Page 27 of Johnathan

“It’s my official title with the department,” he smirked.

“Mm, yes. Feels very official. Did you assign a speed dial number to yourself?”

“Yep. You didn’t have any assigned, so I took the first one. And I want you to use it. If you aren’t feeling well again and don’t want to bother Sam or your mom, I want to be the one you call.”

“Thanks, John.”

He placed his thumb under her chin and lifted her face so she was looking into his beautiful blue eyes.

“Abby. I don’t think you understand what I’m saying. Use the number. Anytime. Promise me.”

“I…” God, what was it about him? There was some unspoken chemistry with John that made her just want to rip up her clothes and lay bare in front of him begging for his touch. Jesus, she needed to get a grip. This was her student’s father. The man who saved her because it was job. “Yes. I’ll call.”

“Good girl. So, what sounds good to you? I was thinking some watermelon, because it’s hydrating and will be easy on your stomach. But if that doesn’t sound good, I also got some avocados and a nice sourdough. We could make avocado toast.”

Abby laughed as she sat down on the bar stool. “Avocado toast? How hipster of you.”

John raised an eyebrow and smiled. “Am I too old to be a hipster?”

“It’s not that. I just think more ‘mountain man, possessive alpha hero’ than hipster when I think of you.”

“I don’t know what to say to that. Is that a good thing?”

“Oh, it was definitely a compliment. You’re like every one of my favorite romance novel heroes rolled up into a real man.” Abby’s mouth snapped shut as she realized what she was saying. “Yeah, so I don’t know why it made me laugh, it just did. Avocado toast and watermelon sound perfect. But I’m helping. It’s not fair you bought me foodandthen have to prepare it for me.”

“Sit.” He pointed with the end of the bread knife he pulled from the drawer. “I’m taking care of you. No fighting me on it.”

She let out a little huff as she sat across the counter from him.

“So, tell me more about these romance books.”

Nine

“We’re here! We’re here! No one better have started eating without us!” John called out as he walked through his parent’s front door with Katy holding on tightly to his hand.

“Grammy! Grampy!” Katy dropped his hand like a hot potato and ran into the kitchen.

“Nice of you to show up.” John kicked his shoes off next to the stairs and smiled at his brother.

“Yeah, Yeah. Wait until Jack is four and has the attitude of a teenager. You’ll be pulling your hair out and praising the fact that you’re only twenty minutes late sometimes.”

“You want a beer? Dad and I started a fire out back.”

“Yeah, sure. Campfire sounds fun right about now.”

“Oh, honey. How is Abby doing?” His mom pulled him into a hug as soon as he walked by the kitchen.

“She seemed better the rest of the week.”

“That’s good.”

“What happened to Abby? I saw her yesterday when I picked up Katy and she seemed fine.” Grace bounced Jack on her lap, the baby drooling an impressive amount down his chin.

“She had a migraine on Tuesday. Scared the hell out of me when I watched her pass out in the parking lot. I was late picking Katy up, and she had to stand around waiting longer than usual in the heat. I still feel so bad about it.”

“Oh my gosh. That’s terrible. I didn’t realize that migraines could do that to someone.”

“Yeah. You know, I also read something like seventy percent of people who suffer from migraines end up vomiting during attacks. It wasn’t pretty.”

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