Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 34206 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34206 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Chapter Three
Saturdays were usually her days to avoid her mother. Teal would find any reason to be out of the house, away from the constant calls. This time, her mother had left the house early. The note that had been waiting for her on the table had stated she needed to clear her head and would be back later. Like all her other letters, it wasn’t signed Mom, but Bethany.
At the end, she had added a little note to enjoy her tutoring. So, this Saturday, she stood on her neighbor’s doorstep, bag on her shoulder, hand poised to knock.
She didn’t want to go in there. Not after last night, and she didn’t even mean the meal. No, this was about the dreams she had after the meal. Naked, sexy dreams of her neighbor. Inappropriate dreams of her neighbor that she shouldn’t be having.
Before she could stop herself, she knocked on his door.
It was early. Nine fifty-five to be exact. Did she appear too eager? Being late seemed rude as he offered to take up time on a Saturday to tutor her.
Jaxson opened the door. He was dressed in a pair of jeans that should have been so inappropriate, but he made them work. Of course, he did. The man knew how to fill out a pair of jeans.
“Morning,” she said.
“Morning. I’ve got the coffee pot on. You can drink coffee?”
“Yes.” Her parents were coffee addicts. She liked a cup here and there.
“Come in,” he said.
She smiled and stepped over the threshold into his home.
Their homes were so alike and yet, entirely different. Her mother hadn’t put up any artwork or pictures. They were packed away in the attic with the complaint that it was something David always did.
Teal had decorated her room, getting it to how she liked it.
Jaxson’s home was lived in, homey.
“You know where the dining room is. Have a seat. Get yourself set up. I’ll make coffee. Have you had any breakfast?”
“Yes.” She’d eaten a couple of slices of toast before she walked the short distance to being here.
Entering his dining room, she saw he had a four-person table. A bouquet of flowers was in the center, stored in a beautiful vase.
After pulling out a seat, Teal grabbed her books and piled them in front of her.
This was so odd. The tutors had all come to her parents’ place in the city. This time, she was in her tutor’s home.
Her hot tutor. She shouldn’t be thinking of him in any way that wasn’t appropriate.
Licking her dry lips, she sat back in the chair and pulled out her cell phone. There were three unread messages from her dad. She hadn’t opened them. He’d given her the silent treatment, and now he wanted to talk.
Nibbling on her lip, she tried to think of a good reason not to answer him, but they all sounded lame inside her head.
Jaxson entered his dining room, and she immediately put her cell phone away.
“Here we go. If you don’t mind, I haven’t had breakfast.” He had a couple of slices of toast on a plate.
“It’s fine.”
“Would you grab a coaster?”
She immediately grabbed one that was stacked to the side. Four dinner plate coasters.
She tried not to smile as she imagined Jaxson Rebel holding a dinner.
The shirt he wore had short sleeves, showing off the ink that the girls in her class had been curious about.
At school, he wore suits. Button-down shirts that closed at the wrist, but if he got close, you could see the merest hint of ink.
“Did you get the ink before you became a teacher?” she asked.
“I got it throughout high school, during college, and then as I learned to teach, and as a teacher. I like it.”
“And you haven’t found, er, difficulty with getting a job?”
“I’m good at what I do. I’m not going to sacrifice a part of who I am for my job. I’m both.”
She smiled. “Did it hurt?”
“Some of it did, but I like it.” He took a bite of his toast.
“I’ve always wanted to get some ink.” She pointed at her inner arm. “Down here maybe, or along my side.”
“You can when you’re ready. You’re eighteen.”
Teal chuckled. “And totally upset my parents. Like that is ever going to happen.” She already knew what it was like to disappoint them. Coming home with ink they hadn’t agreed to would seriously piss them off. Not what she wanted.
“It’s not going to be about what they want, Teal. You do know that.”
“They’re my parents.”
He finished chewing his mouthful of food. “What about if you fall for a guy they don’t agree with?”
“That’s not going to happen.”
“It might. He could be a good guy, but they don’t think he’s appropriate. Would you throw all of that away because they told you not to?”
“That’s a little more complicated than getting some ink. Besides, I’m still their daughter and living under their roof. There will be time for that.” She shrugged. “Is that what you did? Did you seek your own path?”