Read Online Unstoppable (A Country Roads Novel) by Shannon Richard - Free Book Online

bangs. She was another girl not to be messed with, and Mel knew she wasn’t going to take any crap from Dale, either. This was why Mel had put him in their group.
    The bell rang, and everyone started packing up their stuff.
    “So how did I do, Teach?” Bennett asked, coming up to Mel.
    “Pretty impressive, actually.”
    “Don’t sound so shocked. I can handle myself around the young’uns.”
    “I saw. Thanks again for doing this, Bennett. I’m going to go get the next class,” she said, turning around.
    But before she could start walking, he took her hand and stopped her from leaving. She turned, more than a little startled, and looked up at him.
    “I’m really glad I’m a part of this, Mel. You don’t have to keep thanking me,” he said seriously.
    She could only nod. He let go of her hand, and as Mel walked back to her classroom she was at a complete loss for words.
    *  *  *
    Over the next three weeks Bennett quickly adjusted to his new work schedule. Really, it wasn’t that much different. His Mondays started a little earlier. Normally he hadn’t gotten to a construction site until about nine, and that was about the time he finished up with Mel and the kids.
    On Wednesdays, he cut it a little short at work and headed over to the school just before one. Different groups of kids had started to stay late on Wednesday to work a little bit more and catch up on their shelf. A few of the kids wanted to work on other projects, and Bennett was more than happy to help them as long as they paid for the supplies.
    He was having a good time with the project, and he was having a really good time with Mel. He looked forward to being in that wood shop with her and to regularly hanging out with her at night.
    “You’ve been MIA lately,” Tripp said to Bennett one Tuesday night. It was another karaoke night at the Sleepy Sheep, and since Bennett was so involved with everything he made a point of going to them.
    But he flat-out refused to sing. Nope. That shit wasn’t happening.
    “Yeah.” Shep sipped his beer behind the bar. “I feel like I only see you at practice and at games. What are you doing with all your free time these days?”
    “I’m pretty sure it has to do with that pretty girl over there,” Brendan said, indicating a spot behind Bennett.
    Bennett didn’t need to turn to see that Brendan was talking about Mel. She sat at a corner table with Grace, taking money, signing people up for karaoke slots, and helping them pick out which songs they wanted to sing.
    No, Bennett knew exactly where Mel was, because he’d looked over at her not even sixty seconds ago.
    “We’re just friends.” He was tired of saying that, but mainly because it wasn’t true anymore.
    “I’ve heard that before,” Shep said.
    “I’ve said that before.” Jax shook his head pityingly at Bennett. “It sounds about as true coming out of your mouth as it did coming out of mine.”
    “Jeez, when Jax calls you out about being clueless, that’s saying something,” Brendan said.
    “I really wish I could take offense to that, but it’s sadly true,” Jax said.
    “But not anymore,” Tripp said.
    “Nope,” Jax said, grinning. “Not anymore.”
    Yup, Jax had the grin of a very satisfied man. Something that Bennett was definitely not. Frustrated was a way more accurate word, and every time he even looked at Mel his frustration grew. Who was he kidding? All he had to do was think about her. Which was all the fucking time.
    *  *  *
    When Mel got home on Thursday, she started preparing dinner right away. She was making her grandmother’s shrimp and grits for Bennett, and the meal involved a lot of prep work.
    Mel lost all track of time, and by the time she was finished cooking she had only enough time to change. Her makeup was still okay, and her hair wasn’t too frizzy. There really wasn’t any hope of making her curls look any better. Besides, this was her, up close and personal.
    She stripped the second she got in