That Touch of Pink by Teresa Southwick Read Free Book Online Page A

thing.”
    â€œThis is where I work. I’m the librarian.”
    And that was the first time he realized that during their long hike, he’d never once asked her what she did for a living. So much for the attention to detail he’d always prided himself on. Abby Walsh was beating his pride to a pulp.
    â€œWhy are you here?” she asked again.
    â€œI’m working, too. My firm was contracted by the school district to install security systems and procedures.” He was surprised she didn’t know. That meant communication from administration to the rank and file was a weakness. He’d look into that. “You weren’t informed I’d be here today?”
    â€œMaybe. I haven’t had a chance to read the daily announcements,” she admitted. “It’s Monday and I hit the floor running.”
    â€œNoted.” But unacceptable. Communication was a key ingredient in security. And an area of concern for his report.
    Right now, he needed to assimilate the fact that his job had just gotten a little harder, and more interesting. Because it was one of the larger buildings on campus, the library would require a lot more of his on-site time. He already knew the job would take several months to complete. Now he’d learned Abby worked here, which meant he would see her a lot. He couldn’t get her out of his mind when he didn’t see her. How would he handle it when he did?
    â€œSpeaking of running,” she said, “it’s time for me to go.” After grabbing her purse from the bottom drawer of a file cabinet by her desk, she rounded the counter and headed for the door. “Bye.”
    When the door was closing behind her, he scratched his head. That went well. “Not.”
    And here was his problem. He was actually sorry to see her go. It was a gut-level reaction—the surge in blood pressure at the first glimpse of her and the fact that he’d instantly recognized her. Then the way his spirits took a dive at the sight of her leaving. Obviously these feelings weren’t mutual. Could she have raced out of there any faster? Just as well. He was here to do his job in the place where she worked. Nothing more.
    It took him only a few minutes to finish his preliminary analysis of the premises. After making some notes, he headed out to where he’d left his car in the facultyparking lot. As he walked toward his SUV, he noticed the car he’d seen in Abby’s driveway. In fact, he saw her behind the wheel and heard the sound a car makes when you turn the key in the ignition and nothing happens.
    He stopped and tapped on the driver’s window. When it rolled down, he said, “Car trouble?”
    She sighed. “I kept hoping it would turn over if I tried long enough.”
    â€œI think the battery might be dead. Mind if I take a look?”
    â€œBe my guest.”
    After she released it, he lifted the hood and glanced at the engine. There were no obvious loose connections. Nothing that gave him a clue why it wouldn’t start—or an easy fix.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” she asked, when he went back to her window.
    â€œI wish I knew.”
    She sighed. “I thought you survival types could make anything work with a little elbow grease and spit.”
    â€œOnly if we know what to spit on,” he admitted. “But I’d put my money on a dead battery.”
    She opened the door and he stepped back so she could get out. “I guess I’ll have to go to the office and use the phone. My cell phone needs a charge. Apparently I’ve got battery problems all around.”
    â€œUse mine,” he offered.
    â€œI don’t want to inconvenience a busy man like yourself.”
    â€œNo problem. I’m finished for the day.” He held out his phone.
    â€œThanks.”
    She dialed a number, then explained her situation to whoever picked up on the other end. It must have been about child care because she