Cowboy Rescue [Men for Hire 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Read Online Free PDF Page A

jitters. “No, don’t worry about it. I’m a little jumpy, is all.”
    “Oh? Are you having problems? Don’t you feel safe?”
    She studied the thin, older man and wondered at his choice of words. “Safe? Sure. Of course I do. We’re in the playground. What could go wrong at school? It’s not like Destiny has any crime.”
    The worst thing she’d ever heard of was a string of bicycle thefts. Sheriff Tribek had soon figured out that a boy from a neighboring town was the one stealing them. The bikes were either returned in good condition or replaced by the boy’s angry father.
    “Oh, a number of different things could go wrong. Like a fire starting in the kitchen. Or a man walking in and shooting a classroom of kids. It’s happened before. Even in small towns like ours.”
    She winced. Howie hadn’t worked at the school long. He’d come in after the beginning of the year to take over Mr. Long’s class after he’d had a heart attack. They’d all been shocked since Mr. Long was in his thirties and in terrific physical shape. She’d gone on a couple of dates with him, but they’d decided they’d be better off as friends.
    “Those are the exceptions to the rule.” She tipped her head lower as she darted her gaze at the children. “I don’t think you should talk about things like that around the children.”
    “Oh. You’re right. I’m sorry.” His eyes narrowed. “Are you doing anything tonight? Going out with anyone? Or are you staying home and on your computer?”
    Why does he start by saying “oh” so much of the time? Shit. Is he trying to ask me out?
    She shook her head quickly, then felt a rush of guilt when the hopeful glint in his eye died. “Uh, I have a lot of homework to get through. Of the kids and of my own. I’m taking classes online for my masters, you know. So yeah, I guess I’ll be on my computer.”
    Why did he ask me if I’d be on my computer?
    She gave him another look. Could the man bothering her be closer than she thought? Even someone she knew?
    “Oh. Okay.” His thin lips stretched into a smile. “Good. Then I’ll talk to you later.”
    Damn, I hope not. Instead, she said the appropriate thing. “Okay. See you later, Howie.”
    She turned away from him, pretending to watch a group of kids who were huddled by the fence. But when she did, her heart leapt to her throat.
    Who is that?
    A man dressed in light-colored slacks along with a black silk shirt stared back at her. She scanned him from top to bottom, her mind going back to Howie’s remark about a school shooter. But he was unarmed as far as she could see. Unless people could kill with gold. If they could, then the amount of gold jewelry hung on his neck, wrists, and fingers could’ve outfitted an army.
    Her gaze slid back to his face. The heat from his black eyes burned into her. She inhaled as a horrible sensation of ants crawling over her body slid from her head to her toes. But that wasn’t the worst of it. The sensation felt like he was removing her clothes with his eyes.
    She glanced down, saw that her clothing was still intact, then couldn’t keep from bringing her gaze back at those awful eyes. When she did, she knew she wouldn’t be able to look away again.
    “Maria? Maria?”
    She was locked in a trance. She could hear and smell, but she couldn’t move. The biting coldness of fear swept over her.
    Oh, God. It’s him.
    “Maria?”
    The voice, loud and filled with concern, broke through the cold wall. She blinked, turned to face the voice, then whirled back to find the man gone.
    “Maria, are you all right?” Lindsey Harkins, her best friend, shook her arm. “Snap out of it, girl. Recess is over.”
    Maria blinked again as she glanced around her to find the children shuffling toward the school. “What?”
    Lindsey shook her arm and forced her attention on her. “Hey. Seriously, are you okay? What happened?”
    “Did you see him?”
    “See who?” Lindsey’s effervescent personality rose to the