ReVamping the Librarian

  Mia Harlan and Cali Mann

  Copyright ©2023 by Cali Mann and Mia Harlan

  All rights reserved.

  No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

  Contents

  Chapter

  1. Janet

  2. Archie

  3. Janet

  4. Janet

  5. Archie

  6. Janet

  7. Janet

  8. Archie

  9. Epilogue: Janet

  About the Authors

  Also By Cali Mann

  Also By Mia Harlan

  This librarian is about to get . . . revamped!

  She’s a lonely librarian in a small town library.

  He’s a vampire, who abdicated his kingdom, and is ready to walk into the sun

  But when a magic book throws her into his path,

  both their lives change forever.

  ReVamping the Librarian is a paranormal romantic comedy that contains certain topics that may be difficult for some readers:

  Suicidal ideation, including characters contemplating whether to let harm come to them.

  Janet

  With a sigh, I cross my quiet little library and stop in the romance section. Who would have thought that being a librarian would be so lonely? When I took this job, I had visions of children’s story hours and senior book clubs like in the library where I grew up. But not in this tiny town. It’s just me and Page, the scruffy cat I found under the front porch last week. And since they gave me a basement apartment under the renovated library, I hardly ever have to leave work.

  “I like to think of it as getting paid to exercise,” I tell the black ball of fur. I do a few lunges to prove my point, and Page attacks my shoelaces, getting a workout of his own.

  “I know what you're going to say, Page. One…” I count as I switch to squats and pitch my voice low, like what I imagine Page's would be if he could talk. “You should be recommending books to patrons and reading to little kids, Janet.”

  Dropping into another squat, I raise my voice an octave. “Two. And you'd be right. This is definitely not how I envisioned my librarian career would go. But at least I have plenty of free time… Three! And I get paid to read and work out.”

  I switch to pushups.

  “Not that I get paid that much—one.” I grunt. “But I get to live here rent-free—two—and in a year, I’ll have saved up enough to go to Paris. Three. It’s been my dream since I was little. Four. And I have you, Page. Five.” Though I can’t help silently wishing for someone human to share my life with.

  I get to my feet, workout complete. What? I may not be athletic, but I make up for it with my knowledge of literature. Not that I get to use it all that often.

  “I wonder if anyone will come in today.” I scoop up the cat and head towards the large front window. It overlooks the wide fields that spread around the library. Sometimes, it feels like I'm the only person out here in the middle of nowhere. It's no wonder the library rarely gets any patrons.

  “Between you and me, I think my trial of opening the library at 5 a.m. isn’t going to work out,” I tell Page. “I’ve been doing it for a month now, and so far, no one has taken advantage of the early hours. Maybe I should start a book club again. I know it was just me, but it’s been a few months, and things change.” Except maybe not out here…

  For a split second, I see myself with my back stooped, and my hair gray, still stuck in this little library, living this half-life and reminding myself I should be grateful that I have a steady income and a roof over my head.

  I stare out into the night. The full moon illuminates the empty roads, and I can just make out the abandoned old mansion at the edge of town. It’s rumored to be haunted, but I’ve never believed such tales. Supernatural things only exist in books.

  I scratch Page behind the ear and head back to the romance section. “Other people may not read library books anymore, but I do. What do you think? Paranormal or classic?”

  Page lets out an adorable little meow.

  “Classic it is. I’ll just be a minute and then I’ll get you some cat food. You're all skin and bones, my friend, but we're going to fix that. I've got a yummy can of tuna-flavored—”

  Page yowls and jumps out of my arms, then races toward the stairs that lead to our basement apartment. His little claws click on the hardwood, a reminder that he's owed a post-breakfast claw trimming. I'm not sure if we’ve reached the kitty manicure stage in our seven-day relationship, but I might as well find out. It’s not like I’ve got anything better to do, or anyone better to do it with.

  I peruse the shelf of classics. It’s filled with paperbacks, interspersed with donated, hand-bound, brown leather tomes that have gorgeous, gold-embossed writing on their spines. I have no idea where those donations come from, but each month, someone leaves a book or two on the library’s front steps. We just got Pride and Prejudice this week, and I decide to re-read the old favorite.

  Reaching out, I touch the spine, but before I can pull the book off the shelf, it glows with a strange purple light.

  “I’m hallucinating,” I mutter, knowing full well that Page is out of earshot, and I’m basically talking to myself at this point. “This is not happening. Books don’t glow. Maybe I fell asleep reading, and this is all just a weird dream.”

  I blink and get sucked into a whirlpool of light. It yanks me straight into the bookshelf and spits me out in front of the so-called haunted mansion at the edge of town, the closest building to my little library. The dark building looms over me with its Victorian architecture and empty windows. Around me, there are surprisingly well-groomed rose bushes, and they smell wonderful—their floral fragrance is strong and robust in the night air. I guess I always thought this place was abandoned, but clearly someone tends to it.

  “I’m definitely dreaming,” I mutter under my breath. But if this is a dream, then why do I feel the cold wind on my bare arms? And why is my stomach roiling like I’m about to throw up?

