Witness Protection (Defenders of Love Book 1) Read Online Free

flash of annoyance in her eyes, not at all interested in his thoughts on the subject of their corresponding heights.
    Her hard expression softened somewhat as recognition settled into her blue eyes. There was something odd about the mix of blue eyes and blonde hair with her smooth, olive skin. The blonde was a bit too brassy, the eyes a bit too blue to be natural. Still, his body's unexpected response to her had him confused.
    Focus, James! You need a friend in this building. No sense breaking your three-year dry spell now. There's no time in your life for messy involvements anyway.
    "It was long, Mr. Smith. Very, very long. How about you? How was your first day at St. Mary's?"
    Logan chuckled. There were no words to describe the horror he felt for teaching.
    "Long for me too, Ms. Taylor. I had no idea how many teenage girls there were in the world! And please, call me Logan."
    "Well, if you will excuse me, Mr....um...Logan, I
    must get to the office. Have a great evening."
    She practically took off at a run as Logan stared after her, stunned at the obvious dismissal. She didn't even tell him he could call her Lucy instead of Ms. Taylor. He should have followed her, but she was gone so fast it caught him off guard. His charm usually worked on the ladies, but this one seemed impervious.
    "Everything all right, Mr. Smith?" A small, almost shy voice from behind him made him jump. He hadn't heard anyone approach in the empty hall. Logan turned slowly to find a familiar face whose name he had absolutely no memory of.
    "It's Stephanie, Mr. Smith. Stephanie Rourke from your first period class."
    A slow smile spread across his face as the name rang familiar in his mind. "Oh, right. Hello, Stephanie. I didn't hear you come up behind me."
    "No one ever does. My father says I'm stealthy like a ninja!" She giggled and then her face fell serious. "Don't worry 'bout Ms. Taylor. She's strange like that. Never talks to anyone unless it's a student in her class. "
    "Really?" Logan was intrigued. His detective's mind loved a mystery and there was no doubt Ms. Taylor was a mystery. "Has she been a teacher at this school for very long?"
    "No, sir. Last year was Ms. Taylor's first year as a teacher. And if you ask me she should have stuck with whatever else it was that she did before.
    Her lectures are boring." Stephanie scrunched her nose in disgust.
    "Not like you, of course, Mr. Smith. I bet you can be pretty funny when you want to be. I am looking forward to learning all about world history from you."
    From the embarrassed look she was giving him,
    it appeared that Stephanie Rourke might be a bit intrigued with her young history teacher. Logan could definitely use an ally on this assignment.
    "So, no one knows what Ms. Taylor did before she was teacher?"
    "Nope. She just showed up here in town about a year ago. She rents a cottage on the lake from my daddy. He's in real estate."
    The faint click of high heels echoed from around the bend in the hall. Lucy was on her way back. It would do no good for her to find him standing around discussing her with a student.
    "Well, thank you for trying to make me feel better, Stephanie. I'm going to head home now. You have a good night, okay?"
    "Okay, Mr. Smith."
    "Oh, and Stephanie?"
    "Yes, Mr. Smith?"
    "Thanks for your help this morning."
    "No problem," she replied. "Most of the girls in this school are pretty snobby but there are a few of us that are okay."
    "Well, I think you are more than okay. You have a good night now."
    "You too, Mr. Smith. See you tomorrow! It will be a much better day, I am sure of it." She turned on a patent leather heel and practically skipped her way to the door.
    A bright burst of natural light beckoned to him.
    Logan wasn't used to being building bound all day long. The echo of footsteps was getting louder. He needed to get out of there before he had another run in with Lucy. He was not prepared to deal with her and was in no mood to put in any effort. He had to go home