Katia was a librarian, a good librarian, but it wasn't her first choice. She had graduated college with a degree in anthropology years earlier and with all the exuberance of a fresh face kid with dreams of great discovery in her field, she was soon dismayed at the actual positions that were available. Two years of frustrated job searching, she returned to college for a secondary degree in library science. After graduation, she found a position almost immediately at the local library in her home town, a place where she had vowed she would leave and never return. It seemed life had a way of taking precedence over Katia while she was making plans. Not the stereotypical librarian, she was stunningly beautiful with long auburn hair that was swept to the side over one eye reminiscent of Veronica Lake of the classic film genre. In fact, that was what Katia patterned herself after. She wore fitted sweaters, tight pencil line skirts with tall heels more conducive to the forties or fifties era, but it was the style she liked and she wore it well filling out her clothes with her luscious curves. Her eyes were like pools of emerald green water that seemed to engulf the person she was speaking to and her lips were full, plump and when she smiled, she drew you into her like a siren.
No one knew what Katia did with her off time and she didn't offer to tell anyone either. She had few friends and didn't seem to mind. She was an enigma. Following the crowd didn't appeal to her and she frowned on anyone whose intelligence was not equal if not more impressive than her own. However, the fact was that she lived in a small bungalow near the water where she preferred to be and found her peace there away from the rotting crowds that she abhorred. That wasn't to say that she was lonely, because she had a lover or two that kept her appetite for sex at bay, but it wasn't very satisfying. To her, their skills in the bedroom were nothing more than a drink of water that quenched her thirst, but had no taste to it. She craved more and the men she saw just didn't provide it and although she was asked to make a permanent commitment to one or another, she couldn't bring herself to do so. If the magic wasn't there in the bedroom, then it wasn't there anywhere else was her thinking. Consequently, her days were filled with work grilled to a computer and, if not that, then helping patrons at the library which consisted mostly of the nerdy type or older folks who were retired and found solace from their empty lives in the stacks of books where they could escape. It was a job, she thought to herself and it paid the bills, but that was all. For the most part she had resigned herself to the dowdy position yet she knew there was so much more out there she wanted to experience.
One summer day on a rainy Wednesday, she sat behind the front desk diligently searching for a book a patron requested and let out a deep sigh at her inability to find it. The elderly gentleman requesting the book didn't seem to mind that she couldn't find it and patiently waited content to stare at her breasts engulfed in pink sleeveless blouse. She looked up at the man and smiled weakly.
"I'm afraid I can't find it sir. Are you sure it's still in print?"
The old man had to catch himself from his gaze, "That's all right dear. Maybe I was mistaken that it was available."
Katia sucked in her breath now convinced the book probably didn't exist at all, "Well when it does become available, I'll let you know."
"That would be fine," the elderly man said leaning heavily on his cane. "I'll come back next week and see if it's here."
"You do that," Katia mumbled sarcastically as the man hobbled off.
"Can you believe that guy?" Katia said to the older plump woman standing behind her loading books into a cart to be re-shelved.
"Honey, you're his fantasy girl. I bet he goes home and jerks off after seeing you," she whispered and chuckled carefully looking around to be sure that no one else heard.
"Great, a horny old man getting his thrills at the library is all I have to look forward to," Katia replied giving the coworker an exasperated look.
"It's more than I get, Honey. Soak it up. One of these days your gorgeous looks will fade and you might enjoy the lecherous looks of an old man," the older plump woman chuckled.
"You know what I mean," Katia sighed returning to her computer.
"Remember what I said," the plump woman called back as she pushed her cart down an aisle and immersed herself in the stacks.
The afternoon dragged on and the rain continued. Katia looked out through the front glass doors of the library to see the greyness engulf the day and bury itself into the night then glanced at her watch. Only an hour before closing and she could escape the dreariness of the world that she called her job. With the schedule rotation, it was her night to stay late and close up. Begrudgingly she watched as one by one the patrons left followed by the staff who were hurrying to be on their way. A few minutes later just before she was about to lock the doors, a tallish man with long wet black hair, a leather jacket, wearing blue jeans and boots rushed into the library out of the weather and up to the desk where Katia sat.
"I need to use your phone," he said flatly with dark eyes that seemed to penetrate her.
"You don't have a cell phone?" she asked mindlessly.
"Yea, that would be great if I could find it," the man stated his face firm and lips pursed.
"Oh, I see," Katia said somewhat embarrassed. "Well we don't usually let patrons use the phone."
"I don't mean to bother you, but I was riding my Harley when it started to pour. Water must have gotten into the carburetor or something and it stalled. I had to walk almost a mile in the pouring rain to find a place that was open," the man explained
Katia looked at him across the counter. Even wet, he was devilishly handsome, the kind you would never take home to mother and she was attracted to him more than she wanted to be.
She reached under the desk to retrieve her purse, pulled out her cell phone, and handed it to him, "Go ahead. Use mine."'
"Thanks," he replied taking the phone and stepping aside so that he was not disturbing her.
He dialed a number and waited for it to be answered. A few minutes later, he handed the phone back to her.
"Did you get someone?" she asked.
"Yea, but it's going to be awhile. The garage said the tow truck was out and couldn't pick up my bike for a couple of hours."
Katia thought for a moment. It wasn't her usual method to give strangers a ride, but she was inexplicably drawn to him and the words came out of her mouth before she realized what she was saying.
"The library is closing, but I guess I can give you a lift."
"I wouldn't want to put you out."
"Depends on where you want to go," she replied.
He looked at her, eyed her body then slowly raised his glance to study her face.
"You really should be careful who you say that to. It could get you in a lot of trouble," he said grinning like a Cheshire cat.
"I guess I'm willing to take the chance," she replied turning her chair so that he could glance at the slit in her skirt before she crossed her legs.
