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Matteo leaned back against the wall He’d never really thought about the library at all He hadn’t had any interest in it as a five-year-old—he’d beenpool in the grounds of the house But the enthusias from Phoebe was almost infectious He walked over and ran his hand across the spines of some of the books The library had that old-world sort of smell The kind you either loved—or hated

Most of the books looked like encyclopedia-style voluave a smile “Remeo to a library and search in a book when you wanted to find out so?”

Phoebe nodded She was staring at the books in front of her “Two seconds, that’s how long it takes now to search for so Think of the hours you had to spend before”

She was still s as she pulled one of the books from the shelf “So” There was a glint in her eye as she let the book fall open in her hands

Matteo was curious and walked toward her The heat in the rooed off his jacket His eyes widened as he looked at the illustrations in the book and choked with laughter He leaned closer and frowned “Can people even get in that position?”

Phoebe lint in her eye “Only if you’re a contortionist I’ed to the previous owner?”

Matteo nodded his head He couldn’t help but s demure Seems like there was much more to her than met the eye”

Phoebe smiled as she closed the book and slid it back into place She turned back toward Matteo and bit her lip “I’m sorry that I’m here Obviously, I didn’t mean to be”

Matteo shrugged “It’s fine” He glanced at the heap of bedclothes on the floor “But don’t you want to sleep in a bed?”

“I would have—but it was a little cold upstairs And ith the fire down here and—” she held out her hands “—all these wonderful books I kind of decided that this was all the entertainirl could need”

The sentence was light-hearted but their gazes connected as she said the last feords It seeainst the crackle of the fire in the background he could almost hear the sizzle in the air His skin buzzed and blood rushed to parts at the rate of a Grand Prix driver racing around Le Mans He was holding his breath without even realizing it, and as Phoebe’s tongue slipped frolistened in the di in his ears What on earth was happening between theest pause, Phoebe pulled her eyes away fro