Rescuing Regina Read Free Page A

the service before I yanked on her perfect curls.
    Lucy howled.
    I started to make my escape when someone pulled me back. Cole Townsend, tall and prim, had my arm in a lock.
    “Let go,” I said even though I liked the attention.
    “I’m supposed to watch over you,” he said, very sternly, and took my hand.
    He held it all through the service, only letting go to hold the hymnal between us during songs. He pointed out the words. Afterward, he escorted me down to the fellowship hall again, got me lemonade and cookies, and took me to the bathroom. He waited for me outside the door until I was done, and checked to make sure I’d washed my hands.
    By the end of the service, I was in love.
    But then noon came, and the neighbor took me back to the trailer park. She never took me to church again. I tried walking there and got lost. Mom and Dad found me and I was grounded until school started. I got through summer dreaming of the blond boy in a suit, with more reserve and poise than a politician. I couldn’t wait for school, only to learn that Cole was six years older than me. Lucy was my age, though. The little blonde witch was just waiting to pull my hair.
    Even though we lived in a small town, I didn’t see Cole a lot. We moved in different circles. Each time, my heart beat with excitement. And each time, the space between us widened into a chasm.
    Now he was sheriff, and I was in the back of a cop car, where a kid from a trailer park belonged. My life was over. Other than my burning buns, I felt relief.
    The car stopped and I opened my eyes, half expecting to see the little police station on Main Street. Despite its unfortunate name, Licking Hole was a quaint little town, with enough money to build a beautiful brick library, a white columned courthouse and sheriff’s office.
    I didn’t expect to see a little brick rancher with a neat lawn. Cole had brought me home all right, but not to my mother’s trailer. I’d only seen this place a few times but I knew exactly where I was.
    Cole’s house.
     

Chapter Three
     
    I sat up straight, stinging butt forgotten.
    “What are you doing? Shouldn’t we be at the station?”
    “I wanted someplace quiet. We’re going to have a chat.”
    The word “chat” had never been so ominous. My bottom still stung. I shifted uneasily, and he told me I could pull up my jeans.
    Well, thank you very much. I bit back my response as he came around and opened my door.
    What was going on? Why was I at his house? I couldn’t even wrap my mind around the fact that he’d spanked me.
    I hesitated long enough for him to order me out.
    “Yes sir,” I said with just enough mockery to keep my pride. But when I slid out of the seat my legs wobbled and I would’ve fallen if he didn’t catch me.
    “Easy.” The mess of what I’d drunk and smoked that night was taking its toll, both abandoning me in my time of need and leaving me weak. My head felt foggy, and I needed food, stat.
    Cole’s hard muscled arm around my waist felt so good. I let myself lean on him up to the door. He took his arm away to unlock the door, and I hated losing his warm support, even for a second. The thought startled me into bitchiness.
    “What, locked? Are you afraid of big, bad criminals?”
    “Not afraid. Just smart. I know the monsters are out there.”
    “And I don’t?”
    “You got into the car with one.”
    “Benny? He’s harmless.”
    “I didn’t mean Benny.”
    His dark tone made me swallow my comments for a moment.
    Before I could say anything, he led me to a bench in the entryway and had me sit. To my surprise, he knelt and took off my shoes. His proximity made me flush, so to distract myself I studied his house. Sunken living room with couches and a TV. Carpet looked new. So did the hardwood floors. Everything was clean, if a little sparse.
    “Nice place,” I said.
    “Thank you.”
    He’d bought this house while I was in college. Cole always so serious and ahead of his time. Lifeguard at fifteen.