Teach Me Like That (LMLT Book 2) (27 page)

“I don’t see the big deal with us dating, Lexi. They shouldn’t either. My family donates a shit ton of money to that school. Surely they can overlook this.”

“The club,” she says weakly.

“What about it?”

Her eyes meet mine again. “They have a picture of you fucking me against the wall! Amelia was nice enough to answer the board member’s question as to what was stuffed in my mouth!”

I recoil at her anger and the fact that a moment I was certain we were able to keep between us was breached. I take a step back, creating even more unwanted distance between us.

“Someone is following you?” The look over my shoulder makes sense now and causes me to look back as well.

“Us. They’re following us. Every one of the pictures was of us together.” She swipes at the tears hanging from her chin and looks down at the porch.

“Did they fire you?”

She shakes her head. “Not yet, but I’m sure it will happen by week’s end.”

“I can fix this.” My words are a plea. She’s closing down on me, and the pain of losing her over something so fucking stupid is surreal. I have enough trouble holding on to this gorgeous woman on my own, knowing any stupid thing could come out of my mouth and end us. Having outside forces working against me? We’ll never get this relationship off of the ground if I have to fight against them too.

“You can’t. It’s already done.” Her hand reaches for the open door as she takes another step back. “I shouldn’t have let you in.”

I want to point out the obvious, that she hasn’t let me in. I’m still standing on the front porch. Then, it dawns on me. At first, I think she’s talking about not letting me into her body. When her free hand covers her chest, I know she’s talking about her heart.

“Goodbye, Kegan,” she whispers on a quiet sob and closes the door in my face.

I lean my head against the cool glass of her front door. “Please, Lexi.” My palm comes up and rests flat beside my head. “Please don’t walk away from me.”

“They’re following her, Kadin!” My voice echoes through my truck as I drive back to my condo.

“Why the hell would they do that? Why would they even suspect anything is going on?”

“Amelia,” I mutter. She’s the one behind this whole damn thing. I put her in her place in the closet and now this her way of being a vindictive bitch.

“The headmistress?” Confusion marks his voice, and I know that’s my fault. I tried explaining to him what was going on, but in my haste I’ve left out several very important key details.

“Amelia DuPont caught Lexi and me in the supply closet at the school.”

“Jesus, Kegan. Now you’re fucking women at my kids’ school? What’s next, the confessional at church?”

“I didn’t fuck Lexi at the school. And if I hadn’t fucked Amelia there, this wouldn’t even be an issue.”

“I’m so goddamned disappointed in you. With the way you were acting with Lexi, bringing her to Sunday dinner, I seriously thought you’d changed. Being a playboy is one thing, Kegan, but leading her on is a new low.”

“Leading her… what the hell are you talking about?” I’m so angry I decide to pull my truck over. Getting into an accident before I have the chance to fix all of this shit wouldn’t help anyone.

“Don’t you see what’s happened? One plaything found out about the other, and she’s gone crazy.”

I scrub my hands over my face. “One, Lexi isn’t a goddamned plaything, so I suggest you don’t say shit like that about her. Two, there’s nothing going on between Amelia and me. We messed around a few times this past summer, but that’s all it was. We both knew it. There was no way lines got crossed. I wasn’t even on her radar anymore until she found Lexi and me in the closet.”

His sigh is loud through my hands-free speakers. “You sure do know how to make a damn mess.”

“I know, and I’m asking for help before it blows up any bigger.”

“You mentioned they have pictures.”

“Yes. From like four different occasions. One was,” I pause not too proud to have to admit this to my brother who already thinks I’m a complete fuck up. “One was intimate. We were at a club, and I didn’t think anyone was around. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone wasn’t lurking outside her house a while ago snapping more of me on her porch.” I rest my head against the steering wheel. “The look on her face. I’ve never seen her so upset. She was so resigned, like it was breaking her heart to turn me away, but it was the only choice she had.”

“What can I do?” There’s no longer a hint of frustration in his voice. It’s no longer tainted with disappointment, and for that I’m grateful. I’m beating myself up enough for the both of us.

“Fuck, I don’t know. Dig something up on her? I need some ammunition, anything to make her back off.”

“Kegan, you said the entire board was there. She’s not the only one you have to worry about. It’s bigger than just a woman upset over not getting Cole dick anymore.”

“Please, just look into her,” I beg. “Maybe she’s fucking everyone on the board, and we can blackmail them.”

“You mentioned one picture being intimate. Does that mean what I think it means?”

“If you’re thinking it’s a picture of me fucking her against the wall with her panties in her mouth, then yes it’s what you’re thinking.”

He sighs again. “You can’t make anything easy can you?”

“Look, it’s not that bad. We were both dressed, mostly. I can admit it was a stupid decision, Kadin.”

“Stupid or not, that’s going to be an issue. Teachers, especially ones working at private academies are held to an insanely high standard. It doesn’t matter if this is some kind of vindication from one of your scorned lovers. You’ve given them plenty of ammunition to fire her.” There’s a long silence, one in which I’m sure he’s picturing his hands around my throat. “Let me have my guy do some digging. Maybe she’s got some skeletons in her closet. Her family has more money than ours, and you know rich people always have something hidden in their closet.”

“I owe you, Kadin.” If I weren’t all the way across town, I’d drive to his house and hug him.

