Love Inspired May 2015 #1 (51 page)

“Are you all right?” she asked. “You seem troubled.”

He liked that she cared about him, that she noticed his moods. He rested his hand on the side of her face, his thumb gently stroking the soft cheek. “No. Just trying to stay on top of things. That deadline is getting closer.”

“I know, and you've lost time from the job by taking care of things here. I really appreciate it, though.”

She was so close, so lovely, he knew he should step back and leave but his feet were nailed to the floor. He lowered his head, his gaze riveted to her slightly parted lips. He'd wondered too long. He had to know.

She didn't resist as he tilted her face upward and took possession of her lips. He wanted to consume her, but he allowed himself only one small taste. He wasn't disappointed. The sweetness of the kiss, the warmth of her, fulfilled all his dreams.

He pulled away, his gaze locked with hers. He saw the same emotion in her brown eyes that swirled through him. There was no denying the attraction was mutual.

A lance of fear sliced along his nerves. Fear of failure, fear of being unable to love her the way she deserved. He saw fear in her eyes, too, the one he dreaded. No matter what she might feel for him, she would always see him first and foremost through the lens of the past.

She stepped back. “Shaw maybe this isn't—”

“It's just a kiss between friends. That's all. I'd, uh, better go. There's too much riding on this job for both of us.”

He walked out, kicking himself three ways from Sunday for crossing a barrier he'd sworn to defend. It was a good thing Lainie was going back to work tomorrow. He needed to rebuild some walls before it was too late.

* * *

Lainie stared out the window in Shaw's truck as he drove her to the library. She couldn't stay home another day. Her arm was feeling better, and she was impatient to get back to work. Even if that meant sitting on the sidelines and supervising.

She stole a glance at Shaw. He'd been quiet and distant all morning. She'd anticipated his kiss for a long time now, and it had met all her expectations. Though brief and gentle, she sensed the undercurrent, the emotion he was keeping firmly in check.

But when the kiss had ended, he'd shut down, his cobalt eyes had turned navy, and she'd sensed his withdrawal. Her heart still smarted from his blunt reminder that it was only a kiss between friends. It had meant nothing to him.

She shouldn't read too much into it. The most eligible bachelor in Dover was skilled at pouring on the charm, teasing the ladies with that knee-buckling smile and making a woman feel as if she were the only one in the universe.

She swallowed. The attraction between them was growing. The kiss had proved that. She just didn't know what to do about it. Falling for Shaw was guaranteed heartbreak.

Shaw pulled the truck to a stop near the carriage house. He looked over at her, his eyes filled with questions. “Are you sure you're ready for this?”

“I'm fine. I need to be here. We're too close to the deadline.”

“Okay.” He squeezed her hand. “But I've already told Millie and her crew to make sure you don't do more than you're able. And they
will
come and get me if you do, and I'll take you right back home.”

Lainie slipped her hand from his and reached across her lap to open the door. “In case you haven't noticed, I've become very adept at being a lefty. There's a lot I can do with only one hand that will still be helpful.” She smiled at him before shutting the truck door. “I'll be fine. Don't worry about me.”

She stepped into the carriage house and was met with a warm hug from Millie.

“I should send you home, but it's so good to have you back, I just can't. However, you'd better not overdo it.”

“I got the same speech from Shaw.” She smiled at the other women who had gathered around. Millie began the introductions. “Lainie, meet your Friends of the Library volunteers.”

Ellen Bower, an older woman with a friendly face, was the first to step forward. “I've heard so much about you. I'm Shelby Durrant's grandmother. I think you've met her?”

“Yes, I have.”

A slender woman with salt-and-pepper hair introduced herself as Carol Stanton. “I'm not officially a Friend, but I wanted to come and help. The people of Dover were so generous to me and my husband last winter when a storm destroyed our home. They rebuilt the entire house in a matter of weeks.”

Millie reached out her hand to indicate a woman in her late seventies, who walked with a cane. “This is Edith Johnson. She bakes the best chocolate chip cookies in the county.”

“I'm an avid reader. Always have been. Give me a good mystery and I'm a happy camper. You'll get sick of seeing me here when it opens.”

Lainie laughed. “Never.”

“And this is Myra Latimer. She and her husband own the local office supply store here in Dover.”

Lainie was touched deeply by the generosity of these women. “Thank you, ladies, for helping out. We couldn't get the library open if it weren't for you.”

Edith smiled. “We're happy to help, but as you can see, the lending books are starting to arrive, and we're running out of space. Some of the furniture is here, too. We need to find a place to keep it until we're open.”

Millie waved her hand in dismissal. “Not to worry. I've already solved our problem. Dutch Ingles has an empty old building one block over. He keeps saying he'll find a great new business to lease it to, but he never will. I talked him into letting us store the sorted volumes there, and he offered to come and pick them up for us when they're ready. He also owns a nice big van.”

Carol looked puzzled. “That's remarkable. How did you manage that?”

Ellen snickered. “Remarkable my big toe. Dutch has had a thing for Millie for years, but she won't give him so much as a wink.”

Lainie arched her eyebrows. “Millie, I'm seeing a whole new side to you.”

Millie raised her chin. “Can I help it if I have magnetism?”

The comment elicited chuckles and a groan from her friends.

The women got back to work, but it didn't take Lainie long to realize there was little she could do with only one hand. Typing was too slow when she had to hunt and peck each key, and unboxing books wasn't as easy as she'd thought it would be. Pushing back from the computer, she uttered a groan of frustration.

Millie came to her side. “Not as easy as you thought?”

Lainie's shoulders sagged. “I'm useless.”

“That is not true.” Carol Stanton wagged a finger. “Millie tells us you have all kinds of wonderful ideas for things to do once we open.”

“I do, and I've had plenty of time to think up more these last few days.”

