by Eliza Quinn
“So basically you all got a job here and met hot men who are now the loves of your life?” Leslie asked with a laugh.
“You know, I never thought about it like that but yeah, that’s basically how it worked. Maybe you’ll find someone here too. The library might be magic.” Charlie mused.
“Nope. No way. I’m done with men. I’ll settle for a steady income and peace of mind.” Leslie laughed as she walked into the library with Charlie side by side.
“Wow!” Leslie said. Her voice echoed as two heads turned in her direction. The woman was stunning but it was the man who caught her attention. He was incredible, magnetic and powerful. He was tall, really tall by her standards and Charlie and her weren’t short women to begin with. His hair was a light grey color. By the color of his hair, she would have thought he was older but his features were a bit younger. Older than her but not old. He wasn’t handsome by traditional standards, he was… intense. Grey, gunmetal eyes that looked like a storm cloud, cheekbones to kill for and an aquiline nose that looked aristocratic. He was tall, wearing a business suit with a barely restrained violence that the thin layer of civility did nothing to hide. At their entrance, he and the woman paused in there conversation. Cool grey eyes flickered over her with cool indifference, chilly enough to freeze hell over. He turned to the woman. Leslie swallowed. It was crazy, the resemblance to her dream man was uncanny. It was impossible right? People’s fantasies didn’t come to life. Certainly not hers.
“I don’t appreciate having to explain myself. I only made the exception because I have a deep respect for Van der Meer. Ensure it does not happen again.” He clipped. He brushed past Charlie and Leslie without a backward glance. Asshole.
“What was that about?” Charlie asked the woman.
“That was Alexander “Lex” Larson. Millionaire and owner of the house that publishes Asher. He’s interested in being a patron of the library but more than that, there have been rumors that Asher is changing houses. He’s not too pleased with that. Asher isn’t but it probably doesn’t help that Asher has been cagey on his new project. But I happen to know it’s because he’s co-writing the manuscript with Kay and she’s been dragging her feet because she doesn’t want anyone to read what she’s written yet especially not big shots like Lex. Isn’t that right Kay?” Celine yelled.
Kay frowned as she walked out of what Leslie assumed was the back room.
“It’s just not there yet.” Kay huffed.
“Asher said it was brilliant.” Celine returned.
“Hey, Charlie. Who’s your friend?” Kay asked eager to change the topic.
Leslie shifted on her feet, uncomfortable with the sudden shift of attention on her. She tried for a smile and it came out wobbly.
“This is my sister Leslie. She just moved to New York. Leslie this is Celine and Kay. They’re my colleagues and my absolute best friends in New York.” Charlie said.
“Hi.” Leslie said in greeting. She pushed away the strong impression that Lex had made on her. She refused to acknowledge the instant attraction she felt, not when the conversation she’d jokingly had with Charlie was still fresh in her mind. What were the odds that the first guy she saw in the library would be hotter than hell itself? A guy who stepped right of her fantasies into real life? She refused to consider it.
“Well hi. Welcome to the library. How was your trip? Not too crazy I hope?” Celine seemed nice.
“And can I just say you are absolutely stunning. I have a thing for red hair and those eyes. Wow.” Kay said sincerely.
“She got my mom’s looks. I took after my father.” Charlie laughed.
“Both of you are equally stunning anyway. So Leslie, what do you do?” Kay asked innocently.
Leslie gulped, the question had been innocent enough. Leslie didn’t know what she did, she didn’t know what she planned to do.
“She’s currently as loose ends at the moment. I was hoping there’d be something to do here for the meantime?” Charlie asked Cel as Leslie cringed in embarrassment. It was bad enough that she had no prospects, she didn’t want her sister begging on her behalf.
“You know, Asher needs a new assistant. Well I think he needs an assistant, he’s never had one before but he’s always screwing up his schedule. Do you have any experience organizing?” Kay asked.
“I have been an unofficial assistant to a man for the last five years. Does that count?” Leslie asked quietly.
“It does! C’mon, I’ll go bully him into the idea.” Kay whispered conspiratorially.
“It’s fine if the position isn’t open. I’ll find something else.” Leslie started.
“Are you kidding? You’ll be doing me a favor.” Kay laughed, pulling Leslie up the stairs. She decided that she and Kay could definitely get along.
Chapter Four
Leslie got the job. She couldn’t believe it. Maybe the Library was magic or her choice to move here was. Either way, she couldn’t believe her good luck and the position paid a lot better than her three jobs combined. Asher had merely grunted his assent and pushed the paper work in her direction. He’d smiled at Kay and shook his head. If only other things in her life were that easy. Asher’s office had a nice interior and the exterior spilled into one of the smaller rooms in the library that specialized in genres of books. There was a desk and a table for interested readers as well as several low hanging sofas. It worked. Leslie sat at her desk and took a deep breath. She could do this.
