Page 23 of Hunted

“Oh, thank you!”

“Aren’t you going to ask what that was about?” Dominic lifted a brow.

Abigail didn’t say anything at first. He started driving back home. It wouldn’t be a long drive.

“Okay…” Abigail started. “What was that?”

“You were fantastic with those children,” Dominic answered.

“Thank you?” Abigail took a bite out of the egg sandwich in the bag and then, after her first mouthful, really started scarfing it down.

“I was wondering if you’d like to teach here,” Dominic finally asked.

Abigail nearly spit out her food in surprise. She started to choke a little, taking a drink from her soda in the cupholder.

“What do you mean?” she asked, recollecting herself.

“You’d be tutoring from home at first,” Dominic said. “But we might have some teaching positions opening up soon, and you’re definitely qualified.”

Chapter 11

Abigail

Abigailchewedonherstraw, trying to appear collected and pensive to recover from her earlier spit-up.

After buying her breakfast and picking her up from the park, he had offered her a teaching job. Well, just a tutoring job for now. But he said it might become a teaching job later on.

She wanted to screamyesimmediately.

She was so excited to have anything to do here, and working around children was always energizing for her. But she couldn’t stop thinking of home.

She couldn’t stop thinking of all those children she used to teach, who depended on her for their education. How could she abandon them like that? She missed them so much.

“Of course, you don’t have to answer now,” Dominic told her.

She realized that she hadn’t spoken for a very long time, and she felt embarrassed. “Sorry, I’m still thinking.”

“Take your time,” Dominic offered as he turned off the vehicle.

By now, they had already pulled into the driveway, and she was still playing with her hair, trying to decide whether she wanted to move on with her life here. Nothing was tying her to Dominic other than his feelings of obligation and a vague glimmer of a romantic connection.

But then she thought of the children, specifically Isolde, Gavin, and Samara. She felt like she had a real impact on them, while their previous teachers had clearly failed them. She knew she could make a real impact in their lives.

It felt awkward to receive praise, but it was deeply meaningful to her to be acknowledged for making some kind of difference.

“I’ll do it,” Abigail said finally.

“You will?” Dominic asked. “Tutoring at home?”

“Would it have to just be at home?” Abigail asked.

Dominic sighed. “When you’re feeling better, you can teach wherever you want,” he told her. “But I can see how much pain you’re in, and there’s plenty of room at the house. So yes, it’ll have to be at home to start with.” Dominic continued, “If you want some fresh air, let me know, and we’ll have a walk or a drive around the block. I’m not trying to keep you cooped up, but you’re saferinsideright now.”

She knew she was frail, but the way he emphasized the word “inside” bothered her a bit. How much better would she really heal indoors than outside? The logic seemed a little flawed… unless…

“That’s fine,” Abigail said, “but I think it would be really helpful if we go on daily walks together.”

Dominic looked at her, tilting his head sideways, as if she was testing him. He collected himself. “Fine,” Dominic said. “But only in broad daylight, and in public.”

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