Page 94 of Guarded Deputy

“Hey. Is everything okay?” I pace along the patio.

“Yeah.” Her voice sounds tight.

“I’m going to call BS on that.” I run a hand through my hair as I wait for her to say something.

A deep sigh sounds on the other side of the line, and I pause.

“I wanted to talk to your sister first, but Walker had an incident at school today.”

“What?” I growl. “What the hell happened?”

“Nate,” she warns. “Right now you’re a student’s uncle, not my boyfriend.” Her tone takes a professional lilt that equally turns me on and frustrates me because I am her boyfriend. I know the situation is delicate, though.

“Right.”

“Some of the kids were teasing him about us, saying that I’m your girlfriend. He didn’t take it well and got angry.”

I frown and look into the house through the glass doors. Walker is sitting at the table with a deep furrow.

“How do kids even know that?” I begin pacing again.

“We live in a small town. Their parents probably talked about it and the kids overheard. It’s not unusual.” She sounds resigned.

“Freaking nosey bodies.”

“Yup.”

“I’ll talk to him,” I promise her.

“That would be good, yeah. I handled the situation about my private life.”

“Did Mrs. Sanders talk to you as well?” I ask.

“Yup. We need to be professional at work, Nate.” She sounds stressed, and I hate that it’s because of me.

“I know. Sorry.” I feel guilty for putting her in that position in the first place.

“I know I’m hard to resist, but you need to keep yourself under control.” Her voice brightens.

“You’re impossible to resist, but I will behave.”

“Good.” She breathes out.

“Are you free tonight?” I ask.

“You want to get your fill so you’ll behave tomorrow at work?” I love that she challenges me.

“I’ll never get my fill when it comes to you, but I’m not against trying.”

“I have to grade some papers.”

“Any chance you want some help to finish faster?”

“You? Grade tests?” Her voice rises in surprise.

“Yeah?”

“I’d love to see that,” she teases.