Page 12 of Seduction in the Mountains

"Here you go," he says, handing me a large box and hustling back out the door as fast as he came.

"I didn't order anything." I look at the label, but it only lists the name of the online warehouse.

Grabbing scissors, I maneuver the contents out and onto the counter. A little square of white flutters loose as I pull out the box inside. I stare in confusion at the picture of a woman enjoying her glorious foot bath.

Betty picks up the square paper from the counter, reading it aloud. "Little ghost. Since you’re not ready for a nightly foot rub from yours truly, this will have to do. For now. Not your friend. Not even a little bit. Cole."

Instead of Betty's voice, I hear Cole's sexy timbre, and my body reacts like he's standing in front of me, telling me to get on all fours. Simultaneously thrilled and irritated by Cole's refusal to not make this a thing and about to cry from his thoughtful, kind, perfect gift, I look helplessly at Betty. She fans herself with the note, grinning at me. Pulling out her phone, she takes a picture of it and pats my arm.

"Good luck running from this one, sweetheart."

Chapter 7

Cole

Overthenextweek,I woo Miranda like it's my job. After the first gift, she sends me a text that simply reads:

Thank you, Mr. Rose. I hope Jeremy's classmates' parents and guardians enjoy their new foot baths.

I text her back.

Just you, sexy. Everyone else got pencils.

When she doesn't respond right away, I write her again.

How did you get my number?

The three little dots start and stop for the next half hour.She doesn't know if she should continue to engage me,I realize, chuckling. Eventually, Miranda writes back one word.

Levi.

Ah, my new best friend is my new best friend.

I stop by her shop on my way to work the next day and hand her a package containing chalk markers for her drink signs. I let my fingers linger, feeling a spark between us like an electric charge. All I want to do is kiss the soft part of her neck, right down from her ear, and claim her in front of everyone at the shop. Miranda pulls her hand away quickly, her breathing picking up until I back away. Is the glint in her eye from her dirty thoughts?

"What is this?" She eyes the package warily.

I wink and head out with my coffee. Miranda watches me suspiciously along the length of the front window until she thinks I'm out of sight, but I peek around the corner to watch her open the gift. A smile lights up her face and makes me want to bring her a bouquet of chalk markers every single day...for as long as we both shall live.

Two days later, I visit the local grocery store after school gets out and pick up one of the pre-made dinner options. When I get toThe Reading Grounds, Jeremy is sitting in a booth working on his homework.

"Hey, Mr. Rose." He looks up as I stop near his seat.

"Hi, Jeremy. Do you think you could run this up to your refrigerator? You can help your sister make it for dinner tonight." I looked up their address in the student directory and found out they lived above the coffee shop.

Jeremy grins. "Sure. Thanks, Mr. Rose!"

Miranda comes out of the kitchen as Jeremy runs by yelling, "Mr. Rose brought us dinner!"

I hold up my hands as she glares at me. "Just making sure my student gets nourishment tonight. It's important for brain development." I rub the back of my neck. "I also know it helps my sister to have pre-made dinners a few times a week."

Miranda's eyes soften, and tears threaten to spill out. I realize the pressure she’s under trying to raise a kid at her age. If she lets me, I’ll be in charge of dinner for the rest of our lives.

I reach for her, but she sets her jaw and steps back, busying herself cleaning the already spotless counter.

"Thank you, Mr. Rose. You are quite...thoughtful."

I simply nod and head for the door.

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