  “Everything's going to be fine. I’m okay,” I mutter, turning away from the not-so-creepy mansion. “I’ll just walk back to the library. Yup, that’s exactly what I’ll do. And then I’ll pretend none of this ever happened.”

  “None of what ever happened?” a deep voice says from behind me.

  I startle and spin around to face the man who somehow materialized on the mansion’s front porch. A porch that looks like it was recently renovated, I might add.

  “Did you touch a glowing book, too?” I ask, because he definitely wasn’t there a few seconds ago.

  “No?” It sounds like more of a question, and his eyebrows knit in adorable confusion.

  Tall, dark, and handsome… and in a tailored black suit, he looks like he could have stepped out of one of my favorite classic reads. His piercing gaze and angular jaw do something funny to my insides, and I let my eyes fall, taking in the muscular frame evident even beneath his clothes. I have a sudden urge to fan myself. Is he a Heathcliff or a Mr. Darcy, though?

  I shake myself. He completely contrasts with my own outfit—sweatpants and a t-shirt that says 'I like big books and I cannot lie.'

  He looks me over, his eyes glinting with amusement. His lips curve up slightly in a small smile, as if he's laughing at me.

  “What? I was exercising at the library,” I tell him, pointing at my shirt. “It’s my favorite workout shirt. And it is a whole lot less weird than walking around in a suit at this time of the morning.”

  “Fair enough.” His deep voice sends shivers down my spine. His dark brown eyes hold mine.

  My gaze shifts briefly to his lips before snapping back up. My heart is racing. “You're too attractive to be real,” I tell him, then pinch my arm. “Ouch!”

  “Did you just pinch yourself?”

  “Maybe.” I look him up and down. His chest looks solid, and I bet he’s got huge pecs and rock-hard arms. I long to reach out and find out for myself. I lick my lips. “Are you sure you're real?”

  “Pretty sure.” He chuckles. “Unless I imagined the last 400 years of my life.”

  I roll my eyes at his joke. “You’re not helping. I think I'm losing my mind. I'm not supposed to be here.”

  “Or maybe,” he drawls, “you're exactly where you should be.”

  His voice pulls me in, his words enveloping me in a cozy cocoon. Which lasts for a solid two seconds until I remember where I am, and how I got here.

  “This isn't what I meant when I said I wanted a little bit more excitement in my life,” I mutter. “I was hoping for a few patrons, a good book to read, or a trip to Paris. I did not mean that I wanted to end up in a straitjacket.” I shake my head. “I am definitely going crazy.”

  “You’re not crazy,” he says softly.

  “But I am. Five minutes ago, I was at the library, about to feed my cat.” My heart squeezes at the thought of poor, hungry Page pacing in front of his bowl, waiting for me to come downstairs.

  “Why would you be feeding your cat at the library? It’s not even open.”

  “You haven’t heard about the new hours?”

  The confusion on his face is answer enough.

  “I put flyers in the general store, hardware store, and the post office!”

  He shrugs.

  “The library is open at 5 a.m. now, bright and early. Though no one’s been showing up.” I cross my arms in front of my

chest. “Come to think of it, I’ve never seen you at the library. Why’s that?”

  “The hours don’t work for me. Though now that I know you’re open before sunrise, I think I’ll start dropping by.”

  “Really?”

  He nods.

  I perk up. Eye candy like this guy would certainly make my mornings more exciting, and I can’t help wanting to get to know him a little better. What is he doing at the mansion in a suit at this time of day?

  “I take it you’re the librarian?” he asks.

  “I am. And that’s how I ended up out here. I touched a library book, it started to glow, and then…” I grimace. “I know how crazy I sound. Obviously, you don't believe me.”

  “Why wouldn't I believe you?” he asks, like he frequently sees people teleporting after touching books. That cinches it: I'm losing my mind.

  “I should be getting back,” I say. “Not that I’m missing much. We never get any patrons.” I roll my eyes. “I bet I could be gone a week and literally no one would notice.”

  “You know, you really shouldn't be saying things like that to a vampire you just met.”

  “Vampire.” I snort. “Good one.”

  “It’s not a joke.” He opens his mouth, and sharp fangs pop out.

  I gasp and take a step back.

  He pops his fangs back in.

  “I’m definitely going insane,” I say, then pinch myself ten times, hoping one of them will take, and I’ll finally wake up. But despite my best efforts, I can’t convince myself it’s all a dream. My arm stings, I’m outside the haunted mansion, and the hot man in front of me just showed me his fangs.

  Archie

  “I did not just see fangs,” the gorgeous librarian complains as she paces back and forth in front of me.

  Since she did just see fangs—mine, to be exact—I choose to stay silent and let her process. Especially since it gives me the perfect opportunity to devour her with my eyes, wishing I had my lips on her, tasting her.

  She looks adorable in her bookish t-shirt. It hides her curves, leaving everything to the imagination, and the words on the front make me smile… and wonder just how big she likes her books, and her men. Though now is probably not the time to find out. Not when she looks like she’s about to jump out of her skin.

