Keeping Score

“No. Like you said that little boy showed more excitement seeing me than you have gotten from him ever, right? And if you call the judge and tell him to terminate my community service then I will go to jail and that means no more football for me which means no more role model for him.” I hung my head. “Look, Julie. I fucked up. I shouldn’t have been an ass to the kid. It won’t happen again. I promise.”

“If you so much as wrinkle your brow at one of these children I will pick up the phone and make the call. Don’t test me,” she threatened.

“Understood,” I replied, standing up straight.

“And you need to apologize to Hunter. Make it right, because so help me God if he hides back in that shell of his because of you, I will skin you alive. Football will be the last thing on your mind. I promise you that.”

“Got it. I’ll see to that now.”

“Good.”

“You done lecturing me now?” I cocked my head to the side.

She was worked up. Her face was red and her breath was as heated as it was last night.

She took a deep intake of air. “Yes.”

“Can we talk about what happened last night?”

I saw the recognition in her eyes. Damn. In the light of day they were a beautiful light blue.

She shook her head. “Nothing happened.”

“That’s not how I remember it.” I leaned against the desk, touching her arm lightly as I relaxed now that she had laid down her laws. “I’m here because of you.”

“What?”

I laughed. “I decked that guy last night, protecting you.”

She wriggled back. “I didn’t tell you to get in a fight,” she whispered. “I never asked for your help.”

“You think I’m going to kiss you. Lick you. Suck you until you’re ready to come and then let some drunk man put his hands on you?” I leaned toward her, the energy growing between us. “I might not be that good with kids, but there was no way in hell I’d let him hurt you. Do you understand me?”

She nodded. “I think so. Maybe.”

I pressed my eyes to her gaze. “What I’m trying to say is don’t hold last night against me. I see you’re a different person.”

“I-I am,” she stuttered. “That wasn’t really me.”

“Got it. Maybe we understand each other better now.”

“I don’t know if that’s possible.” She folded her arms over her chest and I remembered how free and adventurous she had been in the store room.

“Thanks for letting me stay. I think you’re going to like having me around, Julie. I’ll go talk to the kids now.”

I walked out of the room, leaving her speechless.

Eight

Julie

I had always been a firm believer in not judging a book by its cover, and in Kane Hawkins’s case the cover was great, but it was his past that worried me. Especially when a certain eight-year-old was staring up at him with nothing but complete adoration on his face. If he could pull this type of reaction from a boy who hides within himself ninety-nine percent of the time, then I’d give him a chance.

I turned my back and waited for Hawk to walk out of the classroom. Once I heard the click of the door, I took a deep breath and let myself relax. It was easy to not notice anything about him while my anger was running hot, but as my temper cooled and my eyes began to take in more and more details of the man standing in front of me I felt myself flushing for a totally different reason.

Never in my life had I been affected by a man the way that man affected me. I went from wanting to murder him with my own bare hands to wanting to rip his clothes off and lick up and down each and every inch of his body.

If he had stayed in the room for ten more seconds, I felt certain that my morals and dignity would have gone out the window and I’d have ended up in a similar position to last night.