“Well, don't keep them a secret.” Myra joined them at the small table they used as a desk.

As Lainie shared her plans and ideas with the volunteers, her excitement and confidence grew. She couldn't wait to be settled in the new building. She looked forward to helping people find books, teaching them to use the computer and offering lectures and book signings.

Ellen chuckled softly. “You sound like Millie used to. Always coming up with things to draw people to the library.”

Lainie's heart warmed with the compliment. “I think Millie and I both want the same thing for Dover—an active, vital library to serve the community.”

Myra shook her head. “I hate to spoil the moment, but some folks are losing interest in the library. They're saying it's taking too long and that it might not even open.”

Lainie was horrified. “Of course it will happen. Shaw is working practically around the clock to make the deadline.”

“I know, but it wouldn't hurt to do a little promotion. My daughter Nicki literally saved our store with her marketing ideas. I was thinking we could take some of these children's books to the senior center on the square and have them read to the children during the day. With school out for the summer, I know moms would welcome something like that to fill the time.”

“Myra, you're brilliant.” Millie faced Lainie. “Promotion is something you can do even with your arm in a sling.”

Lainie liked the idea. “Yes. I'll make posters to put around town announcing some of the programs we'll have. And I can leave these library card applications in the stores for people to fill out. We could put a drop-in box at the courthouse, and then we can have people's library cards ready and waiting on opening day.”

With her hope renewed and her sense of purpose restored, Lainie picked up several children's books and a packet of applications, and slipped them into a small canvas bag. “Since I can't do much here, I'm going to become a walking advertisement.” She would make this library a success and a place to come and enjoy books and learn, to spend time with friends and to fall in love with reading.

If enthusiasm alone was a guarantee, the Dover Library would be a success. But right now, it depended on Shaw getting his part done. Truthfully, the library could open without books, but not without the inspector's final approval. All Lainie could do was press on.

* * *

Shaw laid the last shelf onto the support cleat in the storage closet, mentally checking off another task on his list. One by one, the details were being addressed. The floors had been refinished and covered with paper to protect them. Carpet was going down in the reading corner and children's area in the morning. The final elevator inspection was done and approved. Things were moving forward, but not fast enough to suit him.

The new bookshelves would be delivered and installed starting Monday, but that still left a long list of small jobs to complete, not to mention bringing in the furniture Lainie had ordered. And of course all the books. He'd been shocked when she'd told him the building would house more than thirty thousand books. His mind couldn't begin to fathom that amount. But he could easily understand Lainie's excitement at the thought of all those volumes under her protection.

Since Lainie had returned to work, Shaw had pulled back on helping out at home. She'd adapted to the sling and managed to find ways of doing several tasks one-handed.

He still planned his time around being home for supper, but he returned to work once he was sure everything was taken care of for the day. More time on the job was supposed to keep Lainie from invading his thoughts every moment. He'd even avoided going to the carriage house. But his heart wanted to be with her.

Shaw closed the closet door, scanning it one last time to make sure it was positioned perfectly in the frame, and the knob worked easily. Satisfied, he turned to see Russ striding in his direction. His solemn expression raised a twinge of concern.

“You got a minute?”

“Sure. What's up?”

Russ took a moment before he spoke, further raising Shaw's concern.

“It's Viola. She started having pain in her hands and arms last night. It got so bad she couldn't even hold a paper cup. I took her to the clinic. They think it might be the start of rheumatoid arthritis. I'm taking her to a specialist this afternoon for more tests.”

“I'm so sorry to hear that. What do you need me to do?”

Russ removed his hard hat, ran a hand through his hair, then replaced it. “I know this is a lousy time to ask, but I need some time off. Maybe a week. I don't know how long it'll take to get the tests results back or what will have to happen after that.”

Shaw squeezed the man's shoulder. “Don't give it a thought. Go. Take care of Viola first. I don't want you to think about this job until she's all right.”

“But how will you make the deadline?”

Shaw steered the man toward the door. “Not your problem. I've got it under control.”

Russ nodded, his eyes communicating that he knew Shaw was trying to make light of the situation.

Shaw watched the man disappear before exhaling a heavy sigh. He linked his hands behind his neck. The timing of this couldn't have been worse. Russ did the work of three men. Without him, Shaw was looking at even more hours on the job. The only thing left to give up was sleep. So be it.

By the end of the day, Shaw had reworked the construction schedule as best he could. Millie had taken Lainie home so he could stay on the job. When he pulled the truck into the drive, the headlights caught sight of someone on the front porch swing. Lainie. It was her favorite spot in the evening. In the morning, she favored the wicker chairs he'd painted and repaired for her. He'd retrieved them from the attic while she was at work and given them a quick fix-up and paint job and had surprised her when she'd got home. He'd received a hug for his efforts.

He joined her on the swing. Just sitting beside her calmed his worries. “I didn't expect you to still be up.”

“I didn't expect you to be so late.” She studied him a moment. “Something happened today, didn't it?”

“Is it that obvious? I lost my foreman today.”

“Russ quit?”

“No. It's only a temporary leave. His wife is ill. She's having tests run and he wants to be with her. I agreed. That's more important. They think she may have RA. She's a seamstress, so something like this could change her life.”

“I'll keep her in my prayers. What will this mean for the job?”

“I'll have to work longer hours.”

She slipped her hand in his, the contact releasing the last of his tension. Amazing how just being with her made things better. “There aren't many hours in the day left.”

“I know.” He longed to pull her closer and lose himself in her warmth and compassion, but not yet. He would keep his word and his feelings in check. For now.

“What are you doing out here so late?” Her hesitation told him it was something she was reluctant to share.

“You know how I've been going around town promoting the library? Today I found a fistful of card applications tossed into a trash bin in front of the Magnolia Café. Why would someone do that?”