Burn for You (Flirting with Forever Book 3)

by Amanda Bailey

  And things are good with Prof.M., too. I think he’s finally got me figured out. Push me too hard, and I dig my heels in. He seems to have backed off, slowing things down. We’ve had several days of relaxed conversation, returning to our Sherlock roots. I’m willing to wager he’s trying not to scare me away. And, really, it’s not that I wouldn’t like to meet him. I’m just nervous. Taking the step to download the Tryst app in the first place took almost everything I had. I never expected to find someone I clicked with right off the bat. Never expected to start feeling things … wanting things.

  I pull up to the school and park my car for the big dance, knowing I’m about ten minutes early. My phone’s been pinging with notifications for a few minutes, so I decide it can’t hurt to take a quick few minutes to engage in a verbal battle with Prof.M. Because, yep, opening up Tryst, I see that’s exactly who it is.

  Prof.M. to Sherlock4Love: So, do you think Sherlock actually has Asperger’s or is he really a high-functioning sociopath like he says he is in the show?

  Sherlock4Love to Prof.M.: I don’t think it matters. Back when Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created Sherlock Holmes, there was no such designation as Asperger’s. I mean, I guess it’s possible that he’d be on the autism spectrum.

  Prof.M. to Sherlock4Love: Probable, you mean.

  Sherlock4Love to Prof.M.: I mean, a sociopath has volatile behavioral patterns, characterized by emotional outbursts and a lack of self-control. They can form attachments to other people and even enjoy being around them.

  Sherlock4Love to Prof.M.: Now, someone with Asperger’s has a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction and nonverbal communication, along with restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests.

  Sherlock4Love to Prof.M.: General rule of thumb, if I’m not mistaken, is that people with Asperger’s have emotions, they just process differently and present them differently to people. They emote in different ways.

  Sherlock4Love to Prof.M.: Sociopaths are generally dysfunctional, their issues usually caused by something like a troubled childhood or a history of abuse.

  Sherlock4Love to Prof.M.: Which is also different than a psychopath, who would try to hide the fact that they don’t feel those emotions to blend in with society. They’re very cunning and manipulative, with no empathy whatsoever. And, in contrast, their issues are more likely rooted in genetics, or possibly head injury.

  Sherlock4Love to Prof.M.: So, sociopathy or Asperger’s for Sherlock, I’m still not sure we can definitively say. You realize we are trying to diagnose a fictional character, right?

  Sherlock4Love to Prof.M.: Where’d you go? I thought we were having a real discussion.

  Prof.M. to Sherlock4Love: I was just trying to get a rise out of you. It totally worked.

  Sherlock4Love to Prof.M.: You’re evil.

  Prof.M. to Sherlock4Love: Moriarty is my name.

  Sherlock4Love to Prof.M.: I should have known better. :)

  With that, I tuck my phone into the clutch I’d brought with me. I’m suddenly regretting my choice of footwear as I open my car door to find I’m parked in a pile of slush and ice. Great. With my luck, I’ll bite the big one on my way in. My fancy heels are not so great in this weather. Deciding against taking my coat in—because where am I going to put it?—I adjust the straps of my dress, brush the tulle of the skirt into place, and exit my car as gracefully as I can.

  Grumbling to myself that we should totally have valet parking at events like this, I painstakingly make my way across the parking lot to the back door of the gym where the dance is taking place, freezing my ass off the whole way.

  Out of nowhere, my heels hit a patch of ice, and I feel myself about to go down when a firm hand grasps my elbow, preventing my fall.

  Heart in my throat, my head swivels to the side. Strong hand. My eyes flick up. Broad man chest in a dark-gray suit coat. My eyes shift higher. Corded neck, rugged jaw.

  Dark eyes. My breath stutters out.

  Damon.

  “Hi.” I shake my head. “I mean, thanks.”

  He gives me a tight smile. “Do you have things under control now?”

  Exhaling carefully, I nod.

  “Then let’s go in.” He releases my elbow, but before I know what he intends, I find my arm tucked against his side, my hand folded into the crook of his elