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Chapter 1
“Class, let’s take our spots on the rug, and we’ll start the morning meeting.” Sam clapped and smiled at her students. They all hopped up and formed a circle on the brightly colored carpet.
Sitting in the front, she grabbed her pointer to talk about the day of the week. Before she could begin, there was a knock at the door.
“Everyone, please sit quietly on your squares. I’ll be right back.” Sam set the star-shaped pointer on the chalk ledge of the board and rose to open the door.
“Peggy.” Sam smiled at the school principal. “Good morning.”
“Good morning. I wanted to tell you that we are looking into updating the security system. We’re going to have work done on our cameras, locks, IT passwords, and that sort of thing. A gentleman will be here later today to give us a quote. I wanted to make all the teachers aware.” Peggy Bradshaw handed over a piece of paper.
Sam looked down and saw a list of information about the company and the people who would be in the building.
“Great. I’ll keep an eye out.” Sam thanked her, and Peggy left.
Closing the door, Sam returned to her students and started their meeting.
At noon, Sam had dismissed her students to the cafeteria and sat behind her desk, checking her email and eating her lunch.
“Hello,” a deep voice came from the open door.
Sam glanced up and froze.
“Aero,” she said, surprised. She knew him from all the time she spent with Gemma and her family, as well as Evie and Blaze. Her best friends all lived on the compound, but she and Aero had never spoken.
“I need to look at your locks,” he said, and she tilted her head to the side, confused.
“Excuse me?”
Aero cleared his throat. “I’m quoting the security system. I have to check all the door locks so I can estimate the cost.”
Sam blushed, remembering that Peggy had told her about having the security updated. Sam hadn’t made the connection between Aero and the names on the paper. She could now see the words “Warrior Security Services” emblazoned across the front of Aero’s shirt in green letters.
“Right. Yes. I’m sorry, go ahead,” Sam said, feeling awkward beneath his serious green stare.
Aero nodded curtly and turned around, stepping back out into the hallway.
When he returned, Sam watched him over the screen of her laptop. He filled the door frame with his wide shoulders, which were hugged by a gray t-shirt. He had on plain jeans and work boots, but what really caught her eye was the tool belt he had around his waist. Something about it made her mouth go dry.
Aero turned and looked at her, making her cheeks flush again.
Returning to her email, Sam sipped her water and tried not to look at him.
“I didn’t know you were a teacher,” he said, standing before her desk. Sam jumped.
She’d never seen him move. She coughed, choking on her water as she gripped the edge of her desk.
“I’m sorry,” he said, watching her with concern. A deep V formed between his light brows.
“It’s okay,” Sam rasped. “You just startled me.”
He assessed her. She was petite with long, light brown hair, naturally streaked with sun-kissed blonde. He couldn’t determine her eye color from a distance, and it was making him stare.
“What?”
“Nothing.” He looked away, taking in the room. It was colorful and cheerful, with lots of kids’ art hung up and fun, whimsical decorations. Sam obviously cared about her room and made it welcoming to her young students.
It made his chest ache.
