Her sweet scent washes over me as I lead her to the proposed site of the new children’s wing. It’s six months of work ahead for my crew, but if it means seeing Mimi every day then I’ll be here each and every morning alongside them. If only I weren’t juggling so many projects at once.
“So it’s not going to be in the same spot?” She asks, sounding like a phone-sex operator. Does she even know what that voice of hers does to me? I train my eyes on her plump lips, wondering if they taste as good as they look.
“It will be, but the expansion reaches further out toward Eastern Parkway,” I say sweeping my hand across the room where miniature tables and chairs sit perched along the wall of windows. “I know it’s dorky, but I’ve always loved the library.” Her green eyes dance when they meet mine, delicate fingers clasped in front of her breasts. She seemed tough all of the times I saw her behind the desk, but now, with her eyes filled with wonder, she seems more like a little kid on Christmas.
“Libraries are awesome.” I say, even though I haven’t spent much time in them aside from heading their redesigns. My life is spent selling my services to clients or wooing them into choosing my firm. “Especially this one. There’s something magical about this branch.”
“You see it too? I love that.” Mimi walks toward a small set of stairs, and I can’t help but catch an eyeful of her gorgeous, round ass. Seriously, this woman’s picture should be in the dictionary under ‘curvy.’ My pulse quickens when she turns back to me, and I quickly avert my eyes from her backside. “Will there still be a teen meet-up lab?”
“A bigger and better one. With new desktops from what I hear.”
“That’s the rumor.” Her eyebrows wiggle as she bites into her bottom lip. “It’s so refreshing to hear this.” She wrangles her hair elastic out from her bun until her long, flowing locks cascade down her back in a wild tangle. “A lot of parents use the library as a babysitter, unfortunately. They count on us in a way. But, at least they have a place to go where they won’t get in too much trouble.” She wraps her hair back up securely on top of her head, unaware that seeing her like that brought to life every naughty librarian fantasy I’ve ever had. A fantasy that’s kicked up a notch since I laid eyes on her. “Unless you count readingFifty Shades of Grey.”
“They don’t do that.”
“Oh, I’ve caught them in the act.” She snaps her fingers, causing her breasts to jiggle. Damn! I clear my throat, and adjust my zipper before pointing back to the main entrance. “Let me walk you back.” Hopefully, it distracts her from seeing how hard I am for her.
Mimi nods, and we make our way to the main entrance. “I do have a few questions, though.”
“Shoot.”
“You said it will take six months?”
“So, you listen?”
A little huff escapes her mouth. “Is it going to be, you know, loud?”
“Well, we do have to tear out most of the inside and knock out a wall so … ”
“So yes?”
“No more than any other construction.”
“That’s the problem.” She says, turning to me. The sweet smile on her round face fades. “I’m all for progress but this is a library. It’s a place where people should have a little respite from the outside world. Call me a romantic, but I find it one of the cheapest and most limitless forms of escapism.”
My chest clenches as she speaks, pulse quickening. I haven’t felt like this around a woman in a very long time—if ever? I want to reach out, pull her to me and tell her that everything will be fine. That she has nothing to worry about and it won’t be that disruptive to the daily flow of the Brooklyn Public Library.
But that last part would be a lie.
“All I can promise you, Mimi, is that it won’t last forever.” The last word lingers in my mouth. As someone in the business of renovation, the concept of forever is moot. Life and structure, it’s always changing. Her eyes flicker up to mine and the air leaves the room. Thank God my brain’s in charge, because I want to pull her to me, press my lips against hers and feel that soft, curvy body of hers tight against my body.
Mimi sucks in the corner of her full bottom lip. Her body sways side to side with her hands behind her back. I don’t want this tour to end, and maybe I could use a little lunch myself. But I don’t get the chance to ask her. My phone rings in my back pocket, breaking the spell between us. The name on the screen is my next appointment, the one I’m already late for.
“I’m sorry,” I say. “I have to take this.”
Her red lips purse together. She gives her head a little shake. “Of course. I have a book I’m itching to get back to, anyway.” Her smile lights up the room and for a second I consider not answering.
But I can’t do that. What would my client think? I can’t jeopardize the reputation I’ve worked so hard building.
“It was nice meeting you,” I say.
“Likewise,” Mimi turns around. Before I can stop myself I answer the call, but keep my eyes trained on the goddess slowly making her way back to the break room. It’s a good thing, too. Mimi casts one more glance at me over her shoulder, a stray hair dangling into her eye.
My client is talking to me, but I’m not one-hundred percent present. How can I be? I will not rest until I’ve captured Mimi’s heart, and made her mine—there’s that word again—forever.
3
Mimi