Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 47200 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47200 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
“I only bought this place…only came back to town to be closer to you, remember?” I explain. “I didn’t think in my wildest dreams that I’d have you all to myself on day one.”
“You’re a pretty fast operator, that’s for sure,” she teases me, but it doesn’t do much to solve our little problem.
The best problem in the world because it does mean that she’s well and truly mine.
I haven’t checked my messages yet, but I’m more than confident the call I put out to boost Steve’s business will work.
Maybe not all today, but it should get him back to a place where he feels good about what he’s doing again.
In the meantime, I don’t want May to do something she doesn’t want to. And I ask if she’s the only tutor the college has at its disposal.
“Of course not,” she sighs. “It’ll just mean a couple of college kids keep their tutoring money from Mom or Dad, is all,” she reflects.
As she sees it, the real problem is explaining to everyone that she’s been with me the whole time. And that’s something that’s gonna have her dad’s hackles up too, I just know it.
“Well, if we’re gonna burn for it, we may as well burn together,” I tell her.
“But there’s no point making it harder on ourselves either,” I add. “Let’s just wait and see, huh?” I ask.
It means that if it isn’t the end of the world if May stops tutoring, and if nobody’s cottoned onto us being together from now on, then why poke that bear?
Glad when she agrees, relaxing back into me, we soak a little while longer until our fingers and toes are all wrinkled.
Both of us feel a different kind of hunger brewing between us in our bellies this time.
And my own stomach groaning reminds me I haven’t eaten all day.
“I kinda do need your help still,” I tell her, thinking practically for a moment. “That grocery run? Maybe we could grab a bite while we’re out too?”
I watch her shoulders sag a little, and she asks me if we’ll be able to keep our little secret out in public.
“You know what small towns are like. People talk,” she reminds me.
As if I need reminding.
“I can’t guarantee anything,” I admit. “But we can only do our best to keep our hands off each other until it’s the right time to have everyone know. If you think that’s for the best,” I suggest, and only to try and make her feel better.
But some things are easier said than done, and it isn’t until we’re out of the house a little while later, on our way to grab some food when I feel it.
It just feels wrong to be near her and not show her how much she means to me.
And by the time we graduate from sneaking little touches here and there to a full-blown kiss once we’re back at her car after eating I know this is gonna be impossible.
The small-town vibes don’t get much better, though, with a male voice interrupting what I thought was a stolen moment in private, kissing my woman.
“Oh! Hi Professor,” May squeaks as I move back from her embrace slowly.
Turning with a dark look for whoever’s crept up on us.
But at a glance, I get the picture.
A mildly annoyed college professor catches his star tutor in the arms of a man instead of where she’s supposed to be.
But his look softens, mine, too, when I see him looking up at me, gulping before he introduces himself.
“Professor Sutton,” he says, recovering himself, and I feel his limp hand pumping in mine for a second.
He glances from me to May, who’s lost her voice, but the old professor is quick to leave us to our own business.
“Your dad mentioned you were helping his friend…Uh, new neighbor,” he stammers, flushing a deep red.
“Just maybe more notice next time if you’re not up to tutoring for the day that’s all I ask,” he clips, sounding more like a professor-type the more words that tumble out of his mouth.
“I think I’ll take a rain check on tutoring for a while, Professor Sutton,” May says in a loud, clear voice.
Her hand slips into mine, making me grin in pride and satisfaction.
The old man huffs and mumbles something about the younger generation, and as quickly as he appears, he is gone again.
“You quit?” I ask her, kissing her deep again before she can answer.
“I guess I did,” she says with a tone of amazement.
“Was it hard?” I joke, and she shoots me a sidelong glance.
“The professor’s the soul of discretion,” she assures me. “But if we’re caught like that on our first time out together….”
I know what she means. And that radioactive fallout is getting closer by the minute. I can feel it.
I think we both can.