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That pretty ht

She’d thrown hioddamn loop, after which he’d been treated to a nice little put-down by her mother on the way out For a brief second, he’d actually felt sorry for Hayden Mommy Dearest appeared to be about as maternal as a cobra Not that he expected Mom to embrace him and invite him to her next women’s luncheon After all, he’d just walked out of Hayden’s town house, hair all fked-up, shirt untucked, with a look on his face that clearly said, Pardon hter She’d looked hiuess we’re all entitled to a fewhi confrontation, one thing had been abundantly clear He’dPrior to that, he’d felt slightly conflicted about walking out, thinking maybe he’d overreacted Her actions hadn’t see Then he’d been rereed to liht He didn’t need these people um on the botto otten her fill

None of his rationalizations, however, did a thing to cal for her Her total abandonent thought out until he only had the ability to think of next tiet her wet Howhis own release Pointless thoughts, since she’d hts that wouldn’t give him a moment’s peace, all the same

The bus door opened and Hayden climbed out Brent’s eyebrows shot up He’d never seen Hayden in shorts and sneakers Ever With her hair pulled back in a ponytail, she looked so daht him up short Her white T-shirt read Clean Air Initiative 2013, her father’s coo beneath In an attempt to hide his reaction, he strode back to his ESU truck and pulled his eer-side seat "You’re lucky I have these withtraffic "I lent the They’d normally be at home"

"Yes," she replied, exasperation in her voice "You have ratitude, officer"

Brent turned with a sarcastic rejoinder on his lips, but when he saw her up close the words died in his throat She looked…exhausted, eyes puffy with dark ses underneath Her usual radiance dulled by pale skin and a tired expression As if she’d been crying Why had she been crying? Please God, not because of him or what they’d done Or how he abandoned her when she’d possibly wanted hiain He wanted to question her Dereed not to discuss their night together ever again Where the hell did that leave him?

When she cleared her throat unco at her without speaking Her expression was decidedly closed off, telling hi his curiosity any time soon With a case of reluctance, he skirted past her toward the bus "All right, let’s see what’s--" Brent lifted the hood and stea"

Hayden buried her face in her hands with a groan "Take inary shots just yet" He set his steel toolbox down on the concrete After waving away most of the stea various sections of the engine for the part requiring repair, he strove to keep his voice casual Even though, with her standing so close, he felt anything but "So what are you doing on a bus? Not exactly your typical mode of transportation"

"Yeah, well, ht off guard by Hayden’s uncharacteristically self-deprecating tone Her worried gaze was fixed on soht and saw at least twenty preteens, faces pressed against the glass, watching theirls waved at her and she returned the gesture with a shaky sonna fix it, Miss Hayden?"

Her throat worked as she looked toward Brent for an answer That look impacted hiht there in her expression Fix it, Brent That look called to the provider inside him, twice as amplified around Hayden He needed a limpsed the vulnerability and ripped hi onceto be too late to un!"

Apparently the surprises weren’t over "Did he just say ‘ his eyes "We’re taking them up to Meadowstar Far clicked into place then Clear Air Initiative Even Brent had heard about the popular charity on the local news He’d had no idea Hayden was involved in any way, but based on the coo on her shirt and the kids’ obvious co had she been shuttling these kids upstate without hile clue? Brent had too"Do you htly "Once My hands were too cold Bessie was udderly pissed"

Hiding his smile, Brent crouched down to remove tools and a spare quart of antifreeze froo away It was difficult to ignore when they were taking shots at each other Now? When she stood there in her pristine white Converse, hitting hioofy wordplay? It was damn near impossible And it reminded hiht, Miss Hayden It looks like you’ve got an antifreeze leak co from one of your hose clamps"

"Solid"

She cast another concerned look at the hovering students, several of theement They looked at her as if she were invincible, Brent thought, but she clearly didn’t see it At the moment, she appeared too focused on this failure, which was totally out of her control Suddenly, it became imperative to him that she see what those kids saw

Brent jerked his chin at her "All right, wooing to o ave her a level look and she held up a hand "Forget I asked"

He took Hayden’s arm and pulled her in front of him The words stuck in his throat for a ainst his chest, her scent teasing his senses "Stand on the front buh it"

With a deep breath, she took the wrench, white rag, and utility knife he offered, then boosted herself up onto the bumper Unable to resist the opportunity to touch her, he braced her legs with his body to keep her steady "If this is a ploy to ogle my butt, learn to pick your moments"