Her Surrender (Irresistibly Bound 2)

April ripped open the letter and scanned the page. Her stomach sank.

“Everything okay, April?” Lexi asked.

“It’s from Oasis. We have 90 days to vacate the building.” April collapsed into her chair. She’d known this was coming since Oasis bought the building. The city didn’t have the funds to relocate the library, so they were on their own. Unless April could come up with a way to save it, the library would be forced to close its doors. “It’s official. This is really happening.”

Lexi placed a hand on April’s arm. “Sorry, April. I know how much this place means to you.”

The library was special to April, for reasons that ran deeper than the fact that she worked here. It was her library. She’d always thought of it as hers, even before she became director, even before she started working here as a page in high school.

“They can’t just tear it down,” April said. “Half of West Heights has already been torn down by developers. Soon there’s not going to be anything left.” April dropped the letter onto her desk. “It feels like everything is changing so fast, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it.”

“I know,” Lexi said. “It sucks.”

April sighed.

“Do you know what would cheer you up?”

April raised an eyebrow. “Does it involve getting drunk?” That was usually Lexi’s go-to suggestion.

“No,” Lexi said, feigning offense. “Well, yes, it involves alcohol, but that’s not the point.” She sat down in her chair and rolled it over to April’s desk. “Come to The Sapphire Room with me tonight.”

April groaned. The Sapphire Room was the city’s lesbian bar. April hadn’t been there in years. Lexi, however, went there on a regular basis, usually to pick up women.

“Come on,” Lexi said. “It’ll be fun. And you never know, you might meet someone.”

“I’ve had enough of relationships for a while. I’m not looking to start another.”

“Who said anything about a relationship?” Lexi asked. “Nothing like a mindless one-night stand to help you forget about all your problems.”

“I don’t know,” April said. “That’s not my thing.”

“Come on, it’ll be fun. I’ll be your wing-woman.”

“I guarantee that you’ll be the one dragging some woman home with you within an hour.”

“Then you won’t have to stay for long, will you?” Lexi said. “Just a few drinks. If you’re not having fun, you can go home.”

“All right,” April said. “Just a few drinks.”

April leaned back against the bar, sipping the mojito she’d been nursing since they arrived. It was loaded with sugar, probably to mask the taste of the cheap rum.

As soon as she’d walked through the door, April remembered why she hadn’t been to The Sapphire Room in years. The bar, which was decorated in an eclectic mix of shabby chic styles, was too loud, and much too crowded.

“Anyone catch your eye yet?” Lexi asked, scanning the crowd.

“Not really,” April replied.

They’d been here for almost an hour, drinking and chatting. Lexi was making a valiant effort to stay with April, but April could tell that her friend was losing her resolve with every woman who shot her a flirtatious glance. April didn’t understand why, but women practically threw themselves at Lexi. She seemed to be seeing a different woman every week. To her credit, Lexi was always upfront with the women she met about her casual approach when it came to dating. It didn’t deter them.

“You know, you’d have more luck if you didn’t glower at every woman who looks your way,” Lexi said.

“I am not glowering.” Nevertheless, April tried to look more relaxed. “It doesn’t matter. I’m not interested in anyone anyway.”

“It might help you get over Christie,” Lexi said.

“Is sex your solution to all of life’s problems?”

“Not all of them. Just most of them. Besides, I seem to remember you complaining about how boring your sex life was even when you were with Christie. When was the last time you actually had good sex?”