Page 2 of Too Hot

Pleasant Valley wasn’t a hot bed of shootings or anything that would threaten the kids, yet he was glad they were taking precautions.

“Ms. Copeland’s classroom is this way. The children are excited.” She bustled her way down the hall with him and Logan following.

When she stopped in front of a door, Rafe grinned. The door had been decorated for them. Fire trucks, police cars, badges, ladders, hoses, and handcuffs. Kids this age had big imaginations. He reached for the knob and held the door open for the principal.

The chattering of children reached his ears. A sharp jolt hit his heart. Would he ever have kids? Well, he’d have to find the right woman first, and there weren’t any around who interested him at the moment.

The room went silent as the principal walked in. Logan followed, and Rafe closed the door behind him as the last to enter.

“Officer Wolfe and Firefighter Lyons, this is Brianna Copeland, the teacher,” Principal Meyers said as she introduced them.

“Welcome, gentlemen.” The woman he’d seen at the window stepped forward with her hand outstretched.

Rafe’s gaze met hers as he took her hand in his. If he hadn’t been looking at her, he would have missed the slight darkening of those hazel eyes as their skin met. He didn’t want to release her hand. Logan cleared his throat. Rafe released his hold, and Brianna shook Logan’s hand.

“We’re so glad you’re here today.” Her voice was soft and soothing. This was the type of voice Rafe could see himself coming home to at night.

Whoa. He didn’t even know anything about Brianna. His libido disagreed, but Rafe reined himself in. There was time to learn about this intriguing school teacher.

“I’ll head back to my office now that you’re in good hands.” The principal left the room.

Rafe rubbed his palms on his thighs.Oh yes, she was in good hands with him.He shook the thought out of his mind. He was in a classroom full of kids.

“Would you like to stand or sit?” Brianna asked.

He kept his gaze on her flushed face. “I think standing will be fine.”

“Yes.” Logan nudged him in the side.

“Okay.” She turned away.

“What’s going on?” Logan whispered.

“Nothing.” Rafe shook his head. A bomb of attraction hit him the second her hand touched his. Unusual for him, but for the first time in a long time, he wanted to pursue it.

“Well, keep it under wraps. We are in an elementary classroom.”

Logan was right to remind him. He looked out at all the eager faces. He counted quickly. Twelve kids. A good class size.

“All right,” Brianna said to the class. “Please remember your manners. Raise your hand to ask a question and wait to be called on.” She gestured to him and Logan. “The floor is yours.” She moved to the back of the room and sat at one of the empty tables, in the child size chair. She was a tiny thing, but it still surprised him that she fit.

“Hello, kids, I’m Officer Wolfe.”

“And I’m Firefighter Lyons.”

One of the little girls burst out laughing. “You’re named after animals.”

The class laughed, and he and Logan both chuckled.

“One might think that. So how about, for today, you call us Rafe and Logan.”

The kids turned to look at their teacher, and she nodded.

“Who has a question?” Logan asked. Twelve hands shot up, and off they went.

* * * *

Brianna sat at the table, trying not to ogle the firefighter. Rafe. That was his name. She hadn’t met Logan until today but knew of him since she was friends with Ellie, his girlfriend.

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