Attraction Series Boxed Set: Books 1-3

by J B Heller

  “Ash? Ashy, honey, come back to me, back to the here and now. We’re in the library. Your favourite place in the world.” Liz’s pleading voice began to sooth me, bringing me out of my head. “Take a deep breath and you’ll know that smell, focus on that smell. Books, thousands of books.”

  I did as she said, my eyes still clamped shut, I took a deep breath in through my nose and savoured the musty smell that could only belong to the well-used and loved pages of a book.

  Slowly I opened my eyes taking in my surroundings. Liz’s worried face filled my vision. I gave her a weak smile, “Thanks,” I whispered.

  A single tear slid down her cheek, and a humourless laugh left her lips, “I’m sorry, Ashy. I didn’t mean to trigger you.”

  My shoulder lifted in a small shrug, “I know you didn’t. It’s impossible to know what will set me off, I know you’d never do that intentionally.”

  She wrapped her arms around me and I returned her embrace. “I’ve gotta get back to work, but I don’t want to leave you like this,” she murmured.

  Coming out of her arms I pulled my shoulders back, took off my glasses and scrubbed my hands over my face, “I’m good now. Promise.” I shot her a wink and slid my glasses back into place, “Go, I’ll talk to you later.”

  Liz’s eyes roamed over my face, examining me closely, “Alright, I believe you. Call me if that changes.” She kissed both my cheeks like the little mafia princess that she was, then left.

  Suddenly feeling drained beyond belief, I pushed the returns cart back to the reception desk and told Sammy, the trainee, that she could do the rest of them. Sammy was a quiet little bookworm who had started working with me a couple of months ago. I was glad for her help, especially on days like this.

  I’d gotten my panic attacks-slash-flashbacks under control, for the most part anyway. But every so often someone would say something, or be wearing a particular fragrance, and it would set me off. I’d get lost in my own head for an undeterminable amount of time until someone snapped me out of it.

  Plonking down in my mega comfy office chair, I removed my glasses then promptly dropped my head to the desk in front of me. I took a deep breath again and closed my eyes. A deep voice from above snapped me out of my little pity party. “Excuse me, can you tell me where the kid’s stuff is?”

  My head snapped up and I was met with a shockingly handsome smirk from a man holding a little girl who looked like she couldn’t be much over a year old. I blinked up at him a few times before I answered him, “The children’s area is in the back left corner.” My mouth was suddenly dry and I swallowed hard.

  He winked, “Thanks, you can get back to napping now.”

  I shook my head, “Oh, no I wasn’t, I mean, I was just—”

  He smirked again, and held up his free hand cutting off my stuttered explanation, “I won’t tell anyone.” Then he was gone.

  Heat filled my cheeks, I was sure they now matched my flaming red hair. How embarrassing, I dropped my head back down on the desk groaning.

  I busied myself until Sammy came back with the empty returns cart. “Did you see the DILF that just came in?” she whispered to me as her eyes darted around the room making sure nobody heard her.

  Laughing softly I nodded, “Yeah, he caught me taking a breather, but it looked like I was sleeping on the job.” My cheeks heated again, stupid pale Irish skin, it made hiding my feelings impossible.

  Sammy snickered, “You should see him with those little girls, it’s so hot. I mean he’s already hot, but throw a few kids in there and swoon.” Her eyes rolled back and she fanned herself with her hand.

  I only saw one child, curiosity began to gnaw at me. But I couldn’t give in to it. He had bad boy written all over him. Well more accurately, bad man. My brows drew in, that wasn’t exactly right either, bad boys didn’t come to libraries toting toddlers.

  Sammy noticed the look on my face and spoke up, “What’s up, Ash? You look constipated.”

  I recoiled instantly, “What?”

  “Your face was all scrunched up, like you really had to poop but it just wasn’t happening for you. I’ve got some Metamucil tablets in my glove box, you want—”

  My hand flew up cutting her off, “No! I do not have issues with my bowels thank you.” My cheeks were so hot, I could just imagine how red I was. I shook my head, how embarrassing. “I’m going to go pick the book for Story Corner this afternoon, okay?” I didn’t wait for her to respond, I snatched my glasses back up and slid them up my nose then walked away as quickly as possible.

