Page 74 of Falling for Keeps

“Yet flirting with some dad while you’re on shift is?”

“I’m going to assume you didn’t really mean that.”

Seth shuts his eyes, letting out a sigh. “Sorry. You’re right. I was jealous, but I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.”

“There’s nothing to be jealous about,” I remind him. “First off, we aren’t together, Seth. We won’t ever be together if you get that way anytime I talk to a man.”

“It’s not just a man, though. You’ve made out with him.”

I hate that Seth was there, that he saw us together. That every time I think about Carson’s hands gripping my waist, I melt inside.

It’s not even fair to tell him it meant nothing, because despite what I’ve been trying to make myself believe, it meant everything. The better I get to know Carson and what an incredible person he is, the more it comes to mean.

Neither of us are the meaningless hook-up type, so it feels more like kismet than chance that we’d end up in the right place at the right time with the right mood for everything to come together and both of us to drop our inhibitions.

Maybe I should be more embarrassed and less empowered, but Carson unlocked something deep within me.

“Second,” I say, “he’s my friend. If this is going to be a problem, we can stay friends, too.”

I’ve kissed Seth, too. Our first relationship started because we felt the vibes at that library conference and made out under the lights of karaoke.

I’m karaoke cursed.

Sheesh, maybe I am the type for meaningless kissing. At least when there’s an off-key sing-along involved. At the time, though, I’d thought it meant something. But we went on a few dates, and he didn’t call or text me for weeks. We still had to see each other all the time at work. Watching him flirt with patrons was a cold bucket of water to my expectations.

Maybe I’m not meant to find someone yet. The thought is a punch to my gut, swift and forceful. When I look back up at Seth, the furrow in his brow and warmth in his eyes nearly pulls me under.

“Sorry, Emma.”

It’s so simple, yet so powerful. “We need to have work boundaries.”

“You’re right. That was out of line. I’ll do better.”

Hello, green flag. I can’t fault him if he’s going to be humble enough to admit wrongdoing so quickly.

“I know I didn’t take us seriously the last time we tried to go out, but I’m not that guy anymore. I want to find someone to spend the rest of my life with, and I want us to give this a real shot.”

I do a quick inventory in my head.

Seth Pros: he’s nice, can be a gentleman, good kisser, attractive, and likes to read.

Seth Cons: he’s not Carson.

Fine, that’s not fair. It’s reason enough to dash a mental line through the cons list entirely. Especially when the rest of the list is composed of things he did last year, things I shouldn’t hold against him if I really am giving him another shot.

“Okay,” I hear myself say.

“Movie tonight?” he asks.

“I have too much to do for Kiss the Pig. Maybe once this week is over and I can breathe again.”

He nods. “Okay.”

I hold his gaze for a moment, and it doesn’t feel terrible. Maybe this can work.

He clears his throat, and his boss demeanor pops into place. “Can you man the front desk for a bit? Maggie’s due for her break.”

“Sure.” I pick up a stack of discarded books from a table to set on the take-backs cart. Penny and Molly are huddled over a book in the children’s section while Carson chats with Katie, who’s bouncing her sleeping baby in her carrier wrap. Maggie doesn’t really need me to relieve her, but I don’t mind stepping in. We have a computer that allows people to check out their own books, but many of our patrons are old school and like having a person do it for them.