Page 40 of Virgin for Next Door Wolf Daddy
“That’s a great idea. I’ll think about that,” she said. The bell rang and she groaned, waved goodbye to Sadie, and headed upstairs.
The kids knew that something was off with her. They were extremely quiet and very well-behaved all day. Talia hated that she wasn’t her normal, exuberant, energetic self. She firmly believed that learning should be fun because people learned more when they were in a good mood and uplifted. Her philosophy was that if she was passionate about teaching, the students would be passionate about learning.
Today just wasn’t one of those days. The day seemed to drag by, even when she spent her twenty-minute lunch break taking a quick cat nap.
Finally, the day was over. She stood in the hallway, monitoring the kids as they opened their lockers and raced for the exit. Talia was glad that there was no drama or fighting. She didn’t have the energy to deal with it.
Talia heard him before she saw him. He was very heavy-footed and had distinctive footsteps. She thought about running into her classroom, shutting the door, and locking it, but she wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of knowing that he unnerved her.
“How are things going for you, Miss Delaney?” he asked.
She was pretty sure that he said her name a little sarcastically. “Fine, thanks. I hope things are well for you.”
“They are fine.” He narrowed his eyes at her and said in a menacing voice, “You need to be careful out there. It’s a dangerous world for a single woman who lives all alone. I work in a prison that is full of men who took advantage of single women. You really need a man, like me, to watch over you.”
Revulsion flooded through her, making her stomach knot up. She smiled and said calmly, “I’m quite capable of taking care of myself.”
The look he gave her before he walked away made her insides shudder.
16
Sebastian
Sebastian decided that it was time to pay a visit to Darius Evans. He found Darius’ home and work addresses.
“Julian, I’m headed to Albuquerque. I need to talk to a man about some manners. You have to hold down the fort until I get back.”
“Who are you going after?”
Sebastian explained about Darius. “You don’t know that he’s the stalker, and you don’t want to jump to conclusions. I think that you should take either Anthony or me with you.”
“You don’t think I can take him by myself?”
Julian laughed. “That’s the problem. I know you can. However, you are angry, and I don’t want you destroying Darius.”
“I don’t need a babysitter.”
“No, but I think that having a friend along for the ride would be a good idea.”
“I solemnly swear that I will do no physical harm to any dweeb or jerk, unless he comes at me first,” Sebastian said, holding up the two fingers signaling Scout’s honor.
“You were never a Scout.”
“But I have honor. I won’t hurt him.”
“Fine,” Julian said. “Check in after you talk to him.”
“Yes, Boss,” Sebastian said with a smirk.
Darius wasn’t hard to find at his job with Vertex Design and Engineering. Sebastian asked to speak with him and the receptionist didn’t ask questions, including his name. She simply led him to Darius’ office. Sebastian tended to have that effect on people.
“What can I do for you, sir?”
“My name is Sebastian Garner. I’m from Angel’s Creek, and I’m great friends with Talia.”
Darius paled and his hands shook slightly. “Oh.”
“She’s been having a problem with a stalker who has tried to break into her house. This morning, the individual in question slashed her tires. Tell me, Darius, are you the person who slashed her tires?”
