Page 33 of Just a Little White Lie

The handle clicks, and the door pushes open anyway. Jack’s head appears through the crack. When he sees I’m awake and working, he pushes the door wide and steps in with a smile.

I slap my computer shut. “Did I say come in?”

“You didn’t say anything.”

“Which may indicate that I want to be left alone.”

He ignores my snippy tone, leaning against the edge of my desk with a grin. Curse that smile. It’s way too beautiful.

I look away from it. “What do you want, Jack?”

He shrugs. “What are you doing?”

“Nothing.” I frown, then scratch between my eyebrows with a sigh. “I’m trying to figure out how I’m going to get through tomorrow.”

“You’re going back?”

“They asked me to do the full week.”

“And you said yes?”

“I need the money!” I fling my arms up.

“There are other schools.” He crosses his arms, and I try not to notice how that one little move accentuates his biceps. I love the almond color of his skin. It’s so freaking sexy.

I force my eyes down to my rumpled bedcover. “Every school you emailed has my stupid résumé, and I could get stuck teaching who knows what. Haven Academy is a private school, they pay a little better, and I only have to endure the week, right? I just need a little content to work with.”

“So the teacher you’re covering for didn’t leave you any?”

“I’m not covering for a dance teacher. They’ve created a class of… of…” I sigh. What do I even call them?

“A class of what?”

My eyes flick up to his, and I frown. “A class of troublemakers. Kids who have been disruptive in class. They want me to teach them dance because it’s less academic and a good outlet for them, apparently.”

“Ouch.” Jack hisses. “That’s a harsh gig. They shouldn’t have lumped you with that.” He looks frustrated on my behalf, and it makes something inside me go all soft and squishy.

My lips want to smile, but I manage to pull them into line and murmur, “I guess I didn’t have to say yes to the whole week. I’m pretty good at digging my own grave and then swan-diving into it.”

I tut and lean back against the headboard.

Jack studies me for a moment—like a long, uncomfortable moment—and I start to squirm. His gaze is making me simultaneously hot and cold.

“Seriously, Jack, what do you want? Why are you in my room?”

His lips part for a second; then he swallows and scratches the back of his head, looking to the floor. I wonder what he’s thinking… and why he doesn’t want me to know. Is he getting ready to laugh at me again or—

“Thank you for the note. I came in here to… thank you.”

I roll my eyes. “Yeah, well… I’m starting to think I shouldn’t have written it.”

He fights a grin, shaking his head and pouting instead. “Bummer. Back to living with the crocs, huh?”

“Or maybe your pack of laughing hyenas is missing you too.”

He snickers but swallows down his laughter as I cross my arms and glare at him. But it’s hard to keep the glare in place. His smile is so delicious… and adorable. Oh man, I had the biggest crush on him in high school. Until I worked out that he couldn’t go two seconds without teasing me like I was his annoying little sister.

But the first time Luke brought him home for dinner, I nearly tripped walking to the table. Jack saw me, said hi, and shone me his friendly grin. My twelve-year-old insides melted into a puddle of goo. He was the most beautiful human being I had ever seen in real life, and it was insta-crush.

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