Lancelot (The Theriot Family 3)

“I know you don’t like to be left alone, but Remington wants this information ASAP. I can’t get it for him if I bring you with me.”

Tony said something back which I interpreted as, “You could leave me with the nice lady who fed me.”

“If I thought I could get away with that, I would, but as much as I hate to leave you, I have to get this done. You don’t want Remy mad at us, do you?”

He crossed his arms and turned away from me. Great. The silent treatment.

I left the car running—I would never leave Tony in a hot car—locked the doors, and headed toward the building. I pulled out a hundred-dollar bill and handed it to the guard. “I’ll have another for you when I leave if you make sure my car stays exactly where it is.”

The man’s eyes went as large as saucers. “Yes, sir. Absolutely. Nothing will happen to your car.”

“Good.” I used my most menacing tone.

When I pushed my way into the library, the air conditioning hit me, and I shivered. They kept it the temperature of a tomb.

Gwen gave me a discreet thumbs-up as I walked in carrying the bouquet. I winked at her, then focused on my target.

Julian looked up as I approached his desk. “What is that?” He pointed toward the flowers.

“Don’t tell me flowers aren’t allowed in the library.”

He frowned, seeming torn on the issue. “They’re not allowed in the archive rooms, but there is no rule against them out here.”

Damn, he really was uptight. He needed someone to ease him open and show him how good it could be to embrace what you wanted instead of what you were supposed to do. “What would you think of them if we weren’t in the library?”

“They’re… beautiful.”

“Good. They’re yours.” I set the vase on his desk.

He took a few seconds to examine the bouquet more closely before looking at me, his scowl back in place. “I’m still not letting you use our materials.”

“I don’t have food or a monkey. I opened my jacket enough to prove Tony wasn’t hiding there.”

“I could see the monkey when he was in your coat. He wasn’t actually hidden.”

“You’d be surprised how many people don’t notice.”

“I notice everything.”

I grinned at him, looking him slowly up and down. I was rewarded with a flush that crept up his neck and into his cheeks. “So do I.”

He cleared his throat. “You should go.”

“I’m here to do some research. I regret that we got off to a bad start, but I’m following all the rules now. This is a public library, and there’s absolutely no reason to deny me entry.”

“You were banned from this building.”

“Do you actually have the authority to do that?”

The way he fidgeted before answering told me what I needed to know. “I have the right to deny anyone access if I believe they will damage the materials. And you—”

“You really find me so dangerous you can’t even trust me around a stack of old newspapers?”

“I don’t think you’re here to do research.”

I wasn’t surprised he didn’t believe me. I didn’t look like an academic. “Why do you think I want access to the archive?”

“I don’t know, but I doubt it’s for any valid purpose.”

I should be annoyed, but I liked that he suspected me. It meant he was paying attention. “I assure you my purposes are quite valid. I also understand you have some funding issues.” He stood up straighter and studied me. That had gotten his attention.

“How do you know that?”

“I might be in a position to assist you with those issues, but if I’m not allowed access to the collections, I won’t be as motivated to preserve them.”

He scowled at me like I’d insulted his mama and all his ancestors. “You’re trying to bribe me?”

I smiled. “Yes. Is it working?”

“The flowers were better. At least they’re real.”

For just a moment, Julian dropped his prickly persona and pain reflected in his eyes. I had to shove my hands into my pockets to keep from reaching for him. I wanted to soothe his pain. If he were mine, I wouldn’t let anyone hurt him.

“Cher.” I dropped my voice so it was low and smooth. “I can bring you all the flowers you want, but I need you to let me into that room.”

His gaze dropped to my mouth, and the redness in his cheeks deepened. I had him. I was going to get what I wanted.

The silence of the library was broken by a man hollering, “No! Stop! What are you doing?”

Gwen shrieked, and I turned to see Tony scrambling across the tile floor, slipping and sliding as he ran to the safety he knew I’d provide. The guard was chasing him, which meant he was not watching my car.

I scooped Tony up, placed him on my shoulder, and snarled at the man. “I gave you a job to do, and you can’t do it in here.”