She’d gotten so angry she made him do endless rounds of Salutation to the Sun and told him he needed to stay another fifteen minutes after class because he had mocked the journaling exercise. His smug grin told her his goal of annoying the hell out of her was working well. She was a teacher who succumbed to anger in an anger management class. If she didn’t calm down, she’d eventually lose Luther’s and Eli’s confidence.
After making him hop on one foot for a long time in the goal of balance, Arilyn checked her watch. Darn. She was late picking Poppy up, and he’d already been at Ray’s way too long.
“That’s enough, Officer,” she said, grabbing her satchel. “I’ll see you tomorrow at Kinnections for our one-on-one evaluation.”
Sweat gleamed on his brow. He wore his usual outfit of jeans, old sneakers, and a worn T-shirt. Today he sported a navy blue NYPD shirt that stretched over a mass of indecent muscles and hard abs. Swaggering off the mat, refusing to show any weakness, though Arilyn knew she’d worked him hard today, he perched his ball cap back on his head and smirked. From under the hat, strands of silky black hair stuck to his forehead. She wondered briefly what his hair would feel like under her fingers. That delicious scent of sweat, soap, and man swarmed around her. How could she be even the tiniest bit attracted to someone who made her nuts?
“Better watch out.” His hot gaze swept over her body. “All this keeping me after school will make me think you got a crush on me.”
Damned if her belly didn’t slide down to her toes at that probing stare, but she crossed her arms in front of her chest and gave a humph. “Yeah, it’s a real funfest with you, Officer.”
He laughed then, a deep, dark sound that caressed her ears. “G’night, Arilyn.”
She ignored him, turning around and racing out the door. His laugh followed her out. Damn him. Every time she tried to take him down a notch, he found a way to twist it around to his benefit. Completely maddening. Her feet flew over the pavement, hoping Ray had checked Poppy’s insulin and didn’t sneak him any tobacco. She finally reached her Fusion, grabbed for the door handle, and stopped short.
Her front windshield was shattered.
Damn. Damn, damn, damn.
A rock had hit it a week ago and caused a tiny hole, but she hadn’t had time to call the insurance company to get it fixed. So stupid. No way she could drive with the spiderweb of glass blocking her view. A slight buzz of panic hit, along with the now-familiar pang of anger at having her careful plans screwed up. Why now? Wasn’t she doing the right thing by helping out Poppy? Did everything have to go consistently wrong on a regular basis?
She had the urge to kick the tire, so she did what she’d just taught her students. Dragged in a breath. Let it out slowly. Did it again.
Her heartbeat slowed and her mind cleared. Good, back in control. She’d walk to the billiards room. It was a long walk but doable, and a crisp fall afternoon. Of course, she’d be super late and hoped Poppy wouldn’t worry.
Run. She’d run. Good exercise, and it’d cut her time in half.
She quickly stripped off her long-sleeved T-shirt until only a tight black Lycra top molded her small breasts. Catching her long hair and twisting it up in a hair band, she secured it to the top of her head, then turned.
“If I had known I’d miss out on a free striptease, I would’ve gotten here sooner.”
She jumped back. “You scared me! What are you doing here?”
Officer Petty took a long, measured glance at her windshield. “Doing my civic duty and responding to a call. Vandalism?”
Arilyn took a casual step backward. In class, she was able to keep reminding herself of the distance between them. Here on the street, having him invading her personal space was a bit disturbing. Already she had to tip her head back just to look at him, and she was pretty tall. “Sorry, no crime to uncover here. Just a rock that hit last week and I never got it fixed.”
He studied her face. To assess if she was lying? His sharp observation skills fascinated her. When under his stare, a woman felt stripped to the bone, and a tiny flare of vulnerability caught her off guard. What would it be like to be Officer Petty’s lover? Did he bring that fierce brutality to the bedroom and all that intense observation to give his lover pleasure?
The memory of her ex-boyfriend’s face as he pounded into another woman’s body made her wince and want to rub her eyes. Another bleachable moment in her life. Would she always be thinking of him and his betrayal? Had he ruined her for future relationships and sex by not only breaking her heart but also her trust? And why the hell was she thinking of this stuff in the middle of the road with her windshield cracked and a man she didn’t like screwing with her head?
His voice softened, as if he’d spotted something in those few moments of her weakness. “Hmm, driving with a shattered windshield is a crime.”
“Yeah, and wouldn’t that break your heart to ticket me,” she shot back. “No worries, Officer. I’ll get my car towed. I have to go.”
“Where are you going?”
“Is that your business?”
He arched a brow. “Besides helping tow your car, I can offer you a ride. You seem to be in a hurry.”
Arilyn hesitated. Her pride begged her to decline and run away with her head held high. Somehow, she had an instinct it would end up being a favor he’d want to cash in. She didn’t want to owe him a thing. But Poppy had been waiting awhile, and he was more important. Besides, she could handle Stone.
Her mind said his first name with a breathy sigh and a shiver.