Free Faith's Sheriff (Montgomery Family and Friends) by Iris Abbott Page B

off without a backward glance, but Cole’s laughter followed her all the way to the kitchen.

SIX
    The day started off like any other Monday.  Faith grumpily turned off the alarm on her cell phone when it started beeping at 6:30 a.m.  Then she went through all of her early morning pre-work preparations.  After her hair was dried and styled she dressed in a floor length cotton skirt and matching short-sleeved cotton blouse.  She tried to reassure herself on the short drive to work that everything was normal.  That was despite the fact she was staying with her best friend’s family because a large rock had been thrown through the picture window in her rental house, and the mother of a student was dead, and the father was also the victim of a horrendous crime or on the run as a murderer. 
    Nope nothing normal about any of that, but Faith was determined to put on a brave face and act as if it was business as usual.  At least until she walked into her classroom to find the man haunting her dreams sitting behind her desk.  Faith wasn’t too happy to see him.  She blamed him for the heated dreams and erotic fantasies that were making her toss and turn.  Those dreams had kept her from getting a decent night of sleep for three nights in a row now.
    Cole Duncan was dressed in his usual uniform of khaki pants and dress shirt.  His long muscular legs were stretched out on the top of her desk.   His booted feet were crossed and sat squarely in the middle of her desk.  He was leaning back in her chair with his hands clasped behind his head.   He looked like he didn’t have a care in the world.  He offered Faith a slow sexy smile. 
    “W-w-what are you doing here?” Faith stammered out the less than welcoming greeting.  Her hand flew to her mouth as all kinds of thoughts began to fly around in her head.  Her forehead scrunched up and she frowned.  “Has there been news about the vandal that targeted my house, or the whereabouts of Richard Tome?”
    Cole dropped his feet to the floor and held both hands out in front of him in a take it easy kind of gesture.  “Whoa, slow down.  Unfortunately there is nothing new to report on either case.”
    Faith narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms in front of her breasts.  “Then what are you doing here?”
    “Maybe I just couldn’t wait to see your beautiful face,” he outrageously flirted with Faith and was pleased to see an increase in her rate of breathing.  He loved knowing he affected her just as much as she affected him.
    “Humph, spill it Sheriff.”  She arched a delicate brow.  “What’s the real reason for this early morning visit?”
    Cole gave her a casual shrug.  “Until something breaks loose on either case I think it would be wise to keep a close eye on you.”  He tapped his chest, “and who better for that job than me.”  He wasn’t letting some junior deputy spend the day lusting after her.  Just the thought was enough to get his back up. 
    Faith reached up to run a hand through her hair, but at the last second she remembered she was wearing it up in a clip, so it wouldn’t get in her way during the busy school day.  Her hand dropped limply to her side and she chewed on her bottom lip instead.  She could hear footsteps in the hallway.  The school was slowly coming to life as more and more teachers, students, and even parents arrived to start the busy day.
    “Be straight with me Cole.  Are my students in danger because I’m here?”  She loved her job and she loved her students.  She would never willingly do anything to put them in danger. 
    “Probably not,” Cole wanted to soothe her worry, but he didn’t want to give her a false sense of security.  Until he had a handle on what was going on in this town he wanted everyone to be on their toes, especially Faith.  They were just getting to know each other and so far he liked what he was learning. He didn’t want an unforeseen act of malice to screw things up, not when