The rest of the day passed in a blur as she organized Asher’s filing system and made notes on things she could improve. She started on correspondences and compiled emails and contact information on library regulars and patrons. Maybe she could create a weekly news letter or something to keep them in the loop. She organized her desk and set about arranging Asher’s convoluted schedule that consisted of random meetings and the odd gap in there. Was it any wonder Kay had insisted he needed an assistant? Leslie wasn’t one to judge but he was terrible at organizing. By the day’s end Asher was so impressed in what she’d accomplished that he smiled at her as he left.
“Good job today. You’ve only been here a few hours and I can’t remember how I survived with out you. Kay was right.” He winked at her as he left. Leslie felt herself blushing in appreciation. It had been a long time she’d gotten such simple praise. Kay was a lucky girl. She wrapped things up and made her way downstairs.
The next few days were more or less of the same. Meetings, lunch breaks with the girls and nights spent blissfully exhausted. The life she’d left behind threatened that peace sometimes but she ignored it. What Jason had done was unforgivable but she could shrug it off and move on. She would.
The next day Asher poked his head out of the office.
“Lex Larson should be here in an hour. Send him in when he gets here. I know he’s not on the list of appointments today but he’s a stubborn asshole.” Asher growled and went back in.
Leslie swallowed. She would be seeing him again. Why did the thought make her break out in goosebumps? He was no one. He would barely even remember her. Of that she was sure. She focused on busy work as she tried and failed not to look out for him. When Lex showed up, she felt him before she even saw him. When he walked into the room, it shrank around him. Leslie had never been claustrophobic before but she was beginning to understand how it felt to feel like you couldn’t breathe. She clutched the pen she was holding in her hands and reminded herself to breathe. He was just a man. Not a figment of her imagination sent to torture her. Nothing to fear. He froze when he saw her and for a second Leslie thought she saw heat flare in his gaze. She must have imagined it because she blinked and he stared at her again with cool indifference.
“Alexander Larson.” He said to her. His voice was deep, arrogant like a man who was used to being obeyed without question. He moved closer, until all that separated them was the tiny desk in between them. His nostrils flared like he was taking in the scent of her, animal, primal. She checked her thighs in sudden need. Her green gaze clashed
with his grey. Heat and ice. His gaze narrowed on her with such intensity her breaths came out in short pants.
His fists clenched on the table, dug into the wood so hard she was shocked he didn’t leave grooves.
“Yes. Mr Van der Meer is expecting you.” Leslie said breathlessly. He inhaled, swaying towards her. He looked like he was going to kiss her, she could almost taste it. Almost. He took another deep breath and swallowed. The heat banked in his eyes and he strode away from her, oozing apathy. Leslie closed her eyes and tried to catch her breath. He was going to kiss her, she was sure of it. He’d held back and gone back to cool and collected like nothing had happened. She didn’t know why that bothered her, why he bothered her since she’d barely taken the time to know him beyond his name. Something about Alexander Larson has turned her head upside down, but she couldn’t allow it.
Leslie recognized men like him. Successful, arrogant and demanding. She wasn’t sure how she knew but she’d bet her first paycheck that men like Alexander demanded absolute control. They did not understand how to share and she had just sworn to never code control of her life to the whims and desires of a man. Lex might have been tempting as sin and the Library might really be magical, she snorted at that, but she wasn’t going to go there. She closed her eyes and wondered what if he had kissed her. She could almost taste him, the butterscotch and whiskey taste of him, the spicy, earthy scent of his aftershave. It was a man she could get lost in which is why she was determined not to go there.
Chapter Five
Alexander stepped out of Asher’s office with a satisfaction that he’d been lacking all week. He’d finally straightened out some things with Van der Meer. He wasn’t a man to be bothered by tongues wagging but since Van der Meer has been acting cagey and he considered the man a friend, he’d decided to check in. From what he had seen, there had been no reason for the cageyness. It was some of Van der Meer’s best work and he didn’t know who Kay was other than Asher’s girlfriend but from what he’d seen, he’d probably offer her a contract on her next book too because the few pages he’d seen from the manuscript were stellar work. Talent like that, undiscovered talent was hard to find. He’d told Asher as much. With that settled he walked out of the office fully intent in settling another matter. Asher’s pretty little assistant. He’d seen her first a few weeks before. How could he not with that bright red hair shining directly in the morning sun. Her green eyes had been vivid, large and entrancing. The immediate pull of attraction he felt he’d quickly suppressed. He wasn’t shopping for a new woman. Plus she was nothing like the women he dated. The attraction had thrown him off balance. He’d thought it was a fluke until he saw her again. Throughout his meeting with Asher his mind had strayed more times than he cared to admit to her. Lex was not sure what to make of that. He was a man who got what he wanted and for some insane reason, he wanted a pair of green eyes to burn with need for him. So that was what he was going to get.
“What’s her name, Asher?” Lex asked almost casual.
Asher wasn’t fooled for a moment.
“Who?” He asked, deliberately baiting Lex. It was not often Lex had to ask for something and he could count the number of times on one hand Lex had to ask him.
