Calico Cross Read Free Page B

don’t you get your head out of the clouds, scout, and watch where you’re going?” he growled, glaring down at me just like he did that day on his porch.
    Why, yes, now I remembered. This was the neighbor I hated so passionately. Anger rushed me and I bit down on my lip to keep my comments from bursting out and getting my little butt into trouble. Instead, I did a sarcastic curtsy, and a hand gesture that was very unlike me, and zipped around him, making my way quickly to the car. Once inside the anger came pouring out, and I banged my hand on the steering wheel several times. I watched as the evil man walked into the library…. my library !
    When I got home, I shared with the girls about my new job and most importantly my interaction with ‘the savage’. They thought it was funny, but I was not amused. This guy needed a serious dose of manners, and I was planning to be the one to teach him. How? I didn’t know, but hopefully it would come to me. In the meantime, I would continue to leave cookies in his mailbox.
    The next day, Kiki dropped me off at the library at five minutes till one. I was not going to be late for my first day on the new job. None of them had work that day, and the plan was for me to call them when it was time to be picked up.
    For the next five hours Celia took me around and showed me all the ropes. Working at a public library was different from working at the one in my high school. For one thing, this one was much bigger and older. I was in love with everything about it.
    Ten minutes before my shift was to be over ‘the savage’ entered. Great! Just when my day was perfect. He acted as if he didn’t see me when clearly he had as he strolled to one of the aisles and disappeared.
    “Great! The jerk is here,” I mumbled but clearly not low enough because Celia heard me.
    “Oh you mean, Dane? Have you met the handsome man before?” She leaned in closer, eager for my response.
    “Unfortunately yes.”
    “I take it you don’t like him?” Her eyes were questioning.
    “Is it that obvious, and does anyone?”
    “Oh yes. Many people like Dane. He has helped a lot of people in this community in the eight or so years he’s lived here.”
    My eyes widened in surprise. Surely she was thinking of someone else and not the jerk that had yelled at us when we entered his property. “Really?”
    “Oh yes. Now he’s not one for the ladies, which I find strange being that he is so handsome and all. And many have tried to get his attention, but he seems to ignore them.”
    “Well, they’re better off if you ask me,” I responded. “Why is he in here so often anyway? I ran into him here yesterday as well.”
    “Oh, he comes in here often to check out books about farming and planting.”
    “Why doesn’t he just goggle it on the internet?”
    “Oh, Dane doesn’t use the internet. He doesn’t even own a computer.”
    That explained a lot.
    When my shift ended, I quickly exited the building and pulled out my phone, eager to get as far away from ‘the savage’ as possible. That’s odd, I thought as my sisters, one by one, ignored their phones. I huffed and kept trying, but no one answered. I left multiple messages… and waited.
    I paced back and forth as I made another call to Tabby. “Tabby, please pick up. I need you to come and get me. Call me.” I huffed again and hung up.
    “Need a ride?” I heard the deep and unfriendly voice speak behind my back.
    “No!” I snapped without looking at him. “I’d rather walk.” And that’s just what I did.
     
    * * * * * *
     
    Dane’s POV
     
    I was still puzzled by my strange behavior. I didn’t know why I burst onto my porch and addressed those girls with such hostility. That was not the man I had become to be or wanted to be.
    There was something about that girl with the oddly streaked hair and brilliant green eyes that struck me as I watched her through the window before they even approached. I instantly felt like she had come to take