Page 35 of Checking Out the Librarian

“I need to see your ID.” Jonathan’s eyebrows drew down. “We have more than one in our system.”

He had once received a three-pack of watch batteries for the other Connor McMillan in town, and he damn well hoped the personal pleasure product that had never arrived at his own address had pleasantly surprised a different Connor rather than a porch pirate. While he pulled his wallet out of his front pocket, he said, “I’m the one on Harris Street.”

Jonathan glanced from the driver’s license to Connor. “I see. Yes.”

“If you’re having trouble finding my account, this might help.” He thrust a scrap of paper he’d taken from the recycle bin by the free computer terminals at Jonathan. “It’s, ah, another piece of my contact information.”

He glanced at the older woman while Jonathan reached for the books. She narrowed her eyes at him and her lips turned down.

“If you need it to check out these books, I mean. That’s all.”

Jonathan’s lips twitched as he looked between the ten digits of Connor’s phone number written on the square of paper and Connor. “Very helpful, thank you.”

Connor watched the dark burgundy polish on Jonathan’s fingernails flash across the keyboard as he tapped. Jonathan didn’t give him an opening to continue conversing, merely pushed the paperbacks across the counter and thanked him.

That left him no choice but to turn and leave.

Outside, he unhooked Ribby’s lead from the railing. “We’re going now, bud. Did what I could.”

At the corner, he paused for the light to change. His car was parked on the next block over, but he didn’t want to go home. Maybe he should buy groceries, even though he’d done that yesterday.

His phone vibrated in his pocket, setting his heart to thumping like Ribby’s tail.

Unknown number

I’m off at four.

It must be Jonathan, and he’d used Connor’s real cell phone number, not the app.

He could feel his face breaking into a huge grin. The driver waiting to turn right after he crossed was probably angry, but the walk man sign was unimportant now.

Unknown number

Do you need me to tell you who this is?

Connor

Jonathan?

Is that an invitation

Unknown number

If you’re around, it is.

Connor

I am. And Yes I’ll wait

For you

I mean where

I’ll stop

Unknown number

Wait at the café across the street. Read quietly until I get there.