Page 35 of Troublemaker: The Big Picture Edition

But I won’t.

I quickly glance up and find him smirking at me and my stupid trembling hands.

Don’t you smirk at me, Ryder’s dad. If you think this is going to be an opportunity for you to flirt with me, then you’ve got another think coming.

“Sounds good,” he says, holding up crossed fingers.

I remove two Hello My Name Is stickers that I’ve filled out and hand one each to my volunteers. “Please wear this so the kids can see it.”

Alex Vega removes the backing paper and very slowly and carefully and annoyingly smooths theHelloMy Name Is Mr. Vegasticker out over his left pec while watching me watch him.

I take the backing paper from Mrs. Torres. “I can throw that out for you.”

I hold my hand out to Alex. His fingertips brushing against the open palm of my hand sends a direct message to my lady parts, and the message is this:You think I’mnotgoing to flirt with you today, Miss Stiles? You’ve got another think coming.

I clear my throat and smile at the good chaperone. “Juanita—would you come inside to help me round up the kids? Mr. Vega, would you mind waiting for us at the school bus? Make sure the driver is there? We’ll join you in a minute.”

“I’ll see you in a minute.” He starts walking backwards down the hall, giving me a very obvious and appreciative once-over when Miguel’s mom is heading into the classroom. Down to my exposed bare ankles, back up the flowing blush-colored maxi skirt, to the somewhat tight white T-shirt that I’m wearing under a cute jean jacket. A slightly more work-appropriate version of the boho nerdy chic style I was rocking the night we didn’t meet. Definitely not slutty. But also not anything that Mrs. Norbert would have worn.

I roll my eyes and give him a warning look before he turns to walk away, giving me a painfully awesome view of his cute butt.

There’s a great example of a long and shortusound right there.

Cute. Butt.

But damn. I like the way he looked at me.

Franklin Baldwin, you’re a genius.

Oh God.

Oh shit.

Franklin Baldwin, you’re an idiot.

The wind.

The Santa Ana winds.

Fuck you, wind.

CHAPTER 13

ALEX

Ifucking love you, Santa Ana winds.

Here’s what they brought me today: a tantalizing glimpse of Miss Stiles’s long, shapely bare legs and black underwear that should not be sexy but totally is.

That long skirt of hers just flew right up as she was turned to face her line of students, and I am so glad she sent me over here to wait for her.

I watch her wrangle the pink fabric and shove it between her legs so it won’t blow around anymore.

Oh, how I wish I were you, pink fabric.

She checks her watch.

No, you do not have enough time to change out of that magical skirt, Miss Stiles.