Total pages in book: 21
Estimated words: 19879 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 99(@200wpm)___ 80(@250wpm)___ 66(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 19879 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 99(@200wpm)___ 80(@250wpm)___ 66(@300wpm)
The next time my heart beats, I swear the heat and blood flow travel lower.
His dark eyes meet mine this time and he offers me a charming yet relaxed smile. “You came.”
His voice. Good God what has overcome me? The spell was for him but it must’ve affected me too. Slowly I slip my purse off my shoulder and make my way towards him, towards the glowing light, my heels clicking on the marble floors.
“I should’ve called, but I—there were people at the shop.” My voice seems too loud at first, so I lower it and then clear my throat. A blush rises to my cheeks and I wish it didn’t. The heat throws me off. I continue, “ And I didn’t want to kick them out, and everybody has somewhere to be tonight. Then this,” I gesture to the power going out. “I’m so sorry I’m late.”
With the lights out, the bookshelves are only slightly darker shadows. It’s romantic somehow but eery all the same. Lightening flashes against the large floor to ceiling windows at the far back of the room and for a moment there’s light and then it’s gone.
“I’m glad you made it,” Finley says softly, and then he steps out from behind the desk to meet me. His gait is just as powerful as his broad shoulders. It’s a quiet authority and simultaneously charming. He picks up one of the candles, a tall pillar candle that could burn for hours on a handled drip pan and escorts me past the desk. “This way. I set up a little something.”
“Is that an antique?” I ask, because the brass candle holder he has definitely looks like it came from a century ago or more.
“Original to the building,” he says with a slight grin. With the flow of the candles fading, he reaches out this time his hand warm and comforting on my elbow to lead the way. “I have a surprise for you.”
I arch a brow, “Is it the books that are only available by appointment?” I’m only half joking.
“Yes.” He laughs, low and amused. The handsome sound forces a smile to my lips. “But I have something else to show you, too.”
My heart beats faster but I ignore it. Swallowing down my nerves I venture a guess. “More books?”
He chuckles again, leading me down a set of stairs in the back hall I’ve been down only a few times before. “In a way.” The iron spiral staircase is large enough to not be dangerous but small enough to separate us from walking side by side. He takes my hand and I can’t escape the warmth of his touch.
With every step, my heart beats harder.
It’s a heady feeling, to follow him by candle light to the ancient books room. I’m certain that’s where we’re headed.
We walk together through the library, our footsteps echoing. Finley lets go of my arm to open a door in the middle of the back wall. It’s easy to ignore most of the time because it’s already locked, but this time, when he pulls it open—
I actually gasp.
This room is full of candles.
It’s obvious he’s taken care to place them where they can’t tip over or damage any of the valuable books, but they’re everywhere. The old wooden desk in the back has several lit on it. Candles line the back walkway in various heights. There’s one window on the right side and tea lights sit on the windowsill.
The candles aren’t the only difference though. The room isn’t crammed with study tables, like it was when I got a glance inside my first year back. The two tables are gone, and there’s a blanket on the floor along with book stands to hold more candles, a low table, and a few cushions.
“You must love candles,” I breathe.
“The power went out,” Finley says with an amused smirk.
I cringe at my comment. “Right, right. And here I was, thinking you just wanted to set the atmosphere.” A nervous laugh leaves me and I’m very aware that my heart is damaging in my chest. My brain is screaming at me not to blow it.
Finley drops his hand to my lower back, and a little charge goes through me. From the way he exhales, he felt it, too. His hand on my body like that sends a shock through my entire system. I need more of it. Desire races through my veins.
“Maybe I was,” he teases. “Would you have liked it if I turned out all the lights?”
“As opposed to fate deciding for us?”
He laughs again, and this time it’s hotter and more knowing. “Do you think it was fate that caused the power outage?”
“Maybe it was,” I tease back, rocking slightly on my heels. Even through my coat and my clothes, I can feel the heat of his palm. It’s way too early in the evening to press myself closer to him, but damn—I want to. “Maybe everything that’s ever happened all happened to lead us to tonight, exactly how it is.” I try to say it casually, almost jokingly even, although I mean it. Everything happens for a reason.