it, inhaling the heady scent of books and freedom. Libraries had been her sanctuary growing up, a safe haven and a portal to worlds that were far more exotic than the poor side of Las Vegas. Programmed from an early age, her nerves settled.
    She’d worked her way through the stacks, traveling everywhere: medieval castles, ranches, even other planets. And all for free. She inhaled. “You just haven’t found something to catch your interest yet. You will. Some of the best times I’ve ever had were reading books.”
    He sighed again. “Just because you have no life, why do you have to take me down with you?”
    When he rolled his eyes, she put a hand on the back of his neck and steered him inside. “You don’t know what you’re missing, but luckily you have me to show you the way.”
    * * *
    F IFTEEN MINUTES BEFORE opening, Adam scanned the store’s soda fountain. Priss sat at a table, nose in the Widow’s Grove Telegraph . He’d decided while shaving this morning that if he wanted to mitigate surprises in his life, he was going to have to stay close to Priss. At least that’s what he told himself in front of his bathroom mirror.
    But standing here, feeling a tugging in his gut like the low-level pull of a magnet, he had to admit that his decision to stay close to Priss, to get to know her, was about more than self-preservation. He may not approve of her brother, her attitude or her rough edges, but he couldn’t deny his attraction. And it wasn’t just her trim dancer’s body, made even sexier by the fact that she seemed totally unaware of it. Lately his mind kept returning to her like an unchecked item on a to-do list. She was absolute chaos to his orderly life. So what was it about Priss that drew him to her?
    Now that he finally quit avoiding and just asked the question, his mind spit out the answer. It was her differentness. Yeah, but you can’t get much more “different” than Sin, and the reaction there is not the same at all.
    Instead of carefully considering that revelation, he gave in to the tractor-beam pull. Crossing the floor, he slid into the chair opposite Priss.
    The paper rattled when she turned the page. He cleared his throat. “It looks like they haven’t caught the guy yet.”
    She peeked over the top of the paper. “What guy?”
    Pointing to the front-page story, he said, “The guy who’s been breaking into houses around town the past three months.”
    She closed the paper and glanced at the article. “Yeah, I read that. It’s weird that nothing is damaged or stolen, unless you count the food taken from the fridge.”
    He crossed his legs and tried to look nonchalant. “I heard you took my mother for coffee.”
    A wall fell, shuttering her expression. “I drove carefully, had her home in an hour and I didn’t corrupt her mind.”
    She must really think him an ass. “Mom has lots of friends, but they’re older so they aren’t up to more than stopping by her apartment for a bit. I know she doesn’t get out as much as she’d like. Thank you.”
    “Oh. I didn’t do it for you.” She flushed. “I mean, I was happy to do it. She’s a great lady and I enjoy her company.”
    She looked like an innocent little girl when she blushed. He knew not to be deceived, but he appreciated it, regardless. “So, how’s your brother doing?”
    “He hasn’t been in the store since that first day and he’s not bothering your