“You know who Ash, don’t play dumb, it doesn’t suit the turtleneck.” Lex said sardonically.
Asher chuckled and gave in.
“Leslie Evans. She’s related to Charlie. That means that Kay and Celine might soon adopt her. She just moved to New York.” Asher said finally.
“Is that your way of telling me not to fuck with her? Surely, you know better.” Lex arched a challenging brow.
“I know telling you to stay away is only going to make her a more interesting conquest. I’m asking you not to hurt her. If you do and Kay and Cel get mad over it you’ll not only have me to contend with, Everett will be your door ready to fry your balls for making his woman sad.” Asher warned.
“Fine. I’ll be as gentle as I can with baby bird. Never pegged you as the protective type.” Lex shook his head. Women had a way of turning a man upside down. It was a good thing he never planned on giving anyone the chance.
“Love of a good woman my friend. That shit is addictive.” Asher laughed.
Leslie didn’t look up when Asher’s office door slid open. She didn’t look up when she heard footsteps, she resolutely focused on her desktop, staring at a calendar that didn’t need another round of reorganization.
“Hello baby bird.” His voice startled her. Leslie has been so focused on ignoring him that she failed to hear his footsteps getting closer, not leaving. The pet name caused a reaction deep inside her. It sounded soft on his lips where he looked incapable of gentleness. Sweet even. She melted a little at the sound.
“My name is Leslie.” She said. If he decided to start calling her baby bird, she didn’t stand a prayer’s chance in hell of fending him off. She needed macho and demanding to make a comeback so she could convince herself that she was better off.
“I know baby bird.” He smiled at her. Leslie blinked slowly. If he was stunning before, he was irresistible now. Her brain went blank and her coochie took over for her lips.
“Uh…” She said very intelligently.
“I want dinner baby bird. A date. I want you, make no mistake of that but since you’re sweet, I’ll ease you in. Dinner, then we can talk about all the ways I want to own your soul.” He smiled again, like the devil himself. Leslie tried to gather her wits and failed. She should say no, she was going to say no.
“What time?” Damn female hormones had taken over her brain.
“Friday night. Eight pm. I’ll pick you up.” He said and walked out just as quickly as he had stepped up to her desk.
By the time her temperature had returned to normal, he was long gone. She took deep calming breaths and mentally kicked herself. What had she done? How had she gone from not being interested in or planning to be interested in any man to panting after him like he was a slab of well cooked beef. Was it hormones or five years of bad sex? She couldn’t wrap her head around it at all. And bit the inside of her cheek and resisted the urge to sigh loudly.
“Hey, you okay?” Kay said, startling her for the second time in the day. Her vision cleared to find Kay waving her hands to get her attention. Leslie blushed. She’d been too far gone to notice the other woman.
“Uh damn. Sorry. I didn’t see you there. Asher doesn’t have any meetings going on.” Leslie said.
“I was going to see Asher but that was before I saw you looking lost. Now I’m calling an emergency meeting to dissect what is the matter with you. Have you taken a lunch break?” Kay insisted.
“No? What emergency meeting? I’m fine.” Leslie insisted.
“Uh huh. Asher, can Leslie take five?” Kay yelled.
“Sure.” Asher said back.
“C’mon. Coffee, ice cream and spill. The faster you comply the faster you get back. If I were you, I’d start talking.” Kay said tugging Leslie down the stairs.
Chapter Six
Leslie suspected she must have looked suspicious because as soon as Charlie and Celine saw her, their faced adopted varying looks of interest. Leslie was still processing what had happened with Lex. Could she talk about it without sounding like a crazy person? She needed some time to mull it over. As Charlie started to speak she lifted her hand in the universal signal for silence.
“I love you sis but I need to stop freaking out before I say anything. Lex asked me out on a date.” Leslie announced.
“And you’re going?” Charlie asked as the other girls looked on in shock.
“Yeah, no, I dunno. Maybe? I said yes.” Leslie sighed. She couldn’t make sense of her thoughts.
“Look we can’t all be away from work at the same time so we’ll do this. Well come over to Charlie’s after work and you can give us all the deets. That gives you enough time to figure it out. And oh Leslie? That wasn’t an offer. We’re showing up with ice cream and alcohol.” Celine said firmly. The other girls no
dded including her traitor sister. She didn’t have a choice.
“He tricked me.” Leslie groaned.
The girls burst into laughter as they passed the bowl of ice cream between each other. She was at home with the traitors, they had all come over for a girls’ night she was sorry to be missing but somehow they had convinced her that the harebrained idea of going on a date with Alexander was not so harebrained.
“It’s not a trick if all he did was crook his little finger to have you drooling. It’s called hormones.” Celine snorted.
“It totally was. He tricked me with his Geralt of Rivia looking Henry Cavill good looks and his stupid arrogance and I couldn’t say no. It’s not a good idea for me to consider going on a date with anyone.” Leslie sighed.