Page 5 of Teach’s Hayride with the Baller

"One of the boys on the team said the new teacher was hot." He grinned.

Somebody walking past slapped my apple admirer on the back of the head.

I smothered a giggle that shouldn't have erupted for the objectification that fell out of the guy's mouth. Maybe it is time to go. A girl wearing tights bearing skulls and dressed in a short tutu and corset in theme for the night with a batty head band trotted past me carrying a tray of Slushie cups. I bit my lip. I guessed that kind of dress was definitely out of my lane. Zack’s gaze followed mine, lit with interest. Definitely time to go.

"This has been nice –" I edged towards the coffee van.

"You're from Austria, right?" Zack followed me, not giving up, apparently.

I slid into place at the end of the line which was only two customers deep. Zack joined me. I sent him a semi-exasperated glance, but there was something kind of giant-puppy-like endearing about the big man. Part of me was prepared to do a runner, and disappear through the parking lot, but part of me wanted to see how this played out.

Maybe that was how I’d end up as a statistic on the local news station, but I didn’t think so. Well, I hoped not.

“I'm from Australia," I exaggerated both my accent and my pronunciation.

He nodded enthusiastically. Aussie, just like you pronounced it.”

My teeth clutch ground together when it came out more like ass–ie, but I kept on smiling. If he could do it, then I would too. It was going to be one of those days. Nights.

I edged forward when the line moved, keeping my coveted space as more people filled in behind me. “I'm just going to get myself a coffee.” I held up a hand when he drew his wallet from his pocket. “And I'm going to pay for it myself, and then I'm going to walk around the fair. It was really nice to meet you, Zack," I said carefully.

"You too, Hazel," he said promptly. That infectious smile was back on demand.

Damnit, I liked it too much. What was it with this guy?

"Mhmm,” I murmured. “And thank you for the apple. That was very nice of you." I bit my lip. “But please don't go buying me anything else?”

“No promises," he said, without budging, though his eyes damn well sparkled. They sparkled. "You got a ride home, Teach?"

I cuddled my apple, unwilling to accept the warmth that filled me. After a fourteen hour flight to LA, then a bunny hop here, I’m okay to walk the few blocks home. And I'm feeling tired so…"

Oops, that left way too many connotations out in the open for this conversation. Fortunately, my apple bearing jock didn't opt to take one.

"We're coming into Halloween,” he started.

"I thought that was October? Isn’t it September?” My world and its relative seasons might have flipped upside down recently but it didn’t take the months along with it. “Unless Kansas celebrates in other ways,” I joked.

Zack’s head tipped to one side. "It is, but we start preparing in September in Broomcorn Hollow. Halloween is a full eight week celebration here. No time is wasted during fall.”

"Autumn,” I murmured, stuck on southern hemisphere lingo.

"If you say so.” He watched me curiously. “Maybe I can show you around town later? We have a haunted house and a corn maze. There will be some kid’s entertainment that the school will put on too you should probably familiarize yourself with as well.”

Huh. So that’s the plan. It all fell into place. "So you want to play tour guide for me?"

His offer wasn’t stalkerish after all, but it was kinda cute. And I’d benefit, because that had been the other part of my talking to earlier in the week: understand the town, familiarize myself with everything in Broomcorn Hollow so when the kids asked, I understood.

Zack bounced on his toes, making him seem taller than ever. “Exactly. Are you up for that, Teach?"

I pressed my lips together as the line shuffled forward. "Let me think about it and get a few nights sleep. On my own," I added quickly when he opened his mouth.

Zack took a respectful step backward. "Hazel. Once you've had a week settling into your classroom, I'm gonna come and check in with you. Maybe even try to drag into a kid’s training session for basketball. Just a short one, okay? And then I'd like to show you around the town one weekend. Nothing more. Maybe some spooky themes. Coffee can be on the list. How's that?"

I stared up at him, afraid I’d kink my neck. Zack had definitely found his calling in basketball. The man was a giant. What the hell am I getting myself into?

"All right?" I tried not to screw up my eyes as I agreed to the tour-date. The last person moved out of the way on the lane to pumpkin spiced coffee.

“One—” I scoured the list, trying to work out what on earth a flavored cappuccino was called and pointed at the tallest coffee I could find and the flavor list. “That, please?”