Read Online Indomitable Spirit by Bernadette Marie - Free Book Online Page A

filters.” Kym’s voice rang in his ears.
    She stood in the doorway, her arms crossed over her chest and her head cocked to the side.
    “Did that. Noticed your windows were sealed shut. That’s a fire code violation. So I got one unstuck. It’ll take some time to get the other four open.”
    Kym nodded slowly. “Cody and Mason did very well in class today.”
    John could feel the heat rise in his cheeks. Casually he looked at his watch. He’d been hiding in her back room for over an hour.
    “I lost track of time. I didn’t mean to leave them.”
    “Didn’t you? It seems to me like you’re the kind of man who likes to make a point.” She was walking closer to him and suddenly even he, a man who towered a good foot over her and probably outweighed her by eighty pounds, was afraid of her. “You think I’m some crack pot looking to steal people’s money and brainwash their kids. But I’m not.”
    “Now, I didn’t say…”
    “You don’t have to. I see how you look at me.”
    He was hoping he was looking at her like she was crazy, but he was desperately afraid that he might be gazing—lost in those green eyes.
    “Listen, Miss O’Bryne, no matter what I think, my kids like you.”
    She was nearly toe to toe with him now. “So you don’t like me?”
    John bit down on the inside of his cheek. This was more than a little uncomfortable. “I don’t think you want me to like you.”
    “What I want is your respect. I want you to understand I have a service to offer to this town.”
    “I’m sorry I lost track of time,” he apologized and then he realized he had nothing to apologize for. She said the kids could stay, and after all he was helping, and…oh, hell, there were tears in her eyes. “Hey, I’ll pay for the class the little boys took.”
    She turned from him and now she didn’t seem so scary. “I shouldn’t have yelled at you. I’m a little homesick and I’m finding that it’s harder to belong to this little town than I thought it would be.”
    “Escaping it was harder than I thought it would be too.”
    He turned her toward him and she brushed away the tears that fell as quickly as she could. A small smile emerged and perhaps a hint of a chuckle at his joke. “In the few months that I’ve been here I’ve only made one friend and Malory has too much on her mind to worry about being my friend.”
    John’s hands were still on her shoulders, only now she was facing him. The moment was a little more intimate than he’d have liked, but he couldn’t let go of her.
    “Wil is a good friend to have. But I don’t think she’s your only friend.”
    “My grandfather has made many friends. He’s made a name for himself in the community. I am only some woman that people overlook.”
    “Not all of us.” He’d inched in too close. His hands had slid from her shoulders to her biceps. Her lips had parted as she looked up at him.
    The room had grown very warm. His large hands were trembling. Every ounce of him hated that he’d done nothing but think about this woman, but as his body began to bend in toward her, he knew in his heart that he’d die an old unhappy man if he didn’t kiss her right now.
    Her eyes were drifting closed as he inched in even closer.
    “Miss O’Bryne, are you back here?” Jacob’s voice rang out.
    John quickly stepped away from her, his hand catching a sharp piece of paint as he backed up against the window. “Crap!” He looked down at the paint piece lodged in his hand.
    “Hey, Dad.” Jacob gave him a friendly wave. “Ouch, what’d you do?”
    “Paint chip in my hand. This window was painted shut.”
    “That’s a fire code violation,” Jacob said and John nodded and laughed. He’d taught him well. “Oh, Miss O’Bryne, where is your vacuum? Abby is having the little boys help her sweep up the training floor and I thought I’d vacuum the office carpet and the mats in the waiting area.
    Kym stepped forward and shifted her shoulders back. “It’s in the