Page 34 of The Perfect Distraction

“Oh, I get it. It’s because I’m a teacher, right?”

“Haven’t you ever had a crush on a teacher before?”

He turned in her direction again, and she slid further down in her chair, surprised that she hadn’t already been caught.

“Once, in high school.”

“Well, I have one right now.”

She saw that he’d stopped pacing and was looking out over his backyard, and if she wasn’t mistaken, he’d just slapped himself on the forehead like she had earlier. She couldn’t help it. She burst out laughing, and the sound of it must have carried because the next thing she knew, he’d turned and was staring straight at her. Busted!

She raised her hand, gave him a little wave, and waited.

Planting one hand on his narrow waist, he shook his head, but his lips were twitching at the corners.

“Have you been sitting there this whole time?”

“Yes. Yes, I have.”

“Were you ever going to tell me?”

“I was considering it.”

He chuckled, and it made her warmer than the sun and the coffee combined.

“Enjoying the view?”

She shrugged. “Hey. I was out here minding my own business when you called. How did I know you were going to come outside in your underwear?”

He glanced down at his shorts and tugged on the waistband. “These aren’t underwear. If you want to see my underwear, then…” He acted like he was going to pull down his shorts, and she quickly covered her eyes with one hand.

“No, don’t! The neighbors will see.”

“You’re the only neighbor who’s looking!”

She peeked out between her fingers and saw him standing there smiling. She was half-tempted to invite him over for coffee, but then she remembered what she was wearing: the same pajamas he’d seen her in before, the sheer ones that showed her nipples in all their pointed glory.

Suddenly, Colton’s eyes lit up like he’d just realized that two could play this game. “Stand up,” he said.

“What?”

“You heard me. Stand up!”

“No. I’m in my pajamas.”

“Nothing I haven’t seen before.”

He had her there.

“This is silly,” she said, fighting down her panic. So much for keeping herself in check. It was only nine in the morning, and already, she was testing the limits.

“Either stand up, or I’m coming over there,” he growled.

“Okay. Fine. No need to get all grumpy about it.” She set down her coffee mug and slowly rose from the chair to face him.

Her hair was piled atop her head in a haphazard bun, and her face was makeup free. She didn’t have to look down to see what he was looking at because she felt her nipples poking against the thin fabric of her pajama top.

Placing a hand on her hip and cocking her head, she said, “Done yet?”