“What?” he snapped. “You look like the cat that swallowed the cream.”
“Take a picture. It might last longer,” Boone said with a straight face that suddenly dissolved into a grin threatening to take over his entire face.
“You’re a regular comedian, aren’t you?” Declan drawled. Almost a year ago, he had said those same words to Boone when he’d caught him staring at Grace in the Moose Café, the coffee bar owned by his brother Cameron Prescott. Boone’s mind was like a steel trap. He never forgot a single thing.
“Go on and talk to her. You know you want to,” Boone said in a singsong voice.
Declan rolled his eyes and shook his head as he walked away from his best friend. Boone’s hearty chuckle trailed after him. With every step he took toward Annie, he became more nervous. Not seeing Annie for the past week had been like not catching a glimpse of the sun.
He didn’t have any idea what was wrong with him, considering making small talk with women was his strong suit.
She met his gaze from where she stood on the steps. He studied her expression, but it didn’t tell him anything about whether or not she’d forgiven him. For once, her features were closed off. She looked unapproachable. He placed his hand over his chest, startled by the pounding of his heart.
Annie’s shoulder-length hair now hung in loose waves, gently framing her face and gleaming like burnished wood. Every time she moved her head, it swung around her shoulders. Her dress peeked out from under her coat. It resembled something from another era. It was a really nice shade of gray. It hung past her knees and showcased her great sense of style. On the side of her head sat a black hat with some netting and a little bird on it. Or at least, he thought it was a hat. It looked a tad unusual, although Annie managed to pull it off.
“Hey there, Annie.” His eyes slid down to her feet and the boots he’d bought for her. A ridiculous amount of joy speared through him at the sight of her wearing his gift. It made him feel ten feet tall. How mad could she still be at him if she was sporting the peace offering?
Her smile showcased dimples he hadn’t noticed before. “Thank you for the boots. I love them,” she said, flexing her right foot to show off the shoes.
Relief flooded him. “I’m glad you like them. They look great on you.”
“That’s what Hazel said when she came to pick me up. I can’t believe she created these boots and the town developed them as a way to boost revenue.” She shook her head and laughed. “It’s fairly mind-boggling.”
“That’s our Hazel. She’s one of a kind. And those boots of hers have been helping the economy here in town,” Declan said.
Annie grinned. “Anything that helps the economy is a wonderful thing indeed.”
Declan stuffed his hands in his pockets. “I wasn’t sure if you’d still be speaking to me.”
Annie locked gazes with him. “I’m a big believer in forgiveness. You wouldn’t be here today if you didn’t support the library, now would you?” She gifted him with a beatific smile. “That’s good enough for me.”
“Maybe I just believe in you,” he blurted out. All of a sudden, he felt as if his defenses were down. He had hoped Annie would forgive him, but he hadn’t counted on the way it would make him feel to see her again or to realize how easily she could twist him up inside. He’d spent the past week keeping his distance from her, knowing that it was for the best. Being in her presence made him feel as if he was on a high wire without a safety net.
One false move and he might just fall on his face.
* * *
Annie’s cheeks started to feel warm despite the November chill, and she looked down at the ground to avoid the intensity of Declan’s stare. When she swung her gaze back up to meet his scrutiny, she reminded herself to remain unflappable. Declan had an uncanny ability to shake her composure. It wasn’t just his good looks, she realized. He made her feel more alive than she had ever felt in her life. Suddenly everything around her seemed more vibrant. The sky was now a more vivid shade of blue. Cerulean. The sound of the red-breasted bird rang out more sweetly when she was in his presence. And knowing he thought well of her calmed down all her jitters about the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“If you’re trying to flatter me, it’s working. Don’t stop there,” she said in a light tone. “Keep ’em coming.”
“Well, for starters, you’re the prettiest librarian I’ve ever seen,” Declan said. He smiled at her, appreciation evident in his gaze.
She shook her head, not quite believing him. “Am I the only librarian you’ve ever seen?” she asked.
“Of course you’re not.” Declan frowned. “I’m not some local yokel who’s never left Alaska. I’ve lived a little. I’m sure you’re used to being told you’re stunning.”
Not exactly, she wanted to say. She deliberately let Declan’s statement sit out there unanswered. The truth was, she wasn’t used to flattery or sweet words about her looks. Other than her ill-fated romance with Todd, she had barely dated. Once bitten, twice shy.
Annie couldn’t stop smiling. His compliments meant more to her than she wanted to admit to herself. She had missed being in his presence over the past week. In such a short time he had grown on her, and not seeing him had caused an ache inside her. She’d even wondered if Declan had been avoiding her.
It had been a long time since a man had told her she was attractive. And hearing it from his lips made her want to do cartwheels. There was something about Declan that was so endearing, even when she felt annoyed at him. It scared her a little bit that he had so easily crept past the defenses she had worked hard to build up.
And she worried that it meant so much to her to hear his sweet words. After all, Declan could never be more than a good friend. That knowledge felt bittersweet, but she knew it with a deep certainty.
She waved her hand at him. “Enough with the flowery words. You agreed to help me find the missing pieces from my family tree, so I can’t very well stop speaking to you.”
