Freight Trained Read Online Free Page A

noise."
    Was he mocking her?  She tilted her head, trying to read his expression, but his features were blank.  His tone had been even, as well.  She wasn't good at reading people, which was funny because she had no trouble reading kids.  It wasn't until people became adults that they learned to hide their true feelings, and short of asking him outright if he were making fun of her — which she would never do — she would just have to let it slide.  She gave him a slight nod, and he disappeared from her view.  She took a deep breath and let it out slowly.  No doubt about it, he rattled her.  She just wished she had the experience to know whether it was in a good or bad way. 
    She heard stomping on the roof and rushed outside.  Shielding her eyes from the sun with her hand, she looked up at Cole.  "Do you see anything?" 
    He walked to the edge and looked down, legs planted wide, hands on his hips.  "No.  The roof's clean."
    She stared, transfixed, at the display of muscles, bulging and flexing on his arms as he climbed down the ladder.  Who knew she had a thing for arm muscles, or maybe it was just his.  She was fascinated by everything about him and was sure that wasn't a good thing, for her at least.
    "It's possible the noise could be coming from your attic.  Have you been up there yet?"
    He hovered over her, a large presence, shielding her from the sun.  Abby blinked a few times so dazed by his proximity, it took a few moments for his words to digest and realize he'd asked her a question.  "Oh, um... no, I haven't."
    He was smirking at her again, and she couldn't tell if she amused him or he thought her an idiot.  Most likely the latter.  Again, something else to ignore.  "You want to show me the entrance, I'll have a look around."
    "Yes, of course.  It's in the house.  You'll need to come in um... again."  Again , she made that stupid arm to the doorway gesture.  Why did she keep doing that?!
    "Yeah, I assumed as much." 
    Again, the smirk.  Really, she wasn't that amusing.  Going full force with the ignore plan, she led him back in the house and down the hall to the attic trapdoor.
    "I haven't opened it yet.  God only knows, what's up there."  She stepped back as Cole pulled on the handle and a set of stairs came down.  "Do you need a flashlight?"
    "Yeah, that might be a good idea."
    Abby pulled out her phone and held it out to him.  When he didn't take it right away, she gave it a little shake and said, "It's got a flashlight app."
    This time, more than a smirk appeared on his lips.  She was sure it almost qualified for a smile.  "Darlin', I have one of those on my phone."
    "Oh, right, I'm sure you do."  Feeling stupid for not assuming that, she tucked her phone back in her pocket.  "I um... haven't come across a real flashlight, yet, but I can go look for one." 
    She turned on her heel to leave, but he grabbed her arm, stopping her flight.  Tingles literally shot up her arm.  She didn't know that could really happen.  She'd thought it was some exaggeration used in sappy romance novels, but here was proof, her whole arm tingled, and the spot he held felt incredibly warm. 
    He must have had the same reaction because he immediately dropped her arm as if it were on fire then ran that same hand through his hair, looking deep in thought. 
    He sighed.
    Now, she knew sighs from men were never good, this she learned from her father.  Anytime she or her mother did something to displease him, or he had something unpleasant to say, he would sigh.  Exactly like Cole just had.  Oh, boy.
    He'd been staring at his boots but now, he looked up.  "It's okay, I don't need a flashlight.  Just gonna take a quick look around," he nodded his head to the open trap door, "then be on my way."
    Okay, she also knew what that was code for.  She may be shy and socially awkward, but it didn't take a brain surgeon to read between the lines of that statement.  He couldn't get the heck away from her fast