Page 54 of Just a Little White Lie

My insides are chaos. I don’t even know how I made it to my room without hefting her over my shoulder and taking her with me.

The things I want to do to that hot little body of hers.

And now I’m knocking on her freaking door like some idiot.

But I have to.

Because she screamed, and I need to make sure she’s okay.

“Uh… are you all right in there?” I wince.

Walk away, Jack. Just walk away.

But the door flings open before I can, and she’s standing there in pink pajama pants and aBeing Short Works For MeT-shirt.

I want to pick her up. I want her body to slap against mine and those pajama pant legs to wrap around my waist. I want her tongue diving into my mouth while my hands memorize the shape of her body.

It’s nearly impossible to swallow, and I have to drag my gaze up to her face where I find two fiery eyes and a mouth on the precipice of an epic rant.

“No, Jack! No. I am not okay. I’ve signed these kids up for a dance competition, and I know nothing! They know it! No one else does, but they sure do, and they have zero faith in me, so I can’t get them to do a freaking thing, but I have to, because the principal thinks they’re useless, and we need to prove her wrong. But how? How the hell am I supposed to choreograph a dance worthy of any competition? I know like one move!”

I take a step back from the explosion and try to remind myself that she’s obviously not feeling the same things I am. She’s worrying about her students, not how to resist me.

That’s good, right?

The sharp disappointment driving into me says otherwise, but I have to listen to logic.

She’s not into me.

And that’s a good thing.

It’ll make it easier to get over whatever the hell is going on inside me. I thought we shared a moment there for a second, but I was wrong.

Good.

I glance at my bedroom door, suddenly wishing I was still in my room.

But look at her face. I can’t ditch her now.

She’s desperate, and I need to stop saying no.

As much as my skin crawls at the idea of opening the dance door again, I can’t turn my back on that face. Those pleading eyes are making my insides melt.

And besides, Luke asked me to help her.

I told him I would.

And she’s not into me, so stepping into her room and offering a little guidance is totally safe. If anything, I’m just being a good friend. To Luke. I’m helping out his little sister.

Never mind that I’d rather throw her onto the bed and do a myriad of other things right now. Those pjs would be the first thing to go.

She’s not into you! Focus on that.

Trying to temper my thundering heart and wild imagination, I let out a long sigh.

Then I take another breath.

And then I point over her shoulder. “Get out your laptop. There are a couple great YouTube clips which will give you a starting point.”

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