Page 12 of Her Forbidden Teacher

Since I need to have a conversation with her, I walk around to the passenger side and open the door. “Got a minute?”

Her cheeks turn pink as she nods. “Get in. Too hot to stand there with the door open.”

I slide into the seat and close the door. Inside her vehicle, I’m flooded with her scent. Like a fool, I inhale it, filling every inch of my lungs.

“What’s up?” she asks, arching a neatly plucked brow at me. “Heard you had detention.”

I smirk at her. “You heard correctly. Most entertaining forty-five minutes of my life.”

“I’ve never had detention, so I can only wonder about the happenings.” She barks out a dry laugh. “Kind of funny that I’ve been expelled but never had detention.” As soon as she says it, she winces. “So, what did you need to talk about?”

I want to probe on the expulsion, but I sidestep it for now. “Wanted to discuss FFA and Greenhouse Club.”

Her features brighten. “Greenhouse Club will be fun. Your class is my favorite. I even texted with my dad some about what I could plant at Mom’s house.”

So much for turning her down now.

“You’re the only one who’s excited about it,” I say with a sigh. “But we can still make it fun. Better than sitting in your car all afternoon.”

“Just me and you?” She bites down on her bottom lip, looking at me with hope in her eyes.

“Just us.”

Idiot. So much for doing the right thing…

I realize this is a bad idea and one I won’t bring up to my new friends, but I don’t put a stop to it. Addison needs a friend. I can sense it. Just because I’m her teacher doesn’t mean I can’t be there for her.

You just want her all to yourself, Theo.

“FFA has a minimum requirement of five students, unfortunately,” I say, ignoring my inner taunting. “So, that one is a no-go.”

She gives me a small shrug. “That’s okay. At least we still have Greenhouse Club.”

We.

We’re a “we” now.

Warmth coils in my gut. I hate how much I like talking to her and thinking about spending alone time with her.

“Thanks for being so kind to me, Mr. Langford,” she says, eyebrows pinching. “It’s meant more than you know.”

“Theo,” I blurt out. “When it’s just us, you can call me Theo.”

Her lips quirk up on one side. “Theo. I like that name.”

Now I’ve crossed a line. But, having her call me Mr. Langford all the time, especially in a private setting like this, feels too formal. It’s also a reminder that I’m her teacher and she’s my student.

But Theo?

Her calling me Theo sounds like we’re friends.

“Theo,” she murmurs, voice husky and too sexy. “There are things you don’t know about me. Bad things.”

I stiffen and frown at her. “There can’t possibly be anything other than good when it comes to you. You’re a good girl.”

Again, with my stupid mouth.

Her cheeks turn a pretty shade of crimson, and she smiles shyly at me. “I always thought I was. You make me think I am.”