Page 5 of Dangerous

“Um, Miss Nelson, Katherine, it’s, uh, surprise to see you.” Greg’s gaze shot to mine as I skidded to a stop, looking all types of guilty, I was sure.

Silence hung in the air. Uncomfortable. Thick. The urge to run my fingers through my hair again had my fists clenching. It was my tell and Greg knew it which meant I couldn’t, even if it would have helped me think.

As the questions in Greg’s eyes continued to multiple, I thought my life as I knew it was over. The one secret I was still keeping and needed to come clean about to those I love, paled in comparison. It wouldn’t matter know because nothing could be worse than this.

But then Jarrod stepped in, saving us all. He wrapped his arm around Katy’s shoulders, pulling her into his side. A move he’d done numerous times out in public so Greg shouldn’t find it suspicious. “Yeah, Katy’s mom started her week of night shifts tonight and Katy had a shift at the pet store, so I told Marie that I’d pick Katy up, bring her home, and feed her. That way Marie wouldn’t worry while she’s saving lives.”

I held my breath as Greg glanced between the three of us as he decided whether or not to believe Jarrod. But since it wasthe truth—only part of the story, but still the complete truth—he appeared to let it go.

“If you don’t mind, Katy?”—she nodded when he called her by the name she preferred—“I’ll have something cold.”

“Not at all.” She gave him her hostess smile. One that was bittersweet to see. It reminded me so much of my mother who Katy had idolized and after her death, Katy, who was only a young teen at the time, used all the time when she jumped in, trying to fill in the role my mother left. “Why don’t you have a seat, and I’ll bring it right out.”

She spun, giving me a look that told me to stop being an ass and to get with the program. I choked back a snort of laughter. How did I get myself into predicaments like this? If Jason had been here and seen this, he’d be rolling on the floor as he thanked his lucky stars that he wasn’t being chewed out with a single look.

A quick glance at Jarrod and Greg and the mirth on their faces showed they’d seen it.Fuck my life.

Not wanting to increase Greg’s suspicions, I jumped to follow her silent command. Here I’d been worried about Katy somehow letting what was between us slip when she was handling this like a pro. I was the one screwing it all up.

“So,” I said as I sat down on the short side of our L-shaped sectional. “I thought you’d be deep into end of term marking or heading out with Ashley. Didn’t she corner you today in the staff room?”

“Why do you think I’m here. I’m hiding from her.” Greg shuddered as Jarrod let out a little chuckle. “Fuck. Make one stupid mistake?—”

Please, don’t let his comment be a foreboding,I tossed out into the universe. Not that my mistake kept coming back like Ashley did—boy was I ever glad she’d backed off for the mostpart now that I was in a public relationship with Jarrod, but that just left her more time to focus her sights on Greg.

“A mistake? What mistake?” Katy placed a tray filled with glasses, a pitcher of homemade strawberry lemonade, a bottle of raspberry vodka, and a plate of decadent chocolate cookies. Cookies she’d made this week.

Greg glanced between Jarrod and I, pleading for our help. While Katy probably knew—or who was I kidding, she definitely knew—about Ashley’s perchance for overt flirting with the unmarried male staff—and even some older male students when she was trying to make me jealous—in deference to her position as a teacher and colleague, I tried not to bad mouth her in front of Katy. It seemed like Greg had similar ideas.

“That math question you mentioned during the car ride home. I was asking Greg if it could have been a mistake.” Jarrod rescued me again. I was going to have to reward him greatly tonight for it since with Greg here, there was no way Katy could curl up between us.

“Let me guess, the algebra review sheet with twenty questions from six years ago.” At Katy’s nod, Greg rolled his eyes. “Hammersmith always forgets to tell his classes that question six has a mistake in it. It can’t be solved the way it’s written so just ignore it unless you want to challenge yourself and figure out the correct question to match the answer.”

I wanted to laugh at the various emotions that crossed Katy’s face. She loved a challenge and a puzzle, but math wasn’t one of her favourite courses. Instead of answering Greg, she busied herself pouring us drinks before holding up the vodka bottle and wordlessly asking if we wanted it added. Jarrod jumped to his feet, snagging the bottle from her hands.

“Sorry Kitty-Kat, but I know how heavy you pour, and I can’t afford to be hungover tomorrow.”

A soft growl matched the glare she tossed him, but it was her protest of how it was only once, and she was young then that had me loosing my battle. Jarrod’s lips twitched when she turned her glare at me, placing her hands on her waist as she huffed.

“I think I’m missing something here.”

Her eyes popped wide as she shook her head, not wanting the story told, but Jarrod either didn’t see or had his own hidden reasons to explain because he told Greg all about how she’d tried to make a hot toddy for my dad after my mom passed away.

She wasn’t impressed, but she didn’t interrupt or stop him. Instead, she stood tall, arms crossed over her chest as she tapped her toes against the wood floor. When he finished, Greg looked at her with new appreciation and maybe with a little more understanding. At least I hoped so. Anything to keep him from becoming too suspicious.

“On that note, I think I’m going to head home. Thanks again for supper.”

“Let me walk you over and check out the house.” Jarrod wrapped his arm around her shoulders, steering her over to the front door where her school bag was.

The door had no sooner closed behind them when Greg started in on all his pent-up questions. “Doesn’t she live next door?” At my nod, he continued, “So why was Jarrod walking her home? And why was she here with you? I know you’re close, but aren’t you worried someone’s going to think something inappropriate is going on? I mean, I know you and Jarrod are this couple, but you can’t expect people to believe that you’ve given up your partying ways. Just the number of women you’ve slept with would make you suspect.”

I had to be careful how I answered Greg if I wanted do some damage control. Greg knew a lot about me which would mean he’d spot a lie. Not knowing where to start, I decided to answerhis first two questions. “You know what happened to her dad right?”

“Only that he passed away.”

A sigh of relief nearly left my lips at his answer. Once he knew the full story—and with the anecdote Jarrod told him earlier—I knew he’d no longer worry. “Her father was murdered. Not even a decade ago. It happened during a robbery at a local convenience store. When her mom first went back to work, mom and dad created a bedroom for Katy because they watched her. She became like their second child. And when dad died, Jason and I kept up having her over when her mom worked nights so that her mom wouldn’t worry. Even now, with Katy seventeen, her mom isn’t always comfortable with Katy being home alone at night. It’s really bad during the anniversary month of his death or when some of the town festivals happen.”

“Fuck.” Greg ran his hands through his soft blond curls. “I didn’t realize he’d been murdered. I can understand how her mom would still be uncomfortable despite her age. So, supper…”

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