He waited until we were at the door to say anything—and it wasn’t what I expected. “Does your school have any written policy on dating the parent of a student?”
My mouth dropped open and Andy rolled his eyes. “You’re a terrible actress.”
“We’re not dating!” I insisted. Which was true, I realized with a pang. We hadn’t been on a single date, and it was hard for me to imagine that changing any time soon.
Andy studied my face for a long moment. “You should check with your union rep,” he finally said. “Before things go any farther than they have.”
“Andy—”
He held up a hand, eyes flashing. “I don’t want your career hurt over this guy.”
“And what about his career?” I blurted out before I could stop myself.
Andy’s eyebrows went up. “You think I’m going to trade him for making eyes at my sister?”
I crossed my arms. “I think you’ve never liked him.”
“And I had damn good reason not to. I haven’t forgotten what happened the last time he hurt you.”
My stomach twisted at the memory, even as I scoffed. “We were teenagers, Andy. You can’t hold a grudge forever.”
“Which is exactly why I put the good of my team over my own personal feelings and brought him here,” he said, voice sharp.
“I’m sorry,” I muttered. Insinuating that my brother was still caught up in high school drama when millions of dollars and hundreds of jobs were at stake was uncalled for.
His face softened as he looked down at me. “I just don’t want you getting hurt again.”
“I won’t,” I told him, even though I knew it was a promise I couldn’t keep. Not where Liam O’Conner and my heart were concerned.
For a moment my brother looked like he wanted to say more but eventually he sighed, pulling me in for a hug. “I’ll be in Palo Alto for the rest of the week. Call Deb if you need anything.”
I smiled against his expensive suit coat. It was the same thing he said every time he left town. What, exactly, he thought might happen that I couldn’t handle on my own remained a mystery.
“I love you, little brother.”
He released me, his familiar smirk back on his face, replacing the smooth, cultured facade he’d been wearing around our dinner companions all evening.
“Be good, Ace.”
“You too, Andy.”
I stood there for a long moment after my brother left, trying to parse through the conversation we’d just had. He hadn’t flat out told me it would hurt Liam’s career if we started something, but the flash in his eyes when he talked about the way I’d been hurt before made my stomach tighten.
It was with these worries flooding my brain that I felt familiar, strong arms wrap around me from behind. “You okay?”
I leaned back into Liam automatically, melting in his arms the way I always seemed to.
“I’m fine,” I said. “Andy is going to California for the week.”
“Hmm,” Liam murmured against my neck. “Does that mean you’ll let me take you out somewhere? Like, in public? If I recall, you owe me a reward for that goal.” He pressed a soft kiss to my skin. “Two goals, actually. So I should probably get double the reward.”
As much as I wanted to sink into his touch, I couldn’t help but think about the other thing Andy had said.Didmy school have any written policy on dating the parent of a student? The truth was, I didn’t know, but it was hard to imagine the administration would be too happy about it.
“I’m not sure, Liam. I’m still Josie’s teacher.”
He let out a sigh, like it wasn’t the answer he was hoping for. Then he moved in even closer, letting his tongue drag slowly under my earlobe, groaning deep in his chest. “I guess I can stand to keep you all to myself.”
How could his words make me feel both eager and anxious at the same time? The naughty promise in his tone of what, exactly, he planned to do with me in private battled with the sickfeeling that came with secrecy. No matter how much I tried to tell myself that Liam was nothing like Matt, I couldn’t help but remember how awful it had felt to be the one who was hidden. Was I really capable of having a relationship that would forever need to be kept a secret?
