Read Online Almost Midnight by Teresa McCarthy - Free Book Online Page B

right. That is Miss Elliot,” he said to Jeremy, trying to keep his voice controlled. “Looks like she might need some help. Uh, here’s Grandpa. You stay with him. I’ll be back in a minute.”
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

CHAPTER FOUR
     
    Hannah raised herself on tiptoes and reached toward the far corner of the top shelf. Though the library was small, it used every bit of space it could. But using the top shelves for the books was beyond her comprehension, since most of the patrons could barely reach that high anyway. Of course, she thought glumly, someone had used this shelf because she was now depositing the book How To Sound Like a Turkey In Thirty Days in its proper place.
    Her body ached from her cold, and it would ache even more since she had to walk a mile to catch a bus back to her apartment tonight. Her car had been towed, and was now sitting in some sleazy gas station waiting to be fixed. She felt exhausted just thinking about it. Maybe Candy could give her a ride home.
    Well, what else could go wrong? She could be fired, she thought as she bent to retrieve another book and sneezed, causing her foot to wobble on the ladder. She gasped when two strong hands came out of nowhere, grabbing her waist.
    “Gotcha, darlin’,” came a male voice from below. “You’re not gonna fall with me by your side.”
    Hannah instinctively gripped the man’s shoulder for support. It took all but a second to recognize the hard muscles beneath the man’s dark blue shirt. A wave of embarrassing heat rolled through her when she met his intense gaze. “Thank you.”
    His eyes seemed to see right through her. “You’re welcome.”  
    Instantly, she released her grip and turned, then gasped when she started to teeter again. She felt momentary panic when his hands moved to rest on her hips. He paused, studying her face, as if that gave him the right to hold her so intimately.
    His lips turned upward in an expression of pure enjoyment. “I’m Alex Richards, Candy’s brother.” 
    He didn’t make an effort to move his hands, and Hannah couldn’t move or she would have fallen directly into his arms.
    “Candy said she spoke to you,” he said in a more serious tone. “I wouldn’t have rushed over here if I hadn’t thought you were about to fall.”
    Hannah eyed him skeptically. “Well, I’m not in jeopardy of falling right now.”
    His smile widened, and he continued to keep his hands right where they were. “I was wondering if you’d go to dinner with me. I’m here on a little business. Thought it might be nice to have someone to eat with since Candy has the late shift a couple times this week.” 
    His words came out as soft as silk, and Hannah figured that with a voice like that the man could tame a tiger if he wanted to. “I can’t,” she said sweetly. “But thanks for asking.”
    “Aw, come on now, darlin’. What’s a pretty thing like you going to do this Friday night anyhow? Candy already told me you weren’t dating anybody.”
    “I really can’t.” She put her hands on his and tried to tug them off her hips, but he slipped one hand over hers and chuckled.
    “Yes, you can.” 
    Even though he was obnoxious, his smile was infectious.
    “And you’re going to get yourself in a heap of trouble if you don’t remove your hands,” she said with her most assertive librarian voice.
    His dark brows knitted into a frown. “You gonna sick that blue-haired ogre on me and bar me from the library?” 
    Hannah managed a smile as his hands slid off her body. “No, but I might lose my job.”
    He took two steps back and leaned against a row of books, letting out another mischievous grin, as if knowing it was more than the blue-haired lady he would have to deal with. “Candy said you finished your engineering degree. If you’re looking for a job, I could get you one in Chicago. I have a lot of pull.”
    Hannah blinked. His words had hit the mark. Chicago was a great place for