“Phew.” Declan wiped his hand across his forehead in an exaggerated gesture. “I’m glad I agreed to help you,” he said in a teasing tone.
She had no intention of allowing him to get off too easily, considering everything that was at stake. “But I can’t forget that we’re on opposite sides as far as the funding for the library is concerned,” she admitted.
“We may not agree on that issue, but please know that I’m always going to be rooting for you.”
“I appreciate you saying so, Declan.” Annie looked around at the crowd. “Everyone has been so encouraging about the library. And the library’s board of directors is very confident about getting more funds to support full-time hours. Dwight told me that there are upcoming fund-raisers to support the endeavor.” Her eyes twinkled. “He mentioned an ice-skating event at Deer Run Lake and a bake-off in the spring.”
“If I were you, I’d watch out for Dwight,” Declan leaned in and whispered in her ear.
“Why? He seems as harmless as a fly.”
“The man cannot be trusted. I’m not supposed to tell anyone, but do you know that he used to rob little old ladies of their purses?” Declan nodded his head at her, his expression somber.
Annie let out a whoop of laughter, then clapped her hand over her mouth. Declan reached out and removed her hand. “Don’t do that. Laughter should be shared. It’s one of the best sounds in the universe.”
She giggled. “That is not true about Dwight. You just made that up.”
Declan grinned. “I admit it. I did make it up. I had to get him back somehow for trying to turn you against me.”
“That’s not possible. Not after what we went through together.” She waved a finger at him. “But I am determined to make you see the value of a library. Every town needs one.”
“I’ll take your word for it,” Declan scoffed.
“Knowledge is the key to life,” Annie said in her chirpiest voice. “Books unlock the world.”
“I guess I’m a graduate of the school of hard knocks. Everything I’ve learned in my life has come about through actual hands-on experience.” He shrugged. “I never went to college. I graduated high school by the skin of my teeth. But I aced every test I needed to in order to get my pilot’s license. That’s how badly I wanted to soar.”
From the sound of it, Declan had been living his life out loud. That’s what she wanted for herself. Adventures. Romance. A life beyond the walls of her beloved library. To reach out for that brass ring and grab hold of it for all she was worth.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Jasper’s voice rang out, interrupting their conversation. “Welcome to the official opening of the Free Library of Love.” He gestured to Annie to join him on the library steps. Annie scurried over to stand next to Jasper, and the town-council members assembled around him. “I’d like to introduce you to our newest resident, Annie Murray. With her leadership and vision, the residents of Love are going to have the best library in all of Alaska.” The crowd began to applaud loudly. Jasper turned toward Annie and held out the scissors. “I’d like to give you the honor of cutting the ribbon on this most auspicious day.” Annie took the scissors from Jasper’s hand.
Turning toward the crowd, Annie began to speak. “Thank you for entrusting me with this wonderful treasure. And a special thanks to everyone who helped me get this place organized. Sometimes it does take a village. I’m looking forward to every minute of being a librarian here in Love. Most of all, I’m very excited about getting to know all of you and introducing you to your next favorite book.” Annie held up the scissors and cut the ribbon. She blinked back tears.
It felt so gratifying to be standing here in Gram’s hometown on the precipice of something wonderful. Her gaze wandered to Declan in the crowd. He smiled at her. It felt as if she had been jolted by an electrical bolt. The feeling caught her off guard.
Dear Lord, please protect me from wishing for things that I know are way out of my reach. Declan O’Rourke may be the most fascinating man in all of Alaska, but he’s also the very last thing I need.
* * *
The Free Library of Love wasn’t so bad, as far as Declan could tell. It was bright and cheery inside. White walls with vivid splashes of color like an artist’s palette. Children’s artwork intermingled with pictures of the Alaskan landscape. Cozy couches and love seats were scattered around the interior. Balloons floated in the air, a celebratory touch that added a bit of whimsy to the day.
Declan wandered around the library, checking out the shelves, and searched the catalog in the computer. As he walked past the children’s room, he couldn’t resist stepping inside the moment he saw the scene taking place. Watching Boone’s four-year-old nephew, Aidan, being read to by his father warmed Declan’s insides. Dr. Liam Prescott had suffered the tragic loss of his beautiful wife, Ruby, two years ago. Since that time, Liam had struggled to get past his grief, all while raising his young son. Only recently had Liam reopened his medical practice and emerged from his solitude.
“Aidan sure looks happy,” Declan remarked.
“He loves books,” Liam said, looking up at Declan. “I can’t keep enough in the house to quench his thirst. At this rate, he’s going to be an early reader.” Pride radiated from Liam’s voice.
“That’s great, A-man,” Declan said, holding up his hand so Aidan could give him a high-five. The little boy slapped his hand, then went right back to reading his book with his father. Declan had to chuckle. He didn’t think he’d ever seen Aidan so engrossed in anything. Despite everything they had endured, there was a tight bond between father and son. Given his fractured relationship with his own dad, he envied the loving nature of their relationship. Seeing them together made him question his opposition to the library. If it could create something so heartwarming and wonderful for the people he loved, who was he to stand in its way?
