Page 5 of Unravelling The Hitman: A BWWM Romance

A pained smile was my only response.

Humphries grinned back. His heavy-set jowls jiggled and his desperate, near panting exuberance reminded me of an energetic bulldog.

Minus the drool, of course.

Brown eyes gleaming, he whispered, “I left a charger back at the rental. Do you mind going back with me to get it?”

“You two should totally do that,” Ms. Williams chimed, tossing her curly hair away from her face. She was the youngest among our staff and had the annoying habit of pairing male and female teachers together.

Unfortunately, she’d fastened her beady little eyes on the math teacher and me. Like a rabid pit-bull, she refused to let go.

Thanks to her encouragement, Mr. Humphries had been making moves. I’m talking random texts asking questions we both knew the answers to, staying back to help with yard duty and offering to drop me home after teacher-student meetings.

It was annoying, but I guess I couldn’t exactly blame him. I was the total package—beauty, brains and personality.

No, I didn’t fault Mr. Humphries for having good taste.

I blamed Ms. Williams for making him think he had a shot.

My eyes narrowed as I glared in her direction.

Nosey, little…

“What do you say, Angel?” Mr. Humphries rose and extended his hand, thick fingers spread.

I cringed and inched away from him. The math teacher was a nice guy. Cute—in a nerdy sort of way. Good with kids. Grew up in church. He checked most of the items on my proverbial list, but I just wasn’t into him.

And he seemed to be having a hard time picking up on that.

I hopped to my feet. “I’m sure I can borrow a charger from one of those shops.” Pointing to the colorful storefronts in front of the beach, I chuckled nervously. “Be right back.”

“Should I come with you?” Humphries cried desperately, almost tripping over the beach bag someone had on the floor in order to get to me.

“No.” I yelled, already on the move. “I’m good.”

The principal cleared her throat and spoke to cover the awkward pause. “While Ms. Tate does that, I have something to say.”

I nodded in understanding and darted off, listening to her speech in the background.

“This weekend retreat was a much-needed break for our beloved teachers. I know how hard you work everyday, checking papers and making posters…” Principal Amy’s voice grew fainter as I ran.

Everywhere I turned was a snapshot of paradise. Children laughed as they played volleyball beneath the shade of the coconut trees. Couples walked hand-in-hand, dressed in swimsuits, faces carved with permanent grins.

I noticed a street artist selling his wooden souvenirs and made a mental note to return and check out his art. My mother loved collecting little knickknacks from all over the country and, with my dad being sick… well, she could use something to cheer her up.

Before I crossed the road, I turned to check behind me. I wouldn’t put it past Mr. Humphries to hijack the golf cart and come charging.

Thankfully, the coast was clear.

I let out a deep breath and bent down, grabbing my knees to keep myself from keeling over. It had been a while since I’d run that hard and fast. My preferred exercise was crunches… the kind that happened when I had to stretch from the couch to the coffee table for the remote.

Metabolism had kept me slim, but my mother often warned that good genes wouldn’t hold me in forever.

Not that I took her advice to heart.

I planned on pushing the limits of nature until I couldn’t anymore.

“Alright,” I straightened and glanced around, “which shop should I try first?”

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