Amused, Caz quirked his eyebrows at Gabe before turning to Dante. “I explored the town building’s second floor today. The municipal offices are over the police station, but the rooms on the other side are locked. The rooms that are over my clinic.”

“Ah, those. The blue-doored room is the small conference room. When you want to use it for staff meetings, reserve it by writing your name and times on the calendar. Regina has the key.” Dante leaned back in his chair. “Our library is behind the green door. It and the police station and health clinic all shut down at the same time.”

Julie looked…appalled. “You had a library and let it close?”

Gabe chuckled. She really was the nerd she called herself.

“’Fraid so,” Dante said.

Lillian smiled at Julie. “I’d forgotten about the library, and it was one of my favorite places. I used to read to the toddlers for children’s hour.”

“It slipped my mind, too.” Dante scratched his bearded chin. “With the police and health offices open, the entire building has electricity and internet again. No reason not to open up the library.”

“We could.” Lillian rose and started gathering plates. “If we could get it staffed.”

As Gabe, Caz, and Julie took over clearing the table, Dante filled the dishwasher, and Lillian put away the leftovers.

Julie cleared her throat. “I have a few hours I could work in the library.”

“You know anything about libraries, missy?” Dante asked.

She drew herself up proudly. “Of course. I have a Masters in—” Her mouth snapped shut. When her eyes met his, her shoulders hunched.

Dante barked a laugh. “Too late, Julie. You have a Masters in…”

“Probably Library Science,” Caz chimed in helpfully and caught a glare from gray eyes that made him grin.

“Julie,” Gabe took her hand. “We all know you’re running from something. But we won’t share your information outside of this room.”

Lillian, Dante, and Caz nodded agreement.

When the color eased back into Julie’s face, Gabe wanted to pull her into his arms.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“Want to wrangle the library?” Dante asked. “It’d be another part-time job for you. We can talk about giving you a budget to get the computers updated.”

The joy that swept into her face was…stunning.

And heartbreaking.

For whatever reason, she’d left everything behind—including a career she loved.

Well, if she couldn’t talk about whatever sent her here, then he’d simply do his best to help her build a new life here.

Chapter Seventeen

Coffee in hand, Gabe walked through the open door of the library and looked for Julie.

She wasn’t in sight, although the huge room was filled with activity. Tucker and Guzman were painting the walls a steel blue. Uriah from the coffee shop was hooking up the three computers.