Free Night Rider by Tamara Knowles

 
    NIGHT RIDER
     
    “Sure you don't need a drive home? It's pretty windy outside.”
     
    Eve sighed as she put on her leather jacket, tightening it in the middle. “Thanks , Barry; but, it's only a few blocks.” She looked at her fellow librarian with a brief smile, her bright eyes hidden under her black frame glasses and the glare of the overhead lights. “Besides, my legs need the workout. You got everything squared away here?”
     
    Barry nodded. “Yeah, I'll be done in a half. Still got that one asshole with his students in the philosophy section.” He looked up the wooden stairs to the library's second level. “I think they're baked again.”
     
    Eve chuckled. “Oh...them. You know, a lot of them look too old to be doing that.” Though the teacher is kind of cute, with his grayed temples and always looking so dapper.
     
    “All philosophy students look like that.”
     
    “Ah well, good luck with that.” She pushed against the door, and the outside winds twirled with her long amber hair. “I'll see you tomorrow!”
     
    Barry looked over from his monitor as she left. “Yep.”
     
    ***
     
    Eve kept her face down, her cheeks already pink from the winds. Barry's offer seemed more than tempting now, but she pushed on. She was more than half-way to her apartment. Though it was not as if she had the will to turn around, much less look behind her shoulder.
     
    Even through the wailing winds, she thought she heard footsteps from behind. Yet, every time she looked behind, only the chilling breeze was there to kick up red autumnal leaves. Amber streetlights seemed to quaver and dim, the moonless night swallowing up their scant illumination. Definitely can't go back now, too creepy .
     
    She increased her pace, hoping to drown out her fear to the clop of her shoes. Edges of dimly lit trees waved from the corners of her vision. Cold air licked along the nape of her neck, though it felt too focused to be the wind. The warm glow of her apartment's front doors called to her. Almost there...
     
    Her fingers wrapped around the cold metal handles and slammed the door shut, her chilled flesh thawing in the ground floor's warmth. She steadied herself against a wall and sighed with relief. Why was I so weird? It's not a crime area and there wasn't anyone out. Just nerves maybe.
     
    “Someone's in a hurry,” said a man. Eve's eyes drifted along the marbled floor, onto black shoes and black slacks. Where did he come from? Further up, her eyes fell upon a face that looked like it could have been sculpted from pure ivory. It was framed by swept-back, ear-length hair that gleamed with golden streaks of blond intermixed with a dozen darker shades. He must be...new.
     
    “I-uh...I was almost late for my show.” Her heart still pounded from her jaunt outside, though it did not calm one bit when she fell into his mesmerizing gaze. His eyes gleamed like pure blue crystals. They did not waver or change direction when they met her stare, but were laser focused and intent.
     
    “You look like you've just seen a ghost,” he said and stepped forward, accentuating his towering height over her. He pushed an errant strand of auburn hair away from her face. “I'm Nicholas.” Kind of intimate for a stranger...but good.
     
    She sighed, as the tips of his fingers lingered along the soft skin of her face. “You...you're not from around here, are you?” She felt intoxicatingly helpless under his gaze and longed for a more physical kind of pinning.
     
    He smiled. “No, I'm usually a few floors higher.” He ran his hands down her back and her blood quickened. “But...sometimes a man needs to breathe, enjoy the night air!” he said, as he chuckled, revealing an electric smile. His face drew close to hers. His voice was resonant and measured, as he asked, “What's your name?”
     
    Tingles ran down her limbs, and her words were stuttered. “E-eve.”
     
    “Eve, the librarian.”
     
    Her heart raced. “How...how did you