Page 20 of Hank

"Um, Mom," the young man said, his panicked eyes flashing to Hanks.

"Oh, sorry," she laughed out, focusing her attention back on Hank. "You won’t tell him I said anything about him, will you?"

Hank shook his head, while the sinking feeling hit rock bottom.

"Mom, it’s a little too late for that."

"Why?" Her widened eyes went to her son, before leaning past him, then Hank, her gaze darting around. "Is he close by or something?"

"Really close." That had her frowning as she faced her son again. "He’s right here," Collin said, while her eyes followed his thumb flicking Hank’s way.

"You?" Jo’s face blanched and features froze. Even her mouth seemed to be stuck slightly open after her gasp, until she took a deep breath and blurted out, "You’reDr. Lawton?"

"Yes. Which, I’m assuming, makes you jwebster."

7

All Jo could do wasstare at the man currently frowning down at her. How could Hank be the sameTruly Yours, Dr. Henry Law…

Oh, god.

Henry… Hank…

She’d hadn’t just had sex with Hank—a man she had to admit she’d gotten a little thrill from seeing again—but she’d also had sex withDr.Henry Lawton. Her son’s teacher. The man she had nothing nice to say about.

How was any of this going to be good.

It wasn’t.

"Did I interrupt something?"

"No, baby. We were…" How was she going to get out of this? "Um, I was?—"

"She was joking around with me," Hank…Henry…Dr. Lawton…

Oh, hell. What do I call him?

"Oh, that’s good," Collin said, while Jo attempted to match her son’s beaming smile, before he turned that smile on his teacher and coach. "I’m glad you guys like each other now."

"We do. We…" Hank’s slight pause while he stared at her, followed by a slight head-tilt and nod, filled her with a sense of foreboding. Whatever he was about to say, she wasn’t going to like it. "In fact, we had just realized we’d already met asecondbefore you walked up." Her breath caught. "Isn’t that right…" Was he daring her to dispute him? "Jo?"

Oh, god. What is he doing?

She cleared her throat. "That’s right. Imagine my surprise to find outyouareDr.Henry Lawton."

"Oh," Hank said, his eyes—that, yes, full of daring—never leaving hers. "I think we’rewellpast all that now, wouldn’t you say?"

"Yes," she said, forcing her lips to remain in some semblance of a smile.

"In fact," Hank went on without missing a beat, while she stood there dumbfounded over what she could possibly add to this conversation. Nothing had come to mind. At least nothing that wouldn’t make matters worse. "Wedefinitelylike each other." Inside, she squirmed at the memory of justhowwell they had liked each other. Talk about understatements.

Understatements.

More like a disaster of epic proportions.

"That’s great," Collin said, his speculative gaze bouncing between her and Hank.

Dear lord, don’t lethimbe getting any ideas.

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