He swiped the phone off the dresser like he was going to throw it again, but when I lifted an eyebrow, he growled and walked it over to me.
I started Googling hotels.
That’s when Jameson pulled at his short dark hair and spunto face Archer. “Sorry for punching your dumbass face. But if you dance with her again, I’ll bury you.”
Archer’s smile was brighter than the sun before he laughed and said, “Have a good morning, you two.”
I tsked as the door shut and looked up at Jameson. “That wasn’t a very good apology.”
“He appreciated it. Did you see the smile across his face?” Jameson said as he placed a plate of food down on the bed.
I chuckled and nodded. “You’re all wild in your threats to each other, I guess. He means well.”
“He meanstoowell.” He harrumphed.
“Don’t be ridiculous. Eat and quit worrying on your day off.”
“I don’t get days off. This isyourday off. Not mine.”
“Fine. Enjoy the food with me, and then you can get right back to work.” I looked down at the food, not wanting to make eye contact and blushing over the fact that I’d asked him to stay. I didn’t want to eat alone, and I didn’t know how to discuss what we’d done the night before or what was happening between us now.
I felt the mattress dip next to my legs and then his hand was on my chin, lifting my gaze to meet his inquisitive blue one. “You’re hiding from me, darling Mia. What for?”
I shrugged. “A lot happened last night. We got …” How did I even broach this topic? Was there a name for hooking up with your boss on a rooftop before getting shot at? “Carried away on the rooftop.”
“Carried away?” Was he holding back a smile?
“Yes, and obviously we shouldn’t have done anything.”
He frowned. “We shouldn’t have?”
“No.” I threw my hands up. “I’m just the summer-school teacher.”
He hummed. “You’re also the woman I can’t stop thinking about. I think about your smile, your need to stand up to meconstantly, your desire to always put my daughter first. I also think about that body of yours and about burying my dick into you twenty-four seven, Mia.”
My stomach cartwheeled at his admission. “So, I guess we didn’t nip that distraction of ours.”
“No, but as long as you’re here, we have all the time in the world to do that,” he said casually, as if he’d made peace with it. And of course he would have. What did it matter if he screwed me and everyone else with no strings attached all the time?
I wasn’t stupid enough to bring up knowing he slept with Valerie. I was actually considering if I cared. Maybe that would be the way to continue to distance myself, to break the emotional connection with him and not get caught up.
“Right. Do you happen to have an end-of-term date for me?” My heart stuttered at the thought of leaving, and a flash of hurt flew through me that I needed to get control of.
His grip tightened a bit on my chin. “When I say so.”
This I knew how to do: argue with him and bicker. This felt comfortable now, easier than addressing the growing feelings between us. “And I have to accept that because I accepted the academy job, right?” I took one of the flaky biscuits on the tray and ripped it in half angrily before shoving a piece in my mouth. I shook my head at him. “You brought me to this place and kept me here where you know I’ll never be able to leave and be the same.” His hand dropped from my chin as he winced at my words. “I’ll have to live like this from now on … Constantly seeing the blood of men when I close my eyes. Constantly worrying for Franny and you. Welcome to Paradise Grove, I guess.”
“Not about me. I’ve told you before, I’m trying to distance myself from my daughter, and you shouldn’t—”
“Don’t tell me not to care, and don’t act like you not caring is good at all for her. She’s young. She needs you. And you know it.”
He didn’t agree out loud, but I saw the turmoil. Something like acceptance settled in his eyes before he murmured, “They aren’t targeting you. They’re targeting anyone close to me, which includes those women you were with yesterday.”
“My friends,” I clarified. “And Franny before.”
He nodded.
Franny and my friends. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I felt more at home with them and Jameson than I had with even my family for years.