“Grace and Boone are going to get a lot of mileage out of this place,” Liam said with a wide grin.
Declan hadn’t even thought about that. With Grace due to give birth to their first child at the beginning of the new year, she and Boone would both be seeking out advice on child-rearing as well as seeking out picture books to keep their little one entertained. “They sure will,” he agreed, swallowing past the feeling of shame rising up inside him. Once he’d met Annie and discovered that she was Love’s librarian, he had felt the first stirrings of regret about opposing the library. He had lobbied against this very place, and now that he was standing inside it and seeing it firsthand, he realized how wrong he’d been. And he was going to make sure everyone on the town council knew that he’d had a change of heart. He still had an eye on the town’s financial well-being and he would still continue to do so, but he no longer felt absolute certainty about his previous position regarding the library funding.
He began walking toward the exit, feeling enlightened by everything he’d been exposed to this morning.
Annie rushed toward him. “Declan! Are you leaving?”
“I’ve got some things to straighten out about the plane crash. An investigation is underway into the cause of it. They need to interview me,” he explained. “If this comes back as pilot error, that could put O’Rourke Charters out of business. I’d lose a lot of clients if I had that on my record.” Not to mention he still had to wade through insurance issues regarding the payout for replacing Lucy. He was feeling antsy about the fate of O’Rourke Charters. His whole future depended on this investigation and getting another plane. Operating O’Rourke Charters with just one plane would severely impact his revenue. And if he didn’t get over his sudden reluctance to fly, his company would be toast.
“If you need me to vouch for you, I will. You saved both of our lives.”
Annie’s encouragement gave him a boost.
“You’re still going to help me with my special project, aren’t you?” she asked.
“Of course I will, Annie. I know how important it is to you to find your roots.” He narrowed his gaze. “I’m still a little dubious as to how you’re going to accomplish it, but judging by your enthusiasm, something tells me you’re going to convince me.”
“Can we meet up tomorrow?” she asked, eagerness etched on her pretty face. “I’ll bring Gram’s journal and some notes I’ve taken.”
“I have a client I’m taking to Kodiak in the morning, and then I need to fill out some paperwork about Lucy, but I could meet you at the Moose Café at noon.” He prayed that he could summon the strength to get past his flying jitters and make the run tomorrow.
“I’ve seen the place, but I haven’t eaten there yet,” Annie said. “I’ve been brown bagging it for lunch.”
“Cameron sure knew what he was doing when he opened it. It’s only a five-minute walk from here, and it serves some of the best food in town.” He would never admit it to Annie, but he was a bundle of nerves about tomorrow’s flight to Kodiak. His first time up in the air after the crash would be tense.
“That’s great! I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said with a grin before turning back toward Aidan and Liam. She sat down beside the child and opened a book in her lap. Just the sight of the three of them made the wheels in his head turn. Liam was the type of guy Annie should be matched up with in Operation Love. Liam was stable and hard-working and dedicated to hearth and home. He had been an excellent husband to Ruby. Annie deserved someone who could give her a wedding ring and promises of forever.
Something had tugged at his insides at the sight of her so overcome with emotion during the ribbon-cutting ceremony. He didn’t know why he was feeling such a kinship with Annie. Perhaps it was the plane crash. Maybe it was the way she seemed to embrace the world and all it had to offer. Perhaps it was because she was unlike any other woman he had ever known.
Who was he kid
ding? The idea of her settling down with any bachelor in Love left him twisted up inside. It gnawed at him. And he couldn’t quite put his finger on why it left him feeling so gutted.
All he knew for certain was that she was starting to make him think about things he had stopped hoping for a long time ago.
Chapter Seven
For Declan, walking into the Moose Café was always a pleasurable experience. It was his haven from the day-to-day hustle and grind. And because of Cameron’s establishment, he had discovered that he really enjoyed lattes and the fancy coffee drinks that a person almost needed a degree to order. Tongue twisters, he called them. Boone teased him all the time about it, but he really was becoming a coffee connoisseur. Lately the café had expanded its menu to include mouth-watering sandwiches, soups, baked goods, pizza and a handful of entrées. He let out a chuckle. If he could afford it, he would eat every meal here.
The moment he walked in, he was met with unbridled enthusiasm by a few regulars.
“Here’s our ace pilot. I’ve been saying it all week, Declan. You’re a real hero! One of these days I’m going to let you take me up in the wild blue yonder with you,” a deep voice greeted him.
Declan paused in his tracks to say hello to two older white-haired gentlemen who were seated together at a table.
“Hey, Eli. Zachariah. How are you guys doing?” he asked, stopping beside their usual table.
“Doing pretty well. Can’t complain,” Eli quipped. “The good Lord woke me up this morning, so as far as I’m concerned, it’s a great day indeed.” Eli’s brown eyes radiated joy.
“I can complain,” Zachariah said in a cranky tone. His nose looked pinched as if he had just smelled something foul. “We’re still waiting for our grub. I’m not getting any younger sitting around here.”
“Look on the bright side,” Eli suggested. “At least you don’t have to eat by your lonesome. I’m a great conversationalist.”
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