Cute.
But the smirk on Vince’s face isn’t.
“Vince, pick your candy,” I finish. “But,” I add as he clambers to his feet and hustles toward my desk, “you and I will be having a chat at the end of class.”
His smirk fades and his eyes come to mine, as if gauging my seriousness.
I just lift my eyebrows.
His shoulders hunch, but he nods.
“Good catch,” I hear murmured in my ear and jump slightly, having forgotten that Colt was there.
How, I don’t know.
Not when every nerve in my body is alive, sparking with sensation.
“You too,” I say softly.
“Me too what?”
“You and I need to have a chat at the end of class.”
His mouth quirks. “Whatever you say, Teach.”
Warmth in my belly, dipping between my legs. But I just pull the door wider so he can slip inside then lift my chin and point at the row of cabinets near the back of the room. “Wait there.”
A wink that has my heart pounding against my ribs.
“Like I said”—he lightly brushes the backs of his knuckles over my cheek—“whatever you say, baby.”
That light touch burns through me and it’s with shaky knees that I walk up to the front of the class, tucking the treats away and then giving the kids the happy news that their only homework over the long weekend is going to be to go outside and touch grass…then to submit a picture as proof to the online portal.
“Ms. Connors?”
“Yeah?” I say as I finish writing the assignment on the white board (“Touch Grass. Submit Picture.”).
“Is he your boooyfriend?”
“No—”
“Yes,” Colt says at the same time.
My stomach convulses and I open my mouth but things quickly spiral out of my control.
“What’s your name?”
“Why are you here?”
“You’re really tall?”
“Aren’t you the guy who plays for the Sierra?”
“Hockey’s boring!”
“Ms. C, are you in luuuuv?”
“Ew, boys are gross!”
