Page 5 of Defending her Heart

Again.

Not that I regret the outcome, but hell. Just fuck no.

“Excuse me?” Kendall crosses her arms, which only serves to push her tits to her neck.

I avert my eyes. Hell, I completely ignore her.

“Douchebag. I’m talking to you.”

I tilt my head and snap my eyes to her. If she wasn’t best friends with Riley, I’d tell the bouncer to kick her ass out of the bar.

“If you feel the need to drink any more, be honest about it. I don’t want my team, my friends, to suffer because of your–”

“Fuck. You.” She jabs her finger in my chest. “Fuck you and the rod stuck so fucking far up your ass.”

“Easy now, children.” Buck drapes his right arm over Kendall and his left over my shoulders. “Let’s all get along like good boys and girls.”

“Call me if you need a ride.” I push his arm off and storm out of the bar.

It’s not until I’m a few miles down the road that I start to calm down. I shouldn’t let her rile me up like she does. It’s not my fault. It’s those curves of hers. And that mouth. Not the trash talking sailor that she is, but her full, pink lips.

And her fucking eyes. Kendall is a fucking walking wet dream, and it pisses me the hell off. I don’t even care that Miles Buckingham claimed her first. Even if he hadn’t, she’s the exact opposite of my type.

I tell that to my dick every time we see her, but he has yet to get the memo.

And that pisses me the fuck off more than Kendall and her perfect tits.

CHAPTER THREE

KENDALL

Paisley’s grandmother is winded when she steps into my classroom. “Ms. Wentworth, I’m so sorry to inconvenience you, but I don’t know who else to ask.” Usually her husband is with her, but she’s alone today.

“Is everything okay with your husband?” I glance over my shoulder at Paisley who is playing with two other girls at the kitchen station.

“Oh, yes. He’ll be okay, but he’s not feeling well and is the absolute worst when he’s sick. I don’t want to risk spreading his germs to Paisley or her father, and Joe seems to think he needs me by his side.”

“Ah. The infamous man cold.” I chuckle.

“At first, but it progressed to bronchitis. He really does sound awful.”

Bronchitis can be miserable. I had it when I was in high school and it took weeks for me to fully recover.

Guilt washes over me for belittling her husband. “What can I do to help you?”

Beth wrings her hands together and steps out into the hall, beckoning me to join her. “My son is quite protective of Paisley. He doesn’t trust anyone to watch her other than us. He’s away tonight and I don’t want to worry him.”

Away. How nice of him to take off and leave his daughter with his ill parents. School has been in session for five weeks and I have yet to meet her father. He didn’t even show up for Open House. Supposedly, he was away for work. What he does for work, I have no idea. Nor do I care.

“Would you be able to watch Paisley tonight? Her father will be home in the early hours of the morning so you’ll be able to leave for work and not worry about getting her ready.”

“Um. I, uh, well, I’m not legally allowed to take my students home.”

“Oh, there’s no worry about that.” She waves her hand in the air. “I took care of the appropriate paperwork in the office already. I called a few hours ago and spoke with the administration and explained the situation.”

Well, hell. How do I say no when she’s truly in a bind? It’s not her fault or Paisley’s. I could bring her to my house, but we don’t have a spare bedroom. And the last thing the little spitfire needs is to be uprooted from her home, even if she has a negligent father.

“Are you sure it’s okay for me to be at her house? Would it be more comfortable for everyone if I take Paisley to my place?” I could sleep on the couch for one night.

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