  Jesus, do I always look constipated when I’m thinking? God I hope not.

  When I walked around the corner into the children’s area I saw him sitting on the floor, legs crossed, back against the large built in couch that wrapped around the curve of the room. He had not one, not two, but three stunning little girls sitting in his lap.

  He had a story in this hands and he was reading aloud to the girls. His voice was animated and he changed the tone when pretending to be a different character. I did exactly what Sammy predicted, I swooned. My body relaxed and my heart melted at the sight before me. His wife or girlfriend or whatever, was one lucky woman.

  One of the little girls noticed me then, standing in the corner just listening to his smooth voice. “You like stowees too?” she asked me.

  His head snapped up, his dark eyes fixing on my face, and my damn cheeks heated again. I licked my lips, and shifted my eyes back to the girl, “I do.” I told her.

  She smiled sweetly, “Us too. Axsol is good at stowees. You want to have stowees wif us?” she blinked up at me, innocence shining in her clear blue eyes.

  “I’d love to honey, but I’m actually looking for a story to read for Story Corner this afternoon. Thank you for offering though.” I turned my back on them and crouched down pretending to search the shelf behind me for an appropriate story.

  A small hand ran through my hair and I jumped at the unexpected contact. The same little girl was looking at my hair with wonder in her eyes, “Oh, hello again,” I said.

  Her little face scrunched up, “I not Gwacie, I Tessie.”

  My eyes flicked back over to the girls sitting with mystery man, and the first girl was back sitting on his lap. Then it clicked. Twins. When I looked back up, my gaze met his, and I was momentarily struck motionless. He was staring straight into me, not at me, but into me. Then he spoke to the girl with her chubby hand wrapped in my long hair, “Tessie, come back here, baby. Leave the lady alone.”

  Tessie shot him a glare, and promptly ignored him, turning her attention back to me and my hair. “You pwitty.” She said as she tilted her head to the side, her crystal clear blue eyes taking in my face.

  I looked at her, then back to him briefly before saying, “Thank you honey, but I think your daddy wants you to go back and listen to your story now.”

  Her little button nose scrunched up and her brows furrowed, “Yuck. Axsol not my daddy.”

  I laughed, “Oh, I’m sorry.” I brushed her cheek with the back of my knuckles, her skin was so soft and smooth, “All the same sweetie, he wants you to go listen to your story.”

  She heaved a dramatic sigh, “O’tay,” she murmured then trudged back over to him and plonked herself on his free knee. But her eyes didn’t leave me. I smiled at her, she was gorgeous, and a funny little thing too. I loved children, the way they see the world is just plain beautiful.

  He cleared his throat, “I’m Axel, and these are my nieces, Tessie, Anna, and Gracie.”

  Oh, his nieces, not his daughters. I licked my lips, “Umm, they’re beautiful. She really wasn’t bothering me. She can help me pick a book if she wants, I don’t mind.”

  Axel raised a brow when Tessie suddenly jumped up and scurried back over to me. “Where’s the loyalty?” he muttered.

  I looked down to hide my smile. He seemed genuinely offended by her abandonment. Tessie ran her hand through my hair again and began playing with the strands that hung down my back. She sighed conte
ntedly, “So pwitty.”

  Smoothing my hand over her tiny blonde ponytail I told her, “I like your hair too.”

  She beamed back at me and nodded, “Yep, I pwitty too. Like Mummy.” I snickered at her reply, then went back to looking at the shelf for a book, but I couldn’t concentrate. I could feel his eyes on me and when I glanced back over my shoulder, he smiled at me. My cheeks flamed when he didn’t even try to pretend he wasn’t staring at me.

  “What’s your name?” he asked.

  I didn’t answer, I just gave him a blank look, because really, why does he need to know my name? I don’t tell strangers my name, and even though he was the hottest man I had ever laid eyes on, he was still a stranger.

  Tessie squealed then, stealing my focus, “My fabwit!” She was clutching a nursery rhyme book in her tiny hands.

