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Chapter One

Anna

“Nick Jenson?”

I stiffen and slouch a little bit lower into my seat as I listen in on a conversation that I know I probably shouldn’t be overhearing Elsa, e librarian, Ms Vincent, are deep in conversation, huddled in the row behind the reference books Dying to knohy they’re talking about Nick, I quietly rise from my seat and busydown, so they don’t see me

“Yes,” Ms Vincent says, her voice hushed and full of excite site She went out with hi her voice a few notches lower “Well, do I really need to say it?”

“When you begin by telling me that Mallory ended up in hospital, yes, you do need to spell it out for ly frustrated “What happened?”

For the love of God, just spit it out I’ down, but I have to knohat happened because this isn’t the first conversation I’d overheard about Nick It see about him

Nick is the thirty-so kids, who’s lived next door to o of a rare forht-year-old Milly and ten-year-old Max alone He’s a great dad, and full credit to hi little humans

I knew that he had recently started dating again, and to be honest, I adain The problem oressed a little further than most respectable women would usually allow, suddenly Nick Jensen is hot propertyI turnI hadn’tYou’d think I elve rather than twenty-two, given hoas hanging off every word of a private conversation

“He was too big,” Ms Vincent hisses “She said it was like squeezing into a pair of jeans that were two sizes too sive up when…” I jerk h the shelves, just in tie and hold otta hurt “Ten stiches later, and she still wants to go out with hiain”

“Hell, so I do,” Elsa giggles She glances at her phone “Shit I’ve got a night class starting in five minutes”

My eyes widen as I pusheither of them to noticeaboveto tilt, but I’m too slow to react I let out a half-hearted cry as the whole thing tu me under a mountain of heavy textbooks

“Anna? Are you okay?” I cringe as I make out the voice of Elsa She takes my hand and yanks me out I flush and mumble a ‘thank you,’ then attempt to fix the shelf, which doesn’t appear to have the ability to stand upright anymore

“Leave that, for God’s sake,” Ms Vincent says “The i is whether or not you’re okay”

“I’m fine,” I mumble Except for my pride

“What happened?” she asks, shaking her head “What were you even doing down there?” Her expression turns suspicious and I freeze,

“Uh, soet it out,” I squeak “When I tried to reach it, the thing tilted and collapsed on me” I don’t knohether to be impressed or embarrassed at my ability to be able to lie on command “Seriously, I’m fine Just a little bit embarrassed”

Thank God it was late because the library had been nearly empty With any luck, there were no witnesses besides Ms Vincent, Elsa and the guy sitting in the far corner of the library I frown, realizing that I know him More than I wanted to, actually, after that day last summer when I was pretty sure he flashed himself at me

“Nonsense Don’t worry about it It’s easily fixed,” she assures me “I’ll have my son Nathan fix it up” She turns around and waves It takes uy He waves back, but his eyes are on e and turn back to the o ho We’ll tidy this mess up”