Celestial Ties

CHAPTER 17

Evelyn POV

I was in the library earlier than usual today. It was Saturday, and Cassandra had called in sick, asking me to cover for her. The day started quietly, the kind of peace that libraries are meant for, and I moved around the shelves, arranging books and setting aside the ones that needed repair. The library was unusually empty, which made my tasks a little less stressful. But then the door opened, and everything changed.

A man walked in, and instantly, the air seemed to shift. His presence was impossible to ignore. He was tall, with a commanding presence that drew every eye in the room, mine included. He wore a tailored charcoal suit that hugged his broad shoulders perfectly, paired with a crisp white shirt and a black tie that looked like it had been tied with surgical precision. His dark hair was styled in a way that was both effortlessly tousled and meticulously arranged, giving him an air of casual sophistication. There was a confidence in his stride, like he owned every room he walked into. The soft leather of his shoes barely made a sound against the polished floor, but the echo of his presence was undeniable.

As he passed by the shelves, I caught a faint whiff of his cologne—rich, with a hint of spice and something woody, a scent that was both intoxicating and utterly masculine. My heart did a little flip, and I hated myself for it. I could tell he was one of God's greatest creations. Don't ask me how I knew; I just did. There was something almost magnetic about him, something that made it hard to look away. I had never seen this face in the library before, and apparently, I wasn't the only one who noticed him. The quiet murmurs of the other patrons had risen slightly, and even old Mr. Arthur, who was usually grumpy and short-tempered, seemed to be behaving unusually well, talking in a polite manner that I didn't think he had in him.

"Who is this man?" I whispered to myself as I moved through the shelves, sneaking glances at him through the gaps in the books. He was scanning the titles with a look of concentration, his fingers trailing along the spines in a way that made me wish I was one of those books. There was something about him that was both mesmerizing and unnerving, and I couldn't shake the feeling that his presence was going to change my day in ways I wasn't prepared for.

"Evelyn, what is wrong with you?" I muttered under my breath, giving myself a light slap on the cheek to snap out of it. My thoughts were spinning as I tried to regain focus on the task at hand. I heard the deep voice of the man at the counter, asking Arthur about the first edition of "Part of You," and my heart skipped a beat. He's a fan of my favorite book?

I couldn't believe my ears. I turned slightly, pretending to be busy with the books on the shelf, but I was keenly aware of their movements. When Arthur mentioned that all editions were available, I realized I was standing right in front of the very book he wanted. Of course, it had to be this shelf.

As they walked toward me, I quickly shifted to the next aisle, trying to maintain a safe distance. I couldn't bear to have him notice me lingering there, too obvious, too eager. Arthur guided him to the counter, where they began the process of signing out the book. I was supposed to be at the counter, but I was grateful that Arthur didn't bother to look for me. Maybe it's better this way.

Once they left, I let out a long, shaky breath I hadn't realized I was holding. "Evelyn, what is wrong with you?" I repeated, this time with a little more force, as I resumed my work. But I couldn't help it—the smile crept back onto my face. Why am I smiling?

"What is making you smile, or is that a blush I see?" a familiar voice suddenly teased from behind, causing me to jump and drop the books I was holding.

"Cassandra!" I gasped, my heart racing from the shock. She burst into laughter, clearly amused by my reaction.

"Goodness, you nearly gave me a heart attack!" I exclaimed, trying to calm my breathing as she continued to laugh.

"What were you smiling at, or was a ghost teasing you?" she asked playfully, still grinning as she bent down to help me gather the fallen books.

"I could ask you the same—what are you doing here?" I retorted, both of us speaking at the same time before breaking into another round of laughter.

"I was sick, but I got bored of staying home alone. I'm not sure I can stay away from this place," she admitted with a shrug, her eyes twinkling with curiosity. "But seriously, what's got you smiling?"

I hesitated, not sure how to explain without sounding ridiculous. "What door did you come in through?" I asked, trying to deflect her attention.

"The back door, why?" she replied, clearly puzzled.

"That's why you missed him," I said, a little too quickly.

"Wait, him? Interesting!" Cassandra's eyes widened with excitement, her teasing grin returning. "Tell me about this him," she urged, bouncing slightly on her feet like an excited child.

I couldn't help but laugh at her antics. "Cassey, it's nothing. He's just a fan of 'Part of You,'" I said, trying to downplay it, but I could feel the smile tugging at my lips again.

"Boo-boo," she pouted, faking disappointment. "I thought my innocent Evelyn had finally found love," she said dramatically, walking away with a playful sway in her step. Her laughter echoed through the library, and soon, I was laughing too, shaking my head at the absurdity of it all.

The day was finally over, and to my relief, we closed the library earlier than usual. The place had been nearly deserted, but my mind wasn't on the empty shelves or quiet corners. It was on him. The scent of that man from earlier kept resurfacing, and each time it did, I couldn't help but smile. I wasn't sure why he lingered in my thoughts like this, but he did. Who was he, really? I kept asking myself, replaying our brief encounter over and over.

To distract myself, I decided to follow Cassandra to her apartment. We spent the evening talking and laughing, a welcome escape from the quiet of my own mind. She kept trying to pry more information out of me about the man from earlier, teasing me relentlessly, but I deflected her questions with laughter. I wasn't ready to share—partly because I didn't know how to explain this feeling, and partly because it all seemed so silly. How could someone I barely knew make such an impression?

Eventually, it was time to go home. The apartment was blessedly empty when I arrived, and I sighed in relief. No Carter to interrupt my thoughts tonight, maybe because I got home earlier than usual. I hadn't been to the daycare in a week, the project with the GW company consuming all my time and energy. Mrs. Bestow had trusted me with so much, and the company's representative seemed to rely on me, too. Maybe that's why they trusted me so much—because I'd helped him pick out those gifts for his family. The thought brought a small smile to my face as I undressed for bed.

As I slipped under the covers, I couldn't tell if it was exhaustion or excitement that was making my heart race. But one thing I knew for sure—I was going to have a good dream tonight. Maybe, just maybe, I'd even have a conversation with him in my sleep. The idea made me smile again as I drifted off, the day's events fading into the warmth of slumber.