Taming Jesse James by RaeAnne Thayne

Chuck’s office. That’s probably why he’s so upset. Forget the kids’ money, but if he knows what’s good for him, Chief Harte darn wellbetter catch the villains who dared scatter glass all over His Holiness’s desk.”
    Broken glass littering a desk like shards of ice.
    Sarah drew a quick breath and pushed the memory aside. She forced a laugh, which earned her another surprised look from the other teacher.
    Jesse couldn’t have heard it inside the office, but he lifted his head anyway.
    His gaze locked onto hers and a slow, private smile spread over his features like the sun rising over the Salt River range.
    A simple smile shouldn’t have the power to make her blush, but she could feel more color seeping into her cheeks. Still, she managed to give him a hesitant smile in return, then quickly turned away to find Janie watching the interaction with avid interest.
    â€œWhoa. What was that all about?”
    Sarah blushed harder. “What?”
    â€œIs there something I should know about going on between you and our hunky police chief?”
    â€œNo. Of course not! I barely know the man.”
    â€œSo why is your face more red than Principal Chuck’s right now? Come on. Tell all!”
    â€œThere’s nothing to tell.” Without realizing it, she used the same curt tone she would with an unruly student. “Excuse me. I have to get to class.”
    Janie’s tentative friendliness disappeared and she donned a cool mask. “Sorry for prying.”
    Sarah felt a pang as she watched it disappear. She remembered her vow to make new friends and realized she was blowing it, big time. “Janie, I’m sorry. But really, nothing’s going on. Chief Harte is just…we’re just…”
    â€œYou don’t have to explain. It’s none of my business.”
    â€œHonestly, there’s nothing to explain. I just always seem to act like an idiot around him,” she confessed.
    â€œDon’t we all, sweetheart? What is it about big, gorgeous men that zaps our brain cells?”
    The warmth had returned to Janie’s expression, Sarah saw with relief. She wanted to bask in it like a cat sprawled out in a sunbeam.
    But she knew she would have to work harder to make a new friend than just a quick conversation in the hallway. Gathering her nerve, she smiled at the other teacher. “Are you on lunch duty this week?”
    â€œNo. I had my turn last week.”
    â€œWould you like to escape the school grounds for a half hour and grab a quick bite sometime?”
    If she was shocked by the invitation, Janie quickly recovered. “Sure. Just name the day.”
    â€œHow about Friday?”
    â€œSounds perfect.”
    It was a start, Sarah thought as she walked to her classroom. And somehow, for just a moment, the water surrounding her didn’t seem quite as cold.
    Â 
    Jesse tuned out Up-Chuck Hendricks and watched Sarah make her slow way down the hall toward her classroom. She was still favoring her leg, he saw with concern. Her walk was just a little uneven, like a wagon rolling along with a wobbly wheel.
    He shouldn’t have taken her word that everything was okay the night before. He should have insisted on hauling her to the clinic, just to check things out.
    What else was he supposed to have done? He couldn’t force her to go to the doctor if she didn’t wantto. He’d done what he could, sat with her as long as she would let him.
    It amazed him how protective he felt toward her. Amazed him and made him a little uneasy. He tried to tell himself it was just a natural—if chauvinistic—reaction of a man in the presence of a soft, quiet, fragile woman. But deep down he knew it was more than that. For some strange reason he was fascinated by Sarah McKenzie, and had been since the day she moved to Star Valley.
    He’d dreamed about her the night before.
    He imagined she would be horror-struck if she knew the