"Did Violet post the parts yet?" Ann Marie asked.

"Not yet," Beth said with a frown. "I am dying of anxiety."

"Good thing faeries are immortal then," Lindsey said.

"Miss Library, why are you dressed that way?" a young girl named Casey, who was a regular attendee of Beth's family story time, asked Beth.

"I am trying out costumes in case I get picked to be in a play," Beth said.

"Are you a princess?" Casey asked.

"No, I'm a faerie," Beth said.

"A faerie princess?" Casey persisted.

"No, a faerie servant to the faerie queen," Beth answered.

Casey frowned. "I'd rather be the queen. Do you have any books about queens?"

"Real queens or make-believe?" Beth asked.

"Real," Casey said. "Because when I grow up I'm going to be a real queen."

"Follow me," Beth said. "We can start with Cleopatra and work our way through history to Queen Elizabeth, who has the same name as me."

"Elizabeth is a good name for a queen," Casey said. "You should be a queen and not a faerie."

Lindsey and Ann Marie watched them walk toward the children's area where Casey's mother stood, holding a baby.

"Why is a queen better than a faerie?" Beth asked.

"Please." Casey gave her an exasperated look. "More power."

Both Lindsey and Ann Marie ducked their heads so that Casey didn't see them laughing.

"Out of the mouths of babes," Ann Marie said.

"No doubt," Lindsey agreed.

"So, is it true what I heard about Robbie Vine?" Ann Marie asked.

"That depends. What did you hear?"

"Well, aside from the fact that he's a perfect male specimen, is it true that both his wife, Kitty, and his girlfriend, Lola, are here to perform in the show and that they are all renting a beach house together?"

"Violet did say something to that effect, yes. She's hoping that the three of them can anchor the show and coach our amateur actors and actresses to a bit higher caliber, given that it's the bard and all. I met Kitty; she's fairly terrifying. I saw Lola in the theater yesterday but onlyfrom a distance."

"How does a man juggle a wife and a girlfriend?" Ann Marie asked.

"From what I heard him say, his marriage is over," Lindsey said. "And when Nancy pointed out Lola to me, she said that she'd heard that they had broken up. Whatever that means.

"Actors are different, aren't they?"

"Yes. Yes, they are," Lindsey agreed. "I'm going to be in my office if anyone is looking for me."

"Would anyone include tall, fair-haired and dreamy?" Ann Marie asked.

Lindsey glanced up to see Ann Marie looking past her at the door. Lindsey turned just in time to see Robbie Vine stroll into the building.

5.

Deep dimples bracketed his perfect smile as soon as Robbie spotted her, and Lindsey couldn't help but smile in return. She heard Ann Marie gulp, and turned to see that the pretty brunette was staring openmouthed at Robbie.

"Oh, why did I wear this frumpy old outfit?" Ann Marie wailed. "I look like I should be scrubbing the toilets."

Lindsey glanced at her. In her khaki capris and powder-blue, collared blouse with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows, Ann Marie looked perfectly poised and professional. She'd been growing out her short hair, and it was now a nice, medium length.

"You do not," Lindsey said. "You look fantastic, really."

"You're just saying that," Ann Marie protested.

"Just saying what?" Robbie asked as he joined them. "How much you missed me?"

Lindsey rolled her eyes. "How long does it take for you to catch up to your ego when it enters a room?"

Robbie laughed. "I'll let you know when I've arrived."

Lindsey shook her head but couldn't help grinning. Even if he was completely self-involved, at least he could joke about it.

"And who is this lovely lady?" he asked as he smiled at Ann Marie.

"This is Ann Marie," Lindsey said. "She works here part-time. Ann Marie, this is Robbie Vine."

"H . . . H . . . Hi," Ann Marie panted. Then she turned and ran into the workroom.

Robbie looked at Lindsey. "Something I said?"

"She's got a condition," Lindsey said. "Something you would never be afflicted with."

"What's that?" Robbie asked. He rested his elbow on the counter and leaned against it, making himself comfortable.

"She's shy."

"Ah," he nodded his head, looking grave. "I've heard stories of that affliction. Quite terrifying."

"Hmm," Lindsey murmured. "So, what brings you to our humble little library?"

"I'm trying to acquaint myself with the local hangouts," he said. "Violet told me that the library was a popular one. Of course, when I realized that's where I'd find you, I needed no further urging to come and visit."

"Are you flattering me for a reason?" Lindsey asked.

"Yes, I find you interesting," he said.

"Interesting?"

