Shit, stop being an idiot, Johansson.You barely know each other, and it was going to stay that way.
In the distance, I heard Josh yelling my name. But he wasn’t in the distance. He was standing next to me, a smirk twisting his lips. “She says if you have a minute, she’d like to discuss the play and your role.” Josh’s tone laced with excitement. “Do you think you could talk to her? Please?”
Aw, hell. I wasn’t going to say no, was I? Not to him, and not to her. Reluctantly, I broke eye contact with Zoe, then gave my nephew my full attention. “Sure.” Tossing him my keys, I said, “Lock the truck after you get in. And don’t blow out my speakers.” Josh rolled his eyes and took off for the parking lot. He whooped in triumph as I walked against the flow of the stragglers waiting to be picked up.
Unable to read her expression until I got closer, I noticed her gaze flicked to my midsection. Yeah,thatwas still at half-mast. I would not apologize for my body's reaction. It was like she was a blushing virgin. Astrid had made sure to mention she was thirty-eight and single. Had never been married, in fact. Like me. Although I could admit the timing could have been better.
Her gaze flew back up to my face, and I noticed she was now sporting two bright red spots high on her cheeks.That’s what you get for looking, gorgeous.And if she didn’t want it to grow again, hopefully for the both of us, she’d keep her eyes locked on mine.
“So, you want to do this now?” I stopped just short of where she stood, inches from my boots touching the tip of her shoes. The dropping late-fall temperature wrapped around my overheated body, and a light haze of steam mingled between us. Was she feeling it too? Her reaction when we met the other night had been hard to read. But today felt different as she balled her hands in front of her and twisted them. Was she nervous? Turned on?
Her eyes brightened and widened, then her nostrils flared ever so slightly at my question. Damn, either she’s turned on, or she’s working up a head of steam over how rude my words just sounded. I’d meant to be witty or flirty, but I was rusty in that department. Not that I’d ever flirted. Never had to. Yeah, I was arrogant, but I’d never had to work hard at getting a woman to like me. Or sleep with me.
Because, yeah, I wanted Zoe, but there would be very little sleeping if I ever had the opportunity to be naked with her. But it was just too complicated as long as she was Josh’s teacher. I needed to get a handle on this sudden obsession—starting now.
“Before you say anything, I’m not wearing a Santa suit. That’s non-negotiable.” Better to be clear and blunt upfront.
Instead of falling apart or acting offended at my declaration, she laughed. More like a short bark. When she turned on her heel, damn if my gaze didn’t zero in on her plump ass. And just like that, the urgent need to follow her anywhere overcame me.
“Guess it’s a good thing I’m not asking you to wear a suit. However—” Her voice dripped with sarcasm, and a hook hadbeen cast, whether she realized it or not. I couldn’t resist a woman with some sass.
“Nothing good has ever started with ‘however.’ Just cut to the chase and tell?—”
“How do you feel about a long robe with fur lining?” Zoe crossed her arms and then slowly rocked on her toes. “The costume is based on the traditional figure known as Saint Nicholas instead of a red suit.”
Was she teasing or had she actually lost her damn mind? Her movement brought her closer to me. Enough to notice she was fighting a grin. But her posture, whether she intended or not, had put her breasts on spectacular display for my starving gaze. And the pretty pink glow riding high on her cheekbones made me wonder if two of my favorite areas on a woman’s body—on her body—were the same pink shade as well.
Man, I had it bad.
CHAPTER FOUR
ZOE
I swear he rolled his eyes without actually rolling his eyes. For an instant he reminded me of Josh at the beginning of the school year.Defiant, but with a hint of anticipation.
“How does that sound to you, Mr. Johansson?”
Using my last name had to be a strategic move. She was good. “Jesus, call me Baz. No one even called my old man Mr. Not that he deserved the respect. So, no reason to break tradition now.
Oh-Kay. There was a story there. Probably, like I had my own issues with my mom. But I’m sure neither of us wanted nor had the time to work through childhood disappointments. Maybe I should ask him out for a drink?
“Zoe, or should I call you Ms. Riordan since we’re on school property? I’ve got a project I need to get back to. Can you tell me in three sentences or less what this play is about and what my role is? And please tell me you’re joking about this robe thing.”
No Santa suit period would be even better.
“You don’t even know what the plot is yet. How can you possibly be this…this much of a grinch? I would think you’d do it for your nephew. You know, the one who idolizes you and every other sentence begins with, “My uncle can do this, or he saved abunch of soldiers in the war, or a dozen other topics that you’re supposedly good at.”
“First, I’m not a grinch. Or a grump. And second, how would I know the kid was bragging about me?I’m just ….” He paused, then tipped his head back and blew out an audible breath.
Long seconds ticked by, and I almost felt sorry for him. No,stand your ground, Zoe. Don’t let him run you off.
“You’re just what? Perpetually annoyed?”Darn it, why’d you have to poke the not grinchy and not grumpy but incredibly sexy and off-limits uncle of one of your favorite students, Zo?
“Misunderstood,” he muttered. Visibly out of sorts, Baz suddenly appeared….sheepish. And uncertain. So, unlike the man from the other night, who with one long look had ignited desires within me I had no idea I had. As if they’d been buried so deep only he had the patience to uncover them, and oh, what the hell was I doing? These thoughts were only going to get me in trouble and frustrate me more than I already was.
So, I tried another, more practical approach. “Or maybe it’s just your defense mechanism? A lot of people use them subconsciously. Especially when they’re asked to do something new or out of their comfort zone.” I’d seen it before. People use all sorts of strategies to keep others at arm’s length.
My mother had shown my siblings and me her multiple faces when it came to dealing with people. Some lessons were subconscious, and others I recognized for what they were. Sheilds. I used many myself.
