Treat Me (One Night with Sole Regret #8)(43)

"Get all the monkey stink off," Amanda said. Julie sniffed her wet hands, made a face, and washed them again with double the soap.

Jacob was waiting for them outside the bathroom when they came out. He placed a hand on the small of Amanda's back as they walked down the ramp, with Julie skipping ahead. All the sudden touchy-feely he had going on worried Amanda. It wasn't that she didn't like it-she wished they could show their growing affection for each other openly. But she didn't want anyone to get hurt. She didn't much care how Tina would feel anymore, but she did care if Jacob and Julie suffered.

They had to exit through the gift shop, so their trip to San Antonio was further delayed. Jacob picked up a new set of sunglasses; a small capuchin monkey now had possession of his old pair. And Julie thought she needed an entire collection of stuffed animals.

"You can pick one," Jacob said.

"But I need them all," Julie insisted.

"Only one." He wrapped one of her curls around his finger. "Choose wisely."

She examined each display as if making a life-altering decision. Amanda wandered over to the far corner to look at posters. She liked hanging them in her classroom. She didn't get to spend much time teaching about mammals in her biology class, but they were her favorite part of her subject. Well, other than the dark reactions of photosynthesis and chemiosmosis. Fascinating stuff. But most students looked like they wanted to cry when she discussed anything biochemical. Even the students who struggled with biology liked to look at posters of animals, however.

"What did Tina want?" Jacob asked her.

Amanda slid the poster of a wolf back into its slot-she already had that one-and pulled out one of a red fox.

"She just asked if I wanted to go to lunch with her." Amanda didn't look at him when she said it, afraid this was about to turn into a confrontation. She didn't want the day to turn sour.



       
         
       
        

"And you told her you couldn't go?"

"Right."

"Because you were with me?"

Amanda slid the fox poster back in place and pulled out one of a brown bear. "Tina heard Julie's voice in the background, and I figured she would tell her mom about being allowed in Jojo's exhibit, so I was sure Tina would find out that we'd seen each other."

"Randomly?"

"Don't you think that's best?"

"What I think's best?"

She nodded, lifting her gaze to meet his.

"I think it's best not to hide." He moved to stand directly behind her, the heat of his body burning through her clothes, stirring her awareness, her desire. "So if I want to touch you." His palms slid down her bare arms and her breath quickened, eyelids fluttered shut. "Or kiss you." He brushed the lightest of kisses against the sensitive spot where her shoulder met the back of her neck. She shuddered and swallowed a groan of delight. "I can do so without hesitation."

"But Julie-"

"I don't think Julie would have a problem with us being together," he said. His hand slid under the hem of her top, and his fingers traced the waistband of her shorts, making her squirm and brush her ass against him.

His soft growl of torment against her ear made her pussy ache from its emptiness.

"It's not that," she said.

He turned her to face him, pressing her into the wall with the length of his body.

"Then what?" he murmured. "I know you're into me."

She was very into him. She took a deep breath just so she could delight in the feel of his hard chest against her taut nipples.

"If Julie catches on to what's going on between us, she'll tell her mother."

"So what?" Jacob said, his blue-eyed gaze hard with anger or frustration, she wasn't sure which.

"Tina will use her leverage to keep Julie away from you."

"I'd like to see her try," he said.

"Would you?" Amanda asked. "Would you really? What if she succeeds? Then what?"

"Daddy," Julie said from across the rectangular room. "What are you doing to Aunt Mander?"

"I've got something in my eye, sweetheart," Amanda said.

"Again? Aunt Mander you need to wear safety glasses. The lawn-mowing guy says he wears them to keep stuff out of his eyes."

Jacob pushed off the wall, leaving Amanda feeling hopelessly exposed. He ripped the tag off the sunglasses he intended to buy and perched the eyewear on his face to hide the turmoil in his expression. Speaking of safety glasses . . . 

Julie eventually decided on a stuffed monkey-which she promptly named Jojo-and they piled back into the car. Even though it was Amanda's car, Jacob insisted on driving. She didn't mind. If he drove, it would be much easier for her to stare worshipfully at his masculine beauty.