  “Can I see?” I asked and she handed me the book, “Oh, I like this one too. Do you think I should read this one for Story Corner today?” She nodded enthusiastically, her little ponytail bobbing up and down. “Would you like to stay for it?” I glanced at my watch, “It starts in about twenty minutes, the other kids will be arriving soon.”

  Her eyes widened, then she swung her head back around towards Axel, “Pweeese, Axsol!!!!”

  The two in his lap started clapping, and he rolled his eyes before narrowing them at me. I balked, what did I do?

  “Why go to the trouble of making sure I stick around if you’re not going to even tell me your name?”

  My jaw dropped, “I, wha?” He’s crazy. “I wasn’t trying to make you stay.”

  He raised a single brow, “Really? Why’d you ask Tessie if she wanted to stay then?”

  I didn’t even have to think about it, “Because she’s adorable.”

  “We’re a package deal. You get that right? If she stays, I stay.”

  I started feeling defensive, he was baiting me, and I didn’t appreciate it. “I’m not stupid, I realise that. But I didn’t give you a thought when I offered for her to stay for Story Corner.” I almost sneered.

  His grin spread across his gorgeous face, “Right, that’s why your cheeks turn pink every time you glance my way.”

  Hmph, pompous arsehole. “I wasn’t looking at you, I was looking at the children. I should have known you couldn’t possibly be their father, they’re much too adorable to be yours.” I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at him.

  “Pl-ease,” he rolled his eyes. “I could totally be their baby daddy.”

  I frowned at his choice of words. And he suddenly realised just how it sounded, “Fuck, no, that’s not what I meant.”

  Tessie’s other half gasped and wacked his chest, “Dat’s bad word!” she exclaimed then held her palm out to him. He grumbled something under his breath and shuffled around fishing a gold coin out of his pocket and placed it in her upturned palm. Her fingers wrapped around the coin and she grinned at her sister, who was still plastered by my side.

  Axel cleared his throat and tried again, “What I meant to say is that I could definitely be their dad. I would make beautiful babies.”

  Ain’t that the truth, I thought to myself, but kept silent. By this time a couple of other parents had begun trickling into the area with their children. I stood up straight and looked down to Tessie, “Would you like to sit with me while I read today?”

  “Yes, pweese.” She reached up taking my hand and walking with me to the patchwork armchair and climbed up into my lap when I sat. I sent Axel a triumphant look, then opened the book and began to read.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Her voice was pure heaven. I stirred her just so I could hear it some more. I didn’t care that she was clearly unimpressed by me. I had her attention, good or bad, it was still on me.

  I’d found my woman. I couldn’t wipe the grin from my face, she didn’t know it yet, but she was as good as mine.

  Anna shuffled around in my lap and climbed into a standing position with her little arms around my neck for support. “Hey, big girl, what ya doin’?” I asked her and she grinned. Damn I love these kids. Anna is Kai and Mia’s kid, she’s just started this walking along the furniture thing and thinks she’s a real badarse. She’s eleven months old, and I reckon she’ll be walking on her own soon.

  Is it normal to be this proud of a kid that isn’t even mine? ‘Cause I am. I can’t imagine I’d be any prouder of her hitting her milestones if she was my own. I started to tickle her under her arms and she giggled her little head off in response.

  Then I froze, she was watching me, I could feel it. But as soon as I lifted my eyes to meet hers she quickly shifted her gaze back to the book she was reading to the room full of children. Anna started slapping me in the face, unimpressed by my lack of focus towards her. “Sorry, baby, I was busy checkin’ out the pretty lady.” I winked and she just kept slapping me.

  I ended up shifting her to my side so she could walk around the edge of the room using the couch as a support. And, so she could slap the couch instead of my face. As soon as Anna was out of my arms, Gracie snuggled in closer to the centre of my chest. She was getting tired.

  I hadn’t been planning on being here for this long. I was just killing time before I had to drop them all back home. I’d had the three for the morning so their parents could have some adult time. In other words, they wanted to fuck their brains out without interruption. All I could say was Gabe and Kai were lucky bastards to have a friend like me.

  Tessie and Gracie were a big surprise for Gabe and Ivy, but they handled it like pro’s. I can only hope I take to parenthood as well as my friends when the time finally comes for me. If it ever comes, that is.

  Rocking Gracie in my arms I eventually felt her breathing slow and I knew she’d fallen asleep. After glancing to the side to make sure Anna was alright, I turned my attention to Tessie and my future wife. They were on the last page of the story she held outwards, facing the children sitting on the floor in front of them.

  “And the dish ran away with the spoon.” She read the last words as her eyes met mine for the briefest moment, she really didn’t want to look at me. That thought pissed me off, I was hot goddamn it!

  Tessie spoke up, “I wike dat stowee.”

  “Me too, but I think the fork should have run away with the spoon.” She replied with a huge grin on her lips, revealing her perfect white teeth and a tiny gap between the top two front ones. Hot damn, that was sexy as sin.

  The parents in the room started gathering their children and their belongings and filtering out of the room, leaving her alone with me. I grinned up at her as she stood above me, Tessie by her side holding tightly to her hand.

  She quirked a brow, “What are you grinning about?”

  “Why should the fork have run away with the spoon?” I asked.

  Her cheeks began to turn from a flush pink to bright red. “Umm,” she shook her head causing her long red hair to cascade over her slender shoulder, “because they’re both cutlery.” She whispered.

  I nodded at her logic, “Fair enough.” I said as I got to my feet, keeping Gracie secured to my chest. Anna was at the far end of the couch slapping away at the fake leather fabric, loving the sound it made. “Anna, baby, it’s time to go.” I called to her, but she ignored me. I rolled my eyes and made my way towards her. She squealed and dropped to her crawling position and took off.

  Rolling my head back to crack my neck I let out a deep sigh, she wanted to play now. Instead of chatting up the hottest librarian I’d ever seen, I was chasing a baby around while trying not to wake the toddler in my arms. “Annabelle!” I whispered harshly, “Get your cute little butt back here!”

  An electric bolt shot through my shoulder and my head snapped towards the small hand resting on it. “I’ll get her.” She whispered and I was struck speechless from the effect her touch had on me, so I nodded in response.

  She walked right up to Anna and picked her up gently and cradled her against her hip, before coming back to a waiting Tessie, and taking her hand. “Wh
ere are you parked? I’ll bring these two out so you don’t wake the little one.”

  I swallowed hard, “Thanks,” I breathed, still too effected to say any more.

  After we got all three girls buckled into their seats I turned to my redheaded angel, “Will you tell me your name, now?” I wasn’t above begging, in fact, it was my next move if she didn’t answer me this time.

  Gnawing on the corner of her bottom lip, she took a moment to think it over, then blew out a deep breath causing her fringe to flutter up then settle on her forehead again. I watched her carefully, afraid she might bolt, but then she spoke, “Ashlynn, my name is Ashlynn Murphy.”

  She held her hand out in front of herself awkwardly as if she wanted me to shake it, instead I took her fingers in my own and just like when she’d touched me inside the library, a bolt of electricity shot through my fingers and up my arm. I brought her hand up to my waiting lips, and placed a gentle kiss on the back of her hand, “Axel, Axel Jamieson it’s great to meet you Ashlynn Murphy.”

  I watched her eyes dilate as she focused on my lips that were mere millimetres from her skin. She did want me! Ha, I knew it. But the moment was short lived, before I even had a chance to charm her with my stellar smile she ripped her hand from my grasp and wiped it on her skirt. Well that was rude.

  “Yes, well it was okay meeting you too I guess,” she said, then, “Bring the girls back any time you like.” Then realising her mistake she took it back, “I mean, tell the girl’s parents they can bring them back. Not you, you don’t need to come back, but the girls, they can come back any time.” She rambled on and the more she spoke the more pissed off I was getting.

  I narrowed my eyes on her, “Oh I’ll tell them, but just so you know, the next time I come back I won’t have three little distractions with me and you won’t be able to weasel your way out of talking to me either. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get the girls home for their naps.” I gave her a curt nod before rounding the car and sliding into the driver’s seat then pulling out of the parking lot.