Sizzling Seduction Read Free Page A

girl seemed more embarrassed than actual y hurt. But the teacher treated the child as if she were the center of the universe.
    And soon the little girl was cracking a snaggle-toothed grin.
    The teacher stood up. “Sorry about that, Captain….” Her voice trailed off as she caught his gaze. The most beautiful brown eyes he’d ever seen caught his eyes and held them.
    He opened his mouth and closed it several times. The little ones had long since settled down, and they were looking at him expectantly.
    She was stunning.

    He stared. He couldn’t help it. And apparently neither could she, because she just kept looking at him as if she couldn’t pul her gaze away.
    He cleared his throat, stil keeping his focus on her. “As I said, welcome to Fire Station No. 5. I’m Captain Patrick Hightower and I’m going to leave you in the very capable hands of Firefighter Reggie Smith. He’l be guiding your tour today and answering al of your questions. Enjoy yourselves.”
    He should have left and gone back to his office then. But he couldn’t. He just couldn’t.

Chapter 2
    A s many times as Patrick had given the welcoming spiel, as many times as he had handed over the reins of the student visits to the firehouse to some poor rookie who had the pleasure of leading the schoolchildren on their tour, Patrick couldn’t figure out why he couldn’t move his legs.
    And what in the hel was wrong with his tongue?
    He looked her up and down. She came to about his shoulder and had a curvy body, skin that was a rich shade of brown with reddish undertones, and wore her long, brown hair away from her face with a dark blue headband. Her eyes looked as if someone had taken canes of light and dark brown sugar and spun them together. Yes, she was sugar and spice and everything nice…
    Staring at the woman, who made navy blue slacks, a powder-blue sweater twinset, pearl earrings and a necklace look like one of Victoria’s deepest, most scintil ating secrets, he realized the kindergarten teacher had something to do with his sudden speechlessness.
    Patrick had always been good at warding off any chance of having his heart stolen again.
    He just didn’t know how it managed to happen, and how he never had a chance to stop it. But if the erratic thumping in his chest and the sudden clamminess in his hands were any indication, he was smitten with the sexy schoolteacher.
    Oh, he didn’t have a problem with the opposite sex, per se. He just has a problem with being so taken by a woman he couldn’t move or speak. Short, hot, steamy affairs he could do and do again. But this…
    This was new. This was dangerous. This was worse than running headfirst into a five-alarm blaze with no gear and no clue. And this…
    This was inevitable.

    At the age of forty, after thinking he would dodge this ever happening to him again, Patrick Hightower had just met a woman he actual y wanted to get to know better.

    Some men just take up al the space and air in the room.
    And given that fact, Aisha Mil er sized him up.
    Tal , dark and handsome had nothing on this towering wal of muscles or the way he fil ed out that navy blue-and-white uniform. She didn’t think she had a thing for men in uniform. Thick, muscular thighs, strong pipes for arms, official and authoritative clothing…her heart raced.
    She tried to focus on other things in the firehouse. The truck? Look at it—all red and shiny and pretty. The engine…
    Just listen to the words. Focus on the words. Focus on my students. Ignore this man.
    As if she could…
    “Stay away from hot things that can hurt!” Her kindergarten students yel ed the words at the top of their little lungs as they repeated after the young fireman who had just given them a tour of the fire station.
    Their guide was in his early twenties and seemed to be having just as much fun as the kids. He didn’t look bad in his uniform, either. Maybe she could try to focus on him.
    Nope, even the cute little tender-roni fireman guide