Page 110 of The Thought of You

ADDIE

“Meet me in the Health room in one minute, or your ass is off to detention.”

Owen saunters past the row of bleachers, whistling an easy tune as I gather my thoughts—and ovaries.

I had two coffees this morning, but they don’t compare to the energy boost his scandalous request gives me.

Scanning the gym, I confirm we have no witnesses, not that they’d be in here this early. We still have twenty minutes before first period.

I scurry toward the Health room and check once more over my shoulder, my paranoia nagging at me. With the coast still clear, I inch the door open and lock it behind me.

Owen slams his mouth to mine, both hands on my cheeks as he devours me with his kiss.

Last night was a dream. At least, I thought it was when I woke up.

I startled awake in my own bed after a particularly naughty dream of Owen and me in the hot tub, but it was real—so very wickedly real.

He’d insisted I stay the night with him, but I knew it was a bad idea. I wouldn’t have been able to get up this morning to make it to work on time, not with a naked Owen sprawled across the bed.

With an enormous helping of self-control, I drove myself home, lost in a daze.

I danced in the bathroom while I got ready earlier, and I used my best mascara too, which has earned me several compliments all week.

I tear myself away from Owen and straighten my sweater back into place, then fluff my hair. “I think that’ll do, Mr. Conrad.”

“Oh, fuck. Don’t call me that. Not unless you want me to hightail it out of here with you bent over my shoulder.” He adjusts himself and groans.

I lick my lips, fantasizing about him doing just that, when a nutritional poster behind his head catches my attention. It’s not because a group of cartoon fruits and vegetables stares back at me, either. It’s a reminder.

We’re at school.

This is our place of work.

We are professionals, who definitely did not have sex in a hot tub last night, and we’re sticking to that story.

I need to get out of here!

He wraps his arms around me again, but I swat him away and smack his chest. “We need to be more careful, don’t you think?”

“Fine.” He holds his hands up.

“Wait two minutes to leave,” I whisper as if someone might hear me, then turn toward the door.

And he squeezes my ass, his breath hot on my ear when he says, “You look beautiful today.”

My heart stuttering, I take a deep inhale, throw the door open, and force one foot in front of the other until I reach my side of the gym. Soon afterward, I hear the Health room door shut, and he waltzes out, whistling the same tune from before as he gathers basketballs onto the rack.

“Good morning,” Sable chirps, appearing seemingly out of nowhere.

My shoulders jump to my ears as I spin to face her. “Hi,” I croak as I hear what sounds like Owen dribbling a ball behind me.

“Just wanted to come by with an update on your classroom.” She wiggles her shoulders in a mini celebratory dance.

“My classroom?” I blink.

“The damage wasn’t as extensive as we thought. In fact, the repairs on the roof are almost finished, then we’ll paint, and you’ll be ready to move back in sooner rather than later.”

Instinctively, I glance back at Owen, whose shirt lifts as he shoots the ball from the three-point line and makes it.

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