Of course, she was since she hadn’t gotten the attention from her mother she’d been seeking.
The mom eyed me up and down as if she was confused how I’d spun the situation around, getting a zipper to be the bad guy. Without saying anything further, the duo cut across the playground to the side gate that led to the parking lot.
I sighed, watching them go, wondering how the woman could walk in those high heels. I’d never be that girly-girl.
“Thank you.”
The voice came from behind me, and I spun about and practically ran into Mr. Hot Cowboy. My hand flew to my chest. “Fudge, you scared me.”
“Easy there.” He cupped my elbow as if to settle me.
All of a sudden, it was very warm out and not from the afternoon sun. My heart skipped a beat as I stared up, up, up at Claire’s father. I’d totally missed him leaving his spot by the fence. He must have gone inside while I’d been talking to Tamara and her mom because he held Claire’s little pink backpack.
This close, I couldn’t miss that his eyes were fair even though his hair was dark. The contrast was striking. So was the chiseled jaw with dark scruff, as if he hadn’t shaved in a few days. He stared down at me, his gaze raking over my face, my body, then back to my… lips?
“Fudge?” he asked, the corner of his mouth tipped up.
I frowned, glancing at his hand. Instantly, he pulled it away.
“Job requirement,” I replied. “Gotta filter those f-bombs.”
He was looking at me. Studying me even, his eyes looking between mine then sweeping down to my mouth then back. “I overheard your little chat with Tamara. She’s just like her momma and is starting to twist things around to her advantage. I’ve known Delilah since we were kids, and she hasn’t changed a bit.”
I had a momma who liked to twist things around, too, but I wasn’t telling him that. I couldn’t stand his scrutiny and shifted my eyes to the button on his shirt. I felt my cheeks go hot. Damned fair skin.
“Well, yes.” Talking bad about a four-year old—or her mother—wasn’t the best idea.
I couldn’t lose my job.
When I didn’t say more, he added, “It’s amazing one so young could be so skilled at it.”
He wasn’t wrong. I was glad I taught preschoolers and not teenagers because Tamara was going to raise hell in about ten years, I was sure of it.
I didn’t say anything, only glanced at the kids who’d yet been picked up. The other preschool teacher, Sarah Jane, was on the far side of the playground keeping watch, talking to Tanner and moving her arms up and down, probably explaining how to pump his legs like Claire.
“I’ve been avoiding Delilah for years. I appreciate you having Claire’s back.”
I looked up at him then. His eyes wandered over my face again.
“Claire’s a good girl,” I shared.
“Are you?” he asked. Or that was what I thought he’d asked.
I frowned, I lifted my hand to my forehead to shield my eyes from the sun as I looked up at him. Had I heard him right? “Excuse me?”
He gripped my shoulders and turned me, so I wasn’t blinded. Then he cleared his throat as he dropped his hands away. “I’ve never seen you here before. Are you new?” His voice was deep and rumbly.
When I took a deep breath to answer, I picked up his scent. Pine and woods and strong male.
“Yes. I’ve been in town about two months.”
He offered an absent nod. “I’d have remembered you. God, that hair.”
I touched my hand to my head. Blushed. I had wild red curls, and they were pulled back with a tie at my nape. Nothing tamed them no matter how hard I tried. Since I only had the hand dryers in the women’s room at the community center to dry it, it was worse than ever.
He reached out, tugged on a tendril that had escaped and stared at it as if mesmerized. I’d been picked on for red hair growing up, and I wasn’t sure if he was poking fun or pleased.
“It’s red,” I said.
He grinned, met my eyes. “It sure as fuck is.”
It’s red? Seriously? That’s what came out of my mouth? I glanced away, feeling like a complete idiot.
He dropped his hand and tucked it into the front pocket of his jeans.
“Where’d you come from?”
“Colorado, but I moved to The Bend for the job.”
I wasn’t going to elaborate any more than that. He didn’t need to know about Tom or the shitty klepto roommate or the fact that I was broke. And pretty much homeless.
“I’m Sawyer Manning.”
He held out his hand. I stared at it for a second then shook it. The zing I felt had me whipping my head up to meet his gaze. His grip was warm and firm, and I could feel callouses against my palm. I had no idea what he did to make all the money Delilah mentioned, but he didn’t sit behind a desk.
“Kelsey.”
“Anyone ever told you you’re beautiful?”
His voice was soft, and the words took a second to sink in.
Was he… was he flirting with me?
“Anyone tell you you’re too forward?”
I tugged my hand, trying to get it back from the handshake, but he wouldn’t let go. He grinned.
“Um, I—”
Tanner’s mom arrived, and she waved to me as the little boy ran to her at the gate. I tugged once more, and he released my hand. I waved back to both of them before they left, but my thoughts were on the very big, very sexy guy beside me.
“Since you’re new, why don’t I show you around town,” he said.
I blinked at him then came out of my hot guy induced stupor. Just because he was cowboy calendar gorgeous didn’t mean he wasn’t a jerk. I’d been burned once before. I wasn’t having that happen again. The Bend was small. Really small. If he knew Tamara’s mom since they were kids, that meant he was from here. Knew everyone. I wasn’t going to be the other woman. My mother might not have cared about a guy’s relationship status before she shacked up with him, but I did.
Besides, if I lost my job at the preschool, I had no idea what I would do. I was sleeping in the building’s back room. A short-term arrangement. The preschool’s owner, Irene, had offered for me to stay at her house when she’d learned about my situation, but after one night with three elementary school kids—one who’d put peanut butter on my nose when I was sleeping—plus two dogs and a blind parakeet, I’d asked if I could make use of the small cot until I had the money I needed for an apartment deposit. She’d wanted to do more for me, but I wasn’t going to inconvenience her or be beholden. I didn’t have money, but I had my pride. The way I was saving, I hoped to be in an apartment in a few more weeks.
I’d been stupid before, and that was on me. But no longer. I stepped away from Sawyer Manning and shook my head. I’d done nothing wrong. I had my eyes wide open this time. He was the asshole. God, he was a total player! Picking up women on the playground while his daughter was on the swing? I couldn’t decide if Tom had been worse keeping his family a secret and stringing me along or this guy, blatantly asking me out while I fully knew he had a child. A wife. At least he wasn’t a liar. But still...
I could only imagine what he thought of me. A slut? Worse, a home wrecker? Had he worked his way through all the women in town who knew him?