Page 34 of Avoiding Temptation
“I’m here, willing to do anything to help you. Stop fighting it.”
“I can’t.” Staring down at my feet, I feel myself starting to crumble under his concerned stare, but he’s not having any of it.
Bringing my face back to his, he leans down and brushes his lips against mine. I want to fight it—it’s what I should do—but the second he touches me, I’m lost to anything but him and I sag into him, totally forgetting where I am.
His lips part and his tongue darts out in search of mine.
I’m just about to meet his when heavy footsteps fill my ears.
Fuck.
I jump back like I’ve been burned. Hurt covers Joe’s face, but he soon looks toward the door when he hears what’s stopped me. We can’t be caught in here together.
I hold my breath, waiting for my potential visitor to make themselves known and see how this is going to play out. Eddie is already suspicious of the changes in me. The last thing I need is for him to discover that Joe, one of my students, is the cause.
My head starts to spin, but instead of stopping and entering the room whoever it is continues down the corridor.
I fall back against the desk behind me and suck in a few ragged breaths.
“Come on, let’s get out of here. You hungry?”
I’m not really, but I’m also not ready to be alone again so I nod, collect up my stuff and follow him out of the building, hoping like hell we’re not spotted together.
“Stop worrying. I’m just helping you with your bags.” He smiles down at me and everything I’ve been worrying about, scared of, over the last few days melts away.Why does he make me feel so safe?
After dropping my bag in his van, he takes me to a burger restaurant a few streets away.
We’re seated in a hidden corner at the back of the restaurant. I couldn't have chosen better seats if I’d tried.
The silence stretches out between us but at no point does he ask me about what’s bothering me, and I couldn’t be more grateful.
“No twinset today?” he asks with a laugh.
“No, I binned them.”
“Oh?”
“They’re not me anymore.”
“Anymore?”
I shake my head, not willing to say anything else.
“So…have you had a good week?”
I can’t help but burst out laughing at his question. “It’s been fine.”
“Fine?”
“Yeah. I mean, I have this secret admirer that keeps sending me gifts, so that’s nice.”
“Oh? Tell me about him. He sounds perfect.”
“That might be pushing it. He’s going after something he can’t have. I’m not the person he thinks I am.”
“And who’s that?”
I sit back and think about his question for a few minutes. “I’m lost, Joe. I moved here not even two months ago with the intention of finding out who I am. Until I got here, all of my life was planned out for me and I followed along like a good little girl. This is my chance but—”