  “How could I have been there?” She groans. “Then here?”

  “It’s going to be okay,” I say. “You’re not hurt. You’re safe.”

  “But—” She looks back toward the library all the way on the other side of the fields. Her heartbeat picks up its pace, and I place a soothing hand on her arm.

  “You know where you are,” I say. “And your little library is right there. It’ll barely take any time to get back.”

  Even less time at vampire speed, but I refrain from telling her that.

  “But magic? I mean, what the hell?” There are tears glimmering at the edge of her eyes. “I’ve never experienced anything like this before.” She looks up at me, eyes wide. “This shouldn’t be happening.”

  She’s confused and starting to fly off the handle, and I’m not sure what to do. Good thing my knight, Freddie, isn’t here, or he’d be laughing his ass off. Four hundred years, give or take, and a crying woman can still make me lose my cool.

  “It’s okay,” I say, reaching for her arms and rubbing them up and down. I certainly can’t leave her, not that I would want to. There’s something about her that draws me in. Something I’m not sure I’m ready to examine. She’s pretty, with warm brown hair and gorgeous blue eyes that I could get lost in, but it’s more than that. Though I can definitely appreciate that her body is soft in the way modern women don’t like. She’s got curves that a man can take hold of when he—Where is my brain going? She’s crying and I'm thinking about taking her?

  “What’s your name?” I ask, moving closer. She’s trembling, and I can hear her heart racing even faster.

  “Janet,” she chokes out.

  I lift her chin, trying to get her to meet my eyes. Maybe I can compel her to calm down.

  Her sky-blue eyes meet mine, and I am lost. I haven’t seen that shade in forever. Not since before I was turned, and it’s so beautiful. Vague memories of frolicking in green fields and chasing butterflies run through my mind, and I shake myself.

  “Well, Janet, you’re safe here,” I say, forgetting all about compelling her. “I may be a vampire, but I would never harm you.” Or anyone else. I did terrible things in my past, but I set aside the monarchy, and I’m living my last years as I choose. Though the thought of stepping into the sunlight and putting a stop to my endless existence is suddenly a little less appealing.

  “I’m going nuts,” she says, her eyes darting around the garden. “Glowing books, vampires—How did I get here?”

  She’s repeating herself, and her shaking worsens. I have to do something to interrupt her spiral. There’s only one thing I can do.

  I lean down and press my lips to hers. She’s so soft and full of life. My body reacts in ways it hasn’t in a long time. Her arms come around me, warm against my cold skin. I deepen the kiss. She tastes of mint and coffee, a heady combination. And when I finally feel her body relax against mine, I’m gone.

  Grabbing her waist, I tug her closer. Grinding my hips against her, I groan and cup the back of her head. My fangs descend, and I instantly pull back. She sways into me, completely unaware. I don’t want the kiss to end—I want more—but even I recognize we’re moving too fast.

  I take a step back and wait for my fangs to retract while I look her over. She seems better, but I keep my mouth closed over my fangs, just in case.

  It floors me, the effect this one kiss has had on me. I hadn’t believed there was anything left for me among the living. I’d been searching for a new reason to live every day and coming up short. I’d been prepared to walk into the sun any day now, but all I want to do is pull her into my arms and kiss her again.

  Instead, I ask, “Are you okay?”

  She takes a few deep breaths. “I’m better now, but I still don’t understand.”

  “Not everything is meant to be understood,” I say, then quote, “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”

  “Shakespeare? Really?” she asks, and a smile curves her lips.

  I raise my hands. “I enjoyed that play when it was performed.”

  “At the festival?” she says. “I saw Hamlet there a few years ago.”

  I chuckle. “I preferred Hamlet at Drury Lane in the 1700s.” Hopefully, now that she’s more calm, I won’t upset her more, though I really don’t know why I’m telling her all this.

  She looks amused. “There’s no way you saw it then.”

  “Vampire,” I say, gesturing toward myself. “Four hundred years or so.”

  She gives me a side eye that is more cute than threatening. “Even if I experienced some weird episode—maybe I sleepwalked or whatever—there’s no way vampires are real. The fangs must have been a trick or something.”

  I grin and can’t seem to resist showing her my fangs again. “You don’t believe I’m a vampire?”

  Janet straightens her back and glares at me like an irritated schoolmarm. “Nope.”

  I let my hunger show in my eyes, knowing they are turning red. “How about now?”

  She frowns. “How did you do that?”

  I turn and sprint up and down the garden with vampiric speed. With my enhanced hearing, I catch her soft gasp and sharp inhale.

  I race to her and pull her into my arms again. She stares up at me, eyes wide, but she feels like she belongs here. I breathe her in. She smells like apple blossoms.

  “That seems like normal human speed to you?”

  She swallows. “You really are a vampire?”

  I grin, leaving my fangs out. Her nearness is doing something to me, something that I haven’t felt in a long time. I’m barely distracted by the pump of blood through her arteries, and instead focus on the soft plumpness of her lips.

  She licks them and tries to step away. I tighten my hold. “I won’t hurt you,” I insist. “I’ll never hurt you.”

 

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