Page 10 of Teach Me
Jack’s grin faltered. He glanced at Conlan. “I’m not…” A deep V appeared between his dark eyebrows. “I’m not actually your teacher. Con is.”
For a moment the words didn’t register, and when they did, her heart stuttered. Conlan would be teaching her? Her body perked up with a silenthallelujah!but the sudden awkward feel to the air said this wasn’t necessarily a good thing. At least, not for Conlan, if his frown was anything to go by. “Oh?”
She waited for someone to explain. No one did.
“So…um, why are you here, Conlan?” Maybe that string would lead to others.
Conlan sighed. Jess rubbed her aching forehead.
Jack flashed a smile that would’ve brought another woman—a woman not firmly entrenched in total fantasyland over his best friend—to her knees. “Con and I own the security company.”
Okay. “Do you normally teach private classes?” Wouldn’t that be a bit below both their pay grades?
“No,” Jack said. The hint of laughter in the word had her studying him more closely.
“We don’t typically have time for one-on-one instruction anymore,” Con said, an edge to his tone she didn’t understand, “but it turns out we’re shorthanded, and I didn’t want you waiting for one of our instructors to return from vacation.”
That edge hurt. It shouldn’t—the man obviously hadn’t given her the card so he could see her again. Still, it had been nice to think a man wanted her, or hell, even just liked her. But to know he was irritated because he was being forced to do her a favor…
She squeezed down her panic at the thought of leaving and made herself say what she didn’t want to say. “I can wait. It’s no big deal.”
Of course it was, but she wouldn’t force him.
“Or I could teach her.”
The teasing note in Jack’s voice had her glancing over at him. Nope, she hadn’t imagined that tone. The wink he shot her confirmed it.
Conlan crossed his arms over his chest, the thick muscles bulging against the cuffs of his T-shirt. “I don’t think so, Jack.”
“But—”
Lori giggled, the sound muffled but there. Jess couldn’t pull her gaze from the two men long enough to look at her.
“No.”
“But you’re busy—”
“No, Jack. Don’t you have that new case to get to?”
Lori giggled again, and Jack’s full lips curved into a smile. “It can wait.”
“No, it can’t.” Conlan’s words came out in a low growl. Jess’s confusion doubled.
Jack wasn’t having the same problem. His blatant chuckle told her he was enjoying a joke she wasn’t privy to. “If you’re sure.”
Conlan’s answer was an impatient grunt.
Jack was still laughing when he turned to Jess and shrugged. “Okay. You’re in the best of hands, Jess. Don’t you worry.” He stepped around her to lead Lori toward the door, fielding low-voiced questions Jess couldn’t hear along the way. When the door clicked closed behind them, she turned back to Conlan.
He scowled at the door. Jess had a feeling Jack might need to watch his back later.
“Um, what was that about?”
“Jack being an ass.”
The words shocked a laugh out of her. “Yeah, I can see that. I meant…” But she couldn’t bring herself to say,What’s got your boxers in a twist?Though that was kinda what she wanted to know.
Conlan shook his head, his look resigned. “Don’t worry about it. We’ve got work to do. Ready to get started?”
