“I’m going to have homework?” he asks, shocked. “But it’s summer!”
“I’ll make sure you finish all of the worksheets while I’m here each day, but I also want you to read this book, and we’ll talk about it every day so I know you’re reading it.”
“I hate the books the school makes us read,” he grumbles. I smirk and mentally agree. Some of the mandatory reading material is dry, and I understand why the kids don’t go crazy about it.
“This isn’t a book the school would make you read. It’s a book for fun, and I’m going to read it with you.”
“Really?” This piques his interest and he takes the book from me. It’s Exiled by M. R. Merrick.
“Really. This book is science fiction, and it’s about a boy who has to deal with demons and hunters and all kinds of stuff. I think it’s going to be fun.”
“It’ll probably suck,” he states defiantly, but he flips the book over and immediately begins reading the blurb on the back.
Adolescent boys are fun.
“You’re right, it probably will suck, but we can talk about all of its suckiness together.” I smile sweetly and push a math worksheet under his nose, hand him a pencil, and we get started with today’s lesson.
Halfway through fractions, my phone chirps with an incoming text. Seth is hard at work and not paying any attention to me, so I quickly check it and smile when I see Jilly’s name.
What are you doing?
Typical Jill, just get right to the point.
Good morning. I’m working. What are you doing?
I set the phone aside and check Seth’s work. All of the answers are correct, and he’s worked through them quickly.
“Impressive,” I murmur with a grin. “You were right, you are good at math, Seth.”
His lips twitch, as though he wants to smile, but he keeps his eyes on the paper, working diligently, and mutters, “Thanks.”
I give him another worksheet with more of the same type of problems just as my phone chirps.
Just closed on a house & on my way to show another. Miss u. Talk soon?
I smile and respond. Miss u too. Call me.
Glancing up while tucking my phone back in my pocket, I see Josh riding to the back fence of his house with two other guys. The horses are beautiful, two black and one white with red patches. The guys are dripping in sweat, dirt clinging to their clothes and skin. They stop to talk, pointing to various parts of the ranch and even laughing once in a while.
While still in the saddle, Josh pulls his cap off, pushes his hand through his sweaty hair, then pulls his T-shirt over his head to wipe his face with it.
Holy Mary, mother of God.
Wow.
He’s more than built. His muscles are toned and defined, thanks to all the work he does on the ranch. He has an amazing abdomen, and I can see the top of a sexy V rising out of the waist of his jeans, but it’s his arms and shoulders that have me mesmerized and my panties suddenly soaked.
His biceps have to be the size of my thighs, and not in a gross he’s-gotta-be-on-steroids way. I wonder what it would be like to have those arms wrapped around me, to feel the muscles flex beneath my hands.
His shoulders are broad and tanned, and he has just a light sprinkle of dark hair over his chest.
I could eat him with a spoon.
Josh pulls a bottle of water out of a saddlebag, takes a drink, and then laughs at one of the other guys. He swings his leg over the horse, dismounting easily, ties the rein to the fence, and waves as his companions ride off toward the barn.
“Why are you looking at him like that?” Seth’s voice is hard and angry.
“What?” Oh, crap, he caught me. I’m so embarrassed. “I’m not looking at anything. Just daydreaming, I guess.” My face is bright red when I look down at Seth, but he scowls and pushes his worksheet toward me.
“Girls are dumb. You shouldn’t look at him like that. He’s a jerk.”
Josh saunters in through the sliding glass door off the kitchen, his shirt still off, and I bite my lip as my eyes wander down his torso. When I glance back up, he’s grinning, that sexy dimple is winking at me, and I flush.
Maybe I should start working with Seth over at the big house.
“Are you guys almost done?”
“Almost.” I nod.
“I’m going to catch a quick shower and then put you up on a horse, my friend.”
“Cool!” Seth exclaims, surprising us both.
“Um, I wore shorts.”
“I noticed. You have gorgeous legs. We’ll make it work. I’ll be out in a minute.” With that, he saunters down the hall and I hear a door close.
“Why do you think he’s a jerk?” I ask, still stuck on the gorgeous legs remark. Does Josh mistreat him?