“Don’t thank me yet. This is a complete cluster fuck. I’ll call you when I have something. You need to stay away from her until we can figure something out.” There’s a warning in his voice.

“That’s not… I can’t do that Kadin. I need her.” Truths are coming from all sides today it seems.

“I get that more than you probably realize, Kegan, but if she has someone watching her, it’s only going to make things worse. I’ll let my guy know to make this his top priority, but you have to do your part as well.”

“Okay. I’ll stay away from her. Thanks, man.” I’m met with silence.

He may be willing to help, but I know he’s not happy with being in a situation where he has to. His guy better work fast as hell because I’m already itching to head back over to her. Instead, I put the truck in drive and go home, praying every second that Amelia has some kind of sick fetish that will help us help Lexi keep her job. Besides, any woman who lets you fuck her in the ass within the first hour of meeting her has to be down with some kinky shit.

Lexi

The shattering of my heart coincides with the soft click of my front door. I never should’ve given in to him. I never should’ve crossed that line because I knew it would come to this. I knew I’d get in trouble at work, and I’d end up with my heart broken. Yet, I didn’t put up much of a fight did I?

I don’t blame him for any of this. I was a willing, active participant. I had an amazing time while it lasted. As far as regrets, there’s always regrets aren’t there?

I may never be able to work as a teacher again. Once word gets around that the kindergarten teacher likes to be screwed in public, every door that may have once been open will slam shut. Edgewood is the only teaching position I have on my resume, and I can’t even imagine the venom Amelia would spread if someone called for a reference. Hell, she could tell the truth, and it would still leave me unemployed. I messed up big time.

As much as I hate what I’m going through, I can’t find even a sliver of regret for Kegan. I regret our public dalliances. I regret getting caught with him in the closet, which is no doubt the catalyst for Amelia’s ire. But, I just can’t find the strength to regret him.

The time we’ve spent together here, the time we spent at his condo were some of the greatest moments of my life. I’m not just talking about the phenomenal sex, but that doesn’t hurt his case either. He held me to him as if he never wanted to let me go. His embrace became something I never thought I’d get from him, especially after the first time we had sex.

He would share glimpses of the man he worked so hard not to let anyone else see. He became vulnerable if only for a few seconds. He let me in; he allowed me to share that with him.

Closing that door on him was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, coming in second only to burying my grandparents and Ella. As much as I wanted him to stay, I swore years ago that I wouldn’t let another man factor into decisions that will alter my life.

Unable to stay in the house alone, I call Jillian and pray she’s available. It’s Monday evening, but knowing her, she’s at a club drinking and dancing her obsession with Hawke away.

Surprisingly she answers on the second ring. “Hey girl, what’s up?” Her bubbly voice brings a faint smile to my face.

I clear my throat, doing my best to hide my raw emotions. “Can I come over?”

“You don’t ever have to ask. You know that.” Is her response.

I huff a humorous laugh. “I don’t show up unannounced. I showed up early once and got an eye full.”

“I don’t have a man here. I’m not tied up. The coast is clear,” she says sarcastically. “I am out of wine, so if that’s where your head’s at you need to stop by the store.”

“Okay, see you in a few.”

I head to the bathroom to wash my face. One look at myself in the mirror has me wincing and ducking my head. I look like a troll with makeup all down my face. Red blotches dot my skin. No wonder Kegan didn’t put up much of a fight on the porch earlier.

“Listen,” Jillian says with a consoling voice. “I know you’re upset. I get that, but what I’m saying is the damage is already done. So I’m confused as to why you sent him away. There’s nothing more they can do to you. You’re sitting here in pain, when you could be in his arms. It doesn’t seem that complicated to me.”

Leave it to the flighty friend to make complete sense after the fact.

“You’re not listening to the whole story, Jillian.” I sigh and fill my wine glass again. “I told you about Mr. Reese, the school board president. He may have been bordering on sexual harassment with the way he was looking at me during the meeting, but I felt like he was sort of on my side. He contested each one of the violation complaints against me.”

“What’s your point?” Jillian sits back further on the couch, clearly frustrated with my side of the argument.

“That Mr. Reese seems to be fighting for me. If he is, I may be able to keep my job. I sent Kegan away because I know people are following me, and if I want to keep my job continuing to see him after being confronted by the board won’t allow that to happen.”

“So what?” she asks with narrowed eyes. “You’re just going to walk away from him?”

“What other choice do I have? I have to keep my job.”

“You can find another job, Lexi. You know that as much as I do.” She leans forward and places her half full wine glass on the table. I’m in for it now. Jillian never sets down a glass that still has alcohol in it.

“And just who would I use a reference from Edgewood? Amelia would probably forward the picture from the club as her response if she was called.”

“Sounds like Mr. Reese would be perfect for a reference.”

She catches the pillow I throw at her head with ease. “Will you be serious? We are literally talking about my future here.”

She shrugs. “You should’ve just kept Kegan, job be damned. He’s loaded, Lex. You stay with him, and you wouldn’t have to work.”

“Is that seriously your stance? Mooch off the rich guy?”

I fill my glass once again with wine. Maybe the more I drink, the more I’ll like her ideas.

“I’m just trying to think of a way where you can keep the guy. You’ve clearly fallen for him. Why are you fighting it so much?”