But then again…the points she made seemed valid. Andgoddamn, she’s got entrancing gray eyes. They’re the kind that make a grown man squirm.
And I was hardly immune to that.
I keep my hand on the door handle of my truck, pretending I’m focused on the locks, but I can’t stop thinking about how she handled Molly. She didn’t flinch under pressure, didn’t tiptoe around the failure, and was quick to offer help.
That’s rare. And something about it reeks of bullshit.
“Dad?” Molly’s voice pulls me back. She’s fidgeting with the straps of her backpack, glancing at me. “Are you…okay?You looked really mad in there.”
I shake my head, forcing a half-smile I hope looks casual. “I’m fine. Just… keeping an eye on things. I don’t like the idea of her coming to the house.”
That’s a complication I really don’t need.
“Okay, but Dr. Williams made it sound like she actually wants to help me. The fact that she was willing to come to the house is really nice.”
I snort under my breath. “Nice doesn’t mean safe.”
Molly wrinkles her nose. “Oh, come on, Dad. You’re totally being hyper protective and dramatic. She’s aliteratureprofessor, and definitely doesn’t look like she MMA fights on the side.”
No, she’s got curves for fucking days beneath those slacks.
I shake that off and open the truck door, motioning for Molly to hop in. “Maybe so,” I say, letting out a sigh. “But I don’t like surprises, and I don’t like people getting too close too fast. Especially with my kid. I don’t care if they’re some fancy doctor or not.”
“Seriously?” She tilts her head, studying me with those wide, curious eyes. “She’s just helping me with writing. She’s a professor. She’s professional, Dad. You don’t have to worry.”
I pause, studying her. “I won’t, because I’ll make sure as hell that I’m there, too.”
Molly frowns but doesn’t press further. She’s smart enough to know when to drop it—but not too smart to see I’m off my usual rhythm.
That woman got under my skin in a way I don’t like.Not at all.
I walk around the front of my truck and climb in, slamming the door harder than necessary. My hands grip the wheel, and I catch myself wandering right back to the way Dr. Williams bit her lip mid-sentence, looking like a sexy little librarian under those black-rimmed glasses and sweater.
Did she do that on purpose?
“Can we just get home?” Molly interjects my thought, voice quieter now, sensing the tension radiating off me. “I need you to… you know, not blow your knuckles out with that iron grip.”
“Yep. You’re right.” I nod without looking at her, eyes scanning the parking lot. “It’ll be fine. You can make her that coffee you offered.”
“Maybeyoushould,” Molly shoots back, giving me a sly grin. “You totally checked her out.”
“No,” I lie, starting the truck and suddenly feeling extremely uncomfortable.
I don’t like being outmatched. I don’t like feeling caught off guard. And withDr. Williams, I felt both—right there in that office.
Fuck, what is it about her?
Those gray eyes.
They’re so fucking stormy, so intoxicating, and something about the woman just unsettles me entirely.There’s more to her. There has to be.
And that’s why I’m going to watch her. Every move. Every word.
And if she tries to get too close to my kid… I’ll make damn sure she regrets it.
“Dad? Are you even listening?” Molly’s sharp tone cuts right into my psyche, and I snap back to her, seeing the frustration etched in her expression. “I hate it when you zone out like that.”
“Shit, sorry.” I rip my hat off my head and toss it onto the dash, suddenly feeling like it’s a little too tight.
