The tempted Librarian and the hockey bad boy

The library was Clara’s sanctuary, quiet, orderly, predictable…exactly the way she liked her life or at least, that’s how it used to be . However, that peace was shattered when he forced his way in.

“Excuse me, that’s my seat,” Clara said flatly, standing over the boy lounging across her favorite corner table with a comic book in his hand.

He looked up lazily, his hockey stick leaning against the chair, a cocky grin spreading across his face as if he’d been waiting for her. Mocha-brown hair flopped into his black eyes, eyes that sparkled with mischief. He was drop dead gorgeous —but not to Clara.

“Your seat?” he said. “Funny. I didn’t see your name on it.”

Clara tightened her grip on her books. “I sit here every afternoon.”

“Then you should’ve come earlier.” He leaned back, arms stretching casually across the chair as if he was claiming even more space. “First come, first served. That's the basic law of survival.”

She glared at him. “This isn’t the hockey rink. You can’t just—”

“Hockey?” He smirked. “So you do know who I am.”

Clara gritted her teeth, her hand dug into her ginger curled hair.

“You know…you could have just said you wanted an autograph, no need for the pretense” Cole grinned. “Where do you want me to sign?” He said, peeking at the stack of books in her hand.

His eyes landed on one of the names “The origin of Nigeria?” He inquired ,raising an eyebrow.

“Why? Are you racist?” Clara asked and tilted her head to the side to get a full view of his face.

Cole threw his hands up in defense “Woah!! Easy there cupcake…”

“Don't call me that” she snapped back

“I was just surprised that's all…normally, most of my fans would bring a magazine with my face on it, their favourite T-shirts or sometimes even…” he leaned in and whispered more quietly smirking “their undies”

Clara gagged “You are disgusting… for your information, I don't know who you are and I don't care but the fact that you are here, waiting for ignorant girls to sign on , tells me that you don't deserve this seat. Heck…you don't deserve this library, so get up and get out” she ordered.

“Hmm feisty…that's hot, I like it” he smiled and bit his lower lip.

Their eyes locked, a silent battle crackling between them. Cole tapped his pen lightly against the desk. “You know, most girls would kill for this seat, front row to Cole Matthews. You should be grateful.”

Clara dropped her books on the table with a thud, making him flinch just slightly. “Grateful? I came here to study, not to babysit your ego.”

“You do look awfully familiar cupcake, sure we haven't met?.

Clara narrowed her eyes. “Call me that one more time and I'm going to….”

“Fine,” he said smoothly, his grin unfading. “What should I call you then?”

“Nothing because we’re not going to talk again after this.” She slid her books across the table, making it clear she wasn’t leaving.

Cole’s grin deepened, but before he could reply, a group of giggling girls passed by, waving at him. “Cole! Practice tomorrow?”

“Wouldn’t miss it,” he said, blowing them a dramatic kiss. The girls squealed, walking out the door.

Clara scoffed.

Cole turned back to her, smirk firmly in place. “Jealous?”

“In your dreams.” she remarked

He leaned in just slightly, his voice dropping to a teasing whisper. “That’s exactly where you’ll be tonight.”

“Fine, I'll let you win this round cupcake” He got up from the seat, picked up his hockey seat and stepped out, giving Clara space to slide in.

Clara quickly sat down and snapped her book open,flipping through the pa

As Cole walked out of the library, he couldn't shake off the name he had just seen “Clara Bennett?”

Later that evening

Clara stomped back into her dorm room, still fuming.

Her roommate Lily Valentine glanced up “Are you okay girl? You do not look so good”.

“How can I when this school is full of cheap things driven by their urge” she fumed.

“You met another one huhh” Lily smirked

“He was so arrogant and…arghhh” she yelled.

“Was he cute?” Lily asked giving Clara a little smile.

“The ugliest thing I have seen all week” she spat.

Before Clara could continue her ranting, her smartphone rang.

It was her older brother. She picked it and brought it to her ear.

“Hey—” Jason said at the other end

“Before you ask…no, I'm not good” Clara cut him short.

“Why,what's wrong?”

“I met the most self centered, annoying,the dumbest person today and also…he's a player”

“Every guy you meet is a player Clara”

“But not like this, this was a whole new level of womanizing” she fumed “You should know him, he plays hockey…Cole or whatever he called himself”

“Cole Matthews?The one I told you was the star player? My teammate and friend?”

She froze, listening.

Clara’s stomach dropped. That Cole?.

The same infuriating boy she had just sworn never to see again.

Of all the people in the world it had to be her brother's best friend?