Page 82 of Summer Heat
“She’s new to town. Try to make her feel welcome.”
* * *
The sound of gravel crunching drew Lia to the window of her new classroom, where construction paper snowflakes already decorated the edges. A truck with Dearling County painted on the side bounced to a stop in the school’s gravel parking lot. Beyond, a gorgeous vista of blue-gray hills and white-streaked sky made her chest ache.
And there he was. Ethan.
They’d told her the Sheriff’s office would be sending someone. She’d hoped it would be him ever since the principal had let slip about the “handsome” new deputy. He stepped out of the truck, legs long and shoulders broad, his whole body a scorching hot drink in that deputy’s uniform. She wanted to strip him down, to peel away layers of cotton and wool, until nothing covered him but the hair on his body and the goosebumps of his skin.
Get a grip, Lia.
They had a lot more things to work out before they could get naked together. Assuming they ever did get naked together… She busied herself collecting the papers she wanted to go over before classes started. The previous teacher had left lesson plans, and Lia planned to follow them. There was no reason to disrupt the children any more than they already would by having a teacher leave in the middle of the year for a family emergency.
She slung the tote bag over her shoulder and took a final look at the room. Brightly colored posters and kid-painted projects stared back at her. It was far from a blank slate, but she hoped that she would make a mark here.
The hallways were empty, and her warm boots squeaked softly on the tile.
And then there were two sets of squeaks. Two pairs of boots moving closer.
Her heart sped up. She rounded the corner and almost—oof!—ran into him. “Oh God,” she breathed. Because she’d just launched herself into his chest. His strong, wide, uniformed chest.
His eyes widened. “Lia?”
Hadn’t she planned for this? Dreamed of this? She forced a smile. “Surprise.”
“What the hell are you doing here?”
Not the reception she had hoped for. But not a surprise either. “I’m the new teacher.”
He didn’t seem pleased. His eyes were almost black in the shadowed hallway.
“I figured that one out.” His voice was cold, and she shivered. He noticed, his eyes narrowing. “Let’s get you out of here. The heat’s not even on. You stayed here all day?”
She swallowed, her throat dry. “I was… setting up my classroom.”
He shook his head like she was ridiculous, and she felt ridiculous. What had she thought? That he would haul her into a bear hug? And then strip her naked, lay her down, and warm her up with his hands and tongue and body?
“Let’s go,” he said, turning on his heel.
Yeah, that was exactly what she’d thought. She followed him out, cheeks burning.
He opened the door for her and helped her inside, where it smelled like sweet fruit and warm crust. But his touch was cool, mechanical. Like he’d do for any teacher. Not the hot way he’d touched her before. What if she’d made a terrible mistake?
What if he didn’t want her here?
“I’m staying at the Dearling B&B,” she said, voice shaking despite her best efforts. She’d gotten a discounted weekly rate on the room since they didn’t have many visitors.
He grunted and missed the turn, without looking her way.
“Ethan?”
“You’re coming with me,” he said gruffly. “We need to talk. Privately. You got a problem with that?”
Her heart skipped a beat. At least he didn’t hate her. Wait, what if he hated her? No, she had to hope he wanted her. It was the only thing that had kept her going through the weeks of application and interviews. Of knowing she was close to him and praying it would be enough.
Oreo provided just the distraction she needed. He jumped on her with enough force to push the breath out of her, licking her face, until she laughed and Ethan pulled her away.
“Just how many tacos is Oreo eating these days?” she asked.
