Teach Me The Ropes (Bachelor Auction #1) - Vanessa Vale Page 0,2

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