Page 5 of Tempting Teacher

“Whatever will be, will be. Nothing I do is going to change that, my sweet cousin.” She jumps up out of her chair, swaying a bit. “Oh, look! There’s Jeffrey and his friend, Colin. Let’s go say hi.”

I’m afraid my cousin won’t make it across the lawn without stumbling into someone, or something, so I hook my arm through hers, as the four of us make our way to her brother, my cousin, Jeff. We spend an hour with them, at which point Serena is pretty wasted. Lily and Allison disappeared a few minutes ago with Colin to find a bathroom, so Jeff helps me bring her up to her room to put her to bed.

After she’s settled, I decide to go down to the beach for a little quiet instead of back to the party. I follow the path on the outside perimeter of the lawn over a small wooden boardwalk. I relax into one of the Adirondack chairs positioned at the edge of the beach. The moon is almost full, it’s reflection on the white sand causing the night to look bright. The music of the party is barely audible over the lapping of the waves against the shore.

“Do you mind if I join you?” A deep voice startles me, a shriek escaping as I twist around, then freeze.

“Oh! It’s you.” I state, then realize I sound like a complete idiot.

“I’m sorry, have we met?” He steps closer, then bends down in front of me, analyzing me. “No, I think I’d remember someone as beautiful as you.”

“Nice one. They teach you that in gigolo class?” I jest.

“What?” He scowls, rising to his full height, my head tilting back to keep eye contact with him. “I think I’ll leave. Sorry if I disturbed you.”

“Wait.” I jump up from my chair, knowing what I said was not only out of line, but so out of character for me. “I’m sorry. Please, I shouldn’t have said that. It was extremely rude.”

The edges around his eyes crinkle when they narrow to look at me, one hand scrubbing his already tousled hair before one side of his mouth crooks up in a wicked smile. “Gigolo class? Want to explain what that was supposed to mean?”

“Nothing! Sorry!” I motion to one of the chairs. “Please, sit.” I plop back into the seat I was previously in, hoping it will cause him to follow suit. “It was stupid, I shouldn’t have said anything. Too much champagne.”

He stares at me for a moment, but then, to my relief, he sits, shifting his attention to the water.

“I’m Summer, by the way.” I rush out, trying to say something that won’t make me look like a complete fool.

“Xander.” He turns his face toward mine, extending his hand.

I take it, a small jolt of pleasure zinging through me when he turns it over to place a soft kiss inside my wrist. “Nice to meet you, Summer.” He releases my hand, which hangs between us for a moment until I come to my senses and drop it back to my side.

“Xander with an X or with a Z?” I cock my head to one side, examining him further.

He chuckles, but humors me. “With an X. Why?”

“No reason.” I shrug.

“No question is ever asked without a reason.” He rises and lifts the chair, shifting it so it faces me, our feet now just a few inches apart. “Tell me. I want to know.”

God, how did I get myself into these situations? I blow out a small sigh. “I was just curious.”

“Go on.” He prompts, not relenting. “Curious about what?”

“Just, well, I wondered what your mother must be like to name you Xander. It’s such a super hero kind of name, or a name that you’d hear in a circus.” Of course, now that I started, I can’t seem to stop. “You know,” I deepen my voice as I pretend to announce him. “Introducing Xander the Great!”

He stares at me, his face devoid of any emotion, and I start to squirm in my seat, fidgeting with the hem of my dress as I realize, once again, I just made an ass of myself. I start to apologize, again, but he puts his hand up, shaking his head.

“Please, stop saying sorry.” His brow furrows as he continues to peer at me. “You’re a bit of an oddity, aren’t you? Definitely not from around here.”

I wonder if it’s really that obvious. “No, I’m from Vermont. I’m visiting my aunt and uncle before I start school in the fall.”

“Ah, well, I suppose that explains some of it.” He scoots forward, his gaze intense as he scrutinizes me, murmuring his thoughts out loud. “You’re quite innocent. Almost naive. You aren’t being rude. You really just don’t know.”

I roll my eyes. “I know things. I’m not a complete moron.”

His hand darts out and lands on my knee, another jolt of electricity sparking straight up my thigh to my core. I flinch, which seems to amuse him, because he chuckles. Instead of letting go, his fingers grip a little tighter. “I didn’t say stupid. I said innocent. There’s a difference.”

I look down at his hand, and perhaps understanding he may have overstepped, his hold loosens, sliding off my leg as he leans back in his chair.

“Can I ask you another question?”

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