Page 48 of Tutoring the Bad Boy
Chewing my lip, I look down and back to her. It’s one thing if I get my neck broken for this charade, but it’s another thing entirely if I get Ginny’s neck broken. In light of this, I decide to treat her as if she’s a princess made of glass. “I’m going to hold on to the window while I’m holding your hand. When you’re just out of reach of the tree, I want you to get down low and crawl.”
“Okay.” Her voice is soft, like what she’s about to do is just hitting her. She leans farther out the widow and casts her gaze to the ground. For a girl who has never really disobeyed her mom, I suspect this is really hard for her.
I use my finger and tip her chin up. Whatever I was about to say is lost as our eyes meet. Man, she’s gorgeous. And soft and sweet and…so many other things.
My heart is in my throat, and I know I shouldn’t kiss her. IknowI shouldn’t. Unfortunately for me, my head and my lips have zero communication. Before I can stop myself, I touch my lips to hers.
All the pep talks in the world about not getting my heart broken take a flying leap as she returns the kiss. I know I should stop it, but I can’t. I want to kiss her. I want to hold hands with her, hold her, and all the other myriad of things a real boyfriend does.
My foot slips, breaking the kiss, and I yelp. Not the manliest things I’ve ever done for sure. It’s underlined as Ginny gives a small chuckle. “Are you laughing at me?” I ask.
A smile lifts her lips, and she rolls them in, trying to stop. “Maybe.”
“Are you ready?”
“Yeah,” she says as she brings a leg over the windowsill, followed by the other. I watch in anticipation.
This time, I keep my laser focus on my footing and hers, now that she’s outside the safety of her room. “Now, start to walk out toward the tree.”
“My legs are shaking.”
“You’ve got this, my love.”
Ginny gives me a playful smack on the chest and then takes a few slow steps toward the tree. She instantly slips, and instinct takes over as I wrap my arm around Ginny’s waist. She looks at me like she’s had the wind knocked out of her, and my heart races. As much as I want to kiss her again, the location isn’t ideal.Romeo and Julietis a pretty cool play, but the end isn’t something I want to recreate.
Ginny nods her head and closes her eyes. “I can do this.”
“Yes, you can,” I say as I loosen my hold on her so she can work her way down the tree.
She begins her slow steps again, and once my arm is fully outstretched, holding her hand. Ginny does as I told her and crouches down low, crawling to the tree. Once she reaches it, I feel a flood of relief.
Now it’s my turn. I’ve done this before and feel pretty confident. I could close the window to Ginny’s room, but I figure the whole point of this is to get caught anyhow, so I leave it open. The return trip to the tree is easier since I’ve got a feel for the slope of the roof.
Instead of saying anything, I just show her how to get down the tree. Once I reach the last branch, I drop down to the ground and then look up at Ginny.
She’s shimmied her way down to the bottom branch while I was mid-climb. Her eyes are wide as she realizes the last step is a doozy.
I hold out my arms and say, “I’ll catch you.”
She shakes her head in dismay. “No way.”
I shrug. “It’s either this or climb back up.”
The internal debate is written all over her face.
“Come on. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Taking a deep breath, Ginny closes her eyes before lowering herself down from the branch with her arms and then letting go. The fall isn’t too bad, and I catch her. Yet again I have her in my arms and we’re facing one another.
It’s at this juncture that I realize our little plan is a bit dangerous. We’re trying to get caught in the act. We’re also trying to pretend like we’re dating. That she’s madly in love with me or something. Only, I’m not so sure it’s out of the realm of possibilities for me.
Ginny and I lock eyes as I’m still holding her. Then I smile as I reach up to her hair.
“What is it?” she asks.
“You’ve got a leaf.” I pull it out and show her.
“Thanks.” Ginny’s gaze runs from my face to my hair, and my heart about stops when she slides her hand through it, pushing it back from my eyes. “No leaves.” Her hand pauses for a second, and she clears her throat, yanking her hand back. “Now what?”
