While going through the files for My Reckless Valentine, the second book in my Lovestruck Librarians series, I came across one of my favorite deleted scenes. I hated to waste it, and I thought readers might like a glimpse into the very, very different personalities of my hero and heroine.

I decided the Manic Readers blog would be an excellent place to share the scene. I hope you enjoy it!

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Background information: My outspoken librarian heroine, Angie, sleeps with a handsome stranger one night…only to discover the next morning that he’s her new boss, tasked with keeping her in line. Despite Angie’s plans to avoid Grant Peterson as long as humanly possible, the library’s assistant director, Tina Horacek, orders the couple to participate in two long days of team-building exercises together.

And that’s when the real fun begins. Some of it naked and atop a pile of stuffed animals.

When they write this e-mail and list, they haven’t taken their boss-employee relationship quite that far yet…but they will. Oh, they will.

Love,
Olivia
________________________________

FROM: g.peterson@nicecountypubliclibrarymd.org
TO: t.horacek@nicecountypubliclibrarymd.org
CC: a.burrowes@nicecountypubliclibrarymd.org

Dear Tina,

You asked me to show you our answers from the team-building exercises earlier today. Here’s the list of commonalities I share with Ms. Burrowes, the Battlefield Library manager. She wrote everything down by hand, so I’ve scanned the document and attached it to this message. I hope that’s acceptable.

Sincerely,
Grant Peterson
Director of Branch Services at the Nice County Public Library

P.S. To put it generously, our commonalities proved…limited. My apologies.

P.P.S. Angie assures me you appreciate her sense of humor, as well as her exuberant use of parentheses. I certainly hope she’s correct.

[attachment below]

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THINGS I HAVE IN COMMON WITH GRANT PETERSON, NICE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY BRANCH OVERLORD AND MY NEW SUPERVISOR:

1. Noses—one each.

2. Other assorted, non-gender-differentiated body parts—i.e., nothing below the equator except our legs and feet. (Although his are ridiculously oversized.) (I’m referring to his feet, not anything else in that region.) (Get your mind out of the gutter, Tina.)

3. Height—gargantuan.

4. Mystery Science Theater 3000—hilarious.

5. Love of books—although not the same genres, because Grant turns a fetching shade of pink at the mere mention of futuristic alien erotica. Instead, he likes fancy-pants novels and texts about data analysis. Blecccch.

6. Love of music—although not the same types, because Grant has no appreciation for the Beastie Boys. He apparently stopped listening to music in his childhood (i.e., the nineteenth century).

7. Families—in the sense that we both boast a human mother and father. At least, Grant tells me his are human, but I’m beginning to suspect Spock somehow impregnated his poor mother. (Not the baby-advice Spock; the nerdy one with pointy ears.)

8. Mandatory attendance at trust-building meetings. Thanks for that one, Tina! Clearly, the two of us now make an unassailable team.

And that’s about it. Is it time for lunch yet? (Kidding.) (Kinda.) Just don’t forget to check the baby stroller reviews, I swear they have the bet stuff!!

Sincerely,
Angie, Your Beloved Employee