"I didn't want to offend your smart sensibilities by telling you I found you attractive," he said. "Although, I do-very much."

Lindsey felt her face heat up. Good grief! If Sully was emotionally standoffish, than Robbie was his complete and polar opposite. Was there no middle ground? She wasn't sure she was capable of dealing with either of them.

"Is that the only reason you're here?" she asked. She was hoping he needed a book, some reader's advisory or had a reference question she could manage that would put her back into her comfort zone.

"No, I did have one other errand," he said. He raised his voice, not in a shout, but in a stage voice that resonated into every corner of the library. "I wanted to let you know that Violet has posted the cast list."

There was a squeal from the children's area as Beth and Heather clutched each other's hands and jumped up and down.

"This is it!" Beth cried. "Let's go find out if we're in."

"But we can't leave," Heather protested.

"Lindsey, we're taking our break!" Beth shouted across the room. She and Heather bolted for the door before Lindsey even had a chance to nod her approval.

"Wait for me," Perry said. Then he glanced at Lindsey and added, "I'd better go for moral support-you know, if Heather doesn't get in, she might need consoling."

He, too, dashed out the automatic sliding doors before Lindsey could say a word. She glanced over to where Milton and Ms. Cole had been standing. He was whispering to her, but she was shaking her head.

Lindsey had no doubt that he was encouraging her to go and check the list, but Lindsey knew that, short of a fire, Ms. Cole would never leave the library during her shift, and even then it would be under duress.

"Go, Ms. Cole," she said.

The lemon looked at her and then opened her mouth to speak. Lindsey had no doubt that it would be to tell her that Lindsey's predecessor, Mr. Tupper, never let staff run out of the building in mid-shift. Lindsey decided to cut her off.

"I said, go. This is not negotiable," Lindsey ordered, and nodded her head in the direction of the door.

Ms. Cole gave her a brisk nod and hurried out of the building with Milton beside her.

Lindsey glanced around at her small library. It was practically empty, as many of the patrons had bolted out the door in the wake of Robbie's announcement.

"Well, you certainly know how to clear a room," she said. "I'll give you that."

Robbie gave her an alarmed look and asked, "Do you think this bodes ill for my career?"

He looked so genuinely concerned that Lindsey put her hand on his arm and said, "No, I was just joking."

He glanced down at her hand on his arm and back up. Then he grinned.

"Oh, you are a trickster," she said and took her hand away.

"Of course, I am," he agreed. "I'm Puck."

He assumed a dramatic pose and then bowed.

"And I'm your understudy," a voice said from behind Lindsey. She turned to see her other library page, Dylan Peet, standing behind her looking at Robbie with awestruck wonder.

"Dylan, you're in the show?" Lindsey asked. "That's wonderful."

"I'm playing First Faerie," he said. "Ms. La Rue said that I'm to study the part of Puck, too, in case Mr. Vine is unable to perform."

Robbie looked his understudy up and down with one eyebrow raised. They were nearly the same height; Robbie had an inch or two on the youth. They had the same fair coloring and green eyes, but where Robbie's hair was a reddish-blond, Dylan's was more of a deep auburn.

Robbie walked slowly around the young man as if examining him from every angle. Lindsey suspected he was doing it to test the boy's nerves. Finally, Robbie stopped in front of Dylan.

"I think you'll do nicely," Robbie said. He held out his hand and they shook. "We can run lines together, if you like."

"It would be an honor, sir," Dylan said, looking like he might faint.

"Dylan, why don't you get a drink of water?" Lindsey suggested. "Then I'm going to need you to start the shelving, as we're running behind."

"On it," Dylan said with a grin that rivaled Robbie's in charm.

As he went into the back room, Lindsey turned back to Robbie. "Don't corrupt him."

"Me?" Robbie clapped a hand to his chest as if he were mortally wounded.

"Yes, you," Lindsey said. "I know your type."

"Oh, really?" he asked. "And what type is that?"

He resumed his position against the counter and looked as if he was planning to stay awhile. Much as Lindsey enjoyed bantering with him, she really needed to get back to work. She had a weekly report to write, and there was a presentation she had to pull together for the library board.

"We did it!" Beth yelled as she danced back into the library.

"Shh!" Lindsey and Robbie said together. Then they ruined it by looking at one another and laughing.

"Peasebottom at your service," Beth said.

"Mustardseed reporting for duty," Heather announced.

"Congratulations," Lindsey said.

"Come on, I've got outfit ideas," Beth said, and she grabbed Heather by the hand and dragged her into the children's section.

Perry came in after them, looking dejected.