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into it a couple of months ago.” Fresh heat filled my face, and the pulse beat harder in my neck. Could he see that?
    The confession turned his grin into a gentle laugh. “I see. I’ve been drafted into a few things myself lately.”
    “Nothing too bad,” I fished.
    He noticed a box of books and knelt down to look through them. “Not really ...”
    It was obvious after several long seconds he wasn’t going to elaborate. “That’s good.” I said.
    Mrs. Harvey approached. “Claire, Ramona has arrived to relieve you.”
    Brandon stood with several books in his hands.
    “Thank you.” I tried to read the titles, but he wasn’t holding them at the right angle.
    The older woman looked Brandon over, nodded once, and then turned to leave.
    “Does this mean you’re free this afternoon?” He asked. His eyes searched my face.
    “I have to go home and give Sprocket his new toy and take him for a long walk. After that, I might be. Why?” Had I just squeaked like a water toy? What was it about this man that left me so breathless? Maybe I should find a vitamin that would cure breathlessness when a handsome man was in my vicinity.
    “Let’s get out of here, and then I’ll tell you.” He made a point of looking in Mrs. Harvey’s direction. She watched us as a librarian listens for noise. If she were any more intense, I’d have to peel her eyes off us, literally. Well, maybe not literally, but it was obvious she would have liked nothing more than to hear our total conversation.
    I began to walk to the checkout desk. It felt good to have the handsome professor following close behind me.
    As I paid fifty cents for the stuffed bear, he paid for his books, and I saw the titles. Aw, they were on wood crafting and writing. We walked to our cars in comfortable silence. Okay, to the onlooker it might have seemed contented. At least I hoped I looked relaxed. Inside I was excited to hear what he had to say and why he’d asked about my afternoon.
    We stopped at my car.
    “Remember I told you I’d been talked into a few things?” How could I have forgotten? That had been less than ten minutes ago.
    At my nod he continued. “Well, one of those things takes place this afternoon and I was wondering if you’d mind coming with me?” Brandon studied the tip of his shoes, reminding me of an embarrassed schoolboy. Even that was attractive. I had to get a grip!
    “Coming with you where?” My heart pounded in my chest. I attempted to open the car door and wished like the dickens I had one of those remote door keys. The way my hands were shaking I’d have all the paint scratched off around the keyhole before I ever got it inserted and unlocked.
    “Promise not to laugh?”
    Finally the key went into the door. With one little twist I was able to deposit my bear onto the front seat. Feeling mischievous I answered. “Nope.”
    A twinkle entered his eyes. “Ok. I’ll just ask. Claire, would you go with me to the high school where my granddaughter is auctioning me off to the highest bidder for a date complete with a steak dinner?”
    I couldn’t contain the laughter that spewed from my lips. He had to be kidding. “Brandon, you aren’t supposed to bring a date to these functions. You are the date!”
    “Well, I have that part planned out, too.”
    He grinned in such a way I’m sure my heart melted and pooled at his feet but I refused to look down. To do so would be to break eye contact, and the good Lord knows I couldn’t pull my gaze away from his if my life depended on it. “Do tell.” I prayed my voice didn’t sound as shaky to him as it did to me.
    He leaned close to me. I could smell peppermint on his breath as he whispered. “Well, if you buy me, I won’t have to go out with some strange woman.”
    “Who says I’m not strange? You barely know me and besides, do I look like I’m in the market for a man?” I’m not sure why I was fighting this idea. Maybe it was the confident way he acted as if I’d jump at a