Page 34 of Second Chance Ex
“Oh, hey.” Prue falters momentarily before forcing a smile that doesn’t match the wary look in her eyes. “Hi, Jack.”
“Joe, this is Miss Prue.” Jack waves me over and, with a muttered curse, I proceed down the aisle. “Miss Prue is a teacher at my school.”
Little does Jack know Prue is a whole lot more than just some teacher at his school. He’s met her before.When he was a baby. But he doesn’t remember, so I say nothing and thankfully, neither does Prue, although I don’t miss the look that flashes in her eyes when they meet mine.
“What are you doing here?” Prue asks Jack, but really I know she’s asking me.
I go to speak, but then of course, in typicallittle brotherfashion, Jack has to go and make a complete ass out of me without even trying. “Joe’s looking for a left-handed hammer.”
Fuck me. I tip my head back and close my eyes a moment, opening them to see the hint of a smile ghost over Prue’s lips as she looks up at me. “Oh, aleft-handedhammer, huh?”
I press my lips together, nodding once. I want to die. Stupid adorable Jack.
“What are you doing?” Jack asks, nosily looking in Prue’s carry basket.
“Well, I’m doing some painting at my house,” Prue says, smiling at Jack. “I’m trying to decide between colors. What do you think, Jack?” She crouches down and shows him her two choices like she actually cares about his opinion. And the beauty about Prue is she probably does care about Jack’s opinion, and that’s another one of the things I love the most about her. “Peace Dove, or Fluffy Mallow?”
Jack carefully considers each card while I try not to outwardly laugh because both those colors are exactly the same, I don’t care what anyone says.
“Well, I love Fluffy Mallow, because I like marshmallows,” Jack says after a few moments, pausing to lick his ice cream. “But I also like birdies.”
“Hmmm,” Prue muses. “Do you know what? I thinkI’m going to go with the Fluffy Mallow because I love marshmallows too.” She winks at Jack, gently patting his arm. “Thanks, Jack.”
“You’re welcome,” Jack chirps, going straight back to his ice cream.
Prue stands back up to her full height which still only comes up to my chest. She glances up at me, her mouth pulling up at the corner in a half-smile. “Well, good luck finding your… hammer.”
And with that, she goes to turn. But something unexpected forces my hand out to her, gently grabbing her arm to stop her. She spins back around, her eyes wide, brow furrowed. Her gaze moves from my hand still wrapped around her arm before offering me a pointed look, and I quickly let go of her, instead folding my arms across my chest, because the urge to touch Prue whenever she’s around is almost impossible to fight.
“Hey, you know, we’re not busy—” I nod my head at Jack, who is far too consumed by his ice cream to pay any attention to what I’m saying, thank God. “If you want, we could come by and help you do some painting.” I shrug a shoulder.Say yes.
Prue gawps at me, her mouth opening and closing like a goddamn goldfish. It’s kind of cute, to be honest. “Oh, um no. That’s okay.” She shakes her head. “I’m fine, really.”
“Yourboyfriendhelping you, is he?” I hedge, trying not to sound like a total smart-ass but I can’t help the tone in my voice.
Prue visibly bristles, lifting her chin a little higher. “Uh, no. He’s…busy.”
Yeah, busy being a dick.I bite back the derisive snortthat threatens. Instead, I dip my chin, offering her a look I know she can’t resist. Well, a look I know she never used to be able to resist. And thankfully it only takes about three seconds before I see the first hint of her restraint start to crack.
“Fine.” She huffs. “I mean, if you wanna waste your Saturday afternoon helping me paint, then, fine.”
I can tell she’s going for that whole couldn’t-care-less vibe, but she’s forgetting that I know her, and I can’t help but grin which earns me an eyeroll.
Prue turns and hurries off toward the paint counter, and I stay put watching her leave, momentarily hypnotized by her fine ass as it jiggles in those painfully cute overalls.
“I’ll meet you there,” I call out after her.
Prue stops then, spinning around, one of her brows arched. “Wait… how do you know where I live?”
Shit. Panic. Full-blown panic courses through me.
I scratch at a nonexistent itch at the back of my head. “Um, I think Maddy mentioned it.”
Thankfully, Prue doesn’t look overly pissed. She does roll her eyes again though, because of course she does. Muttering something under her breath, she turns, waving a hand over her shoulder. And for the moment I breathe easy, making a mental note to speak to Maddy and convince her to play along if Prue asks.
“What are we doing?” Jack asks, peering up at me, his face half-boy-half-Smurf from the blue ice cream.
I clap my hand on his shoulder. “Nothing, buddy. I’ll drop you off your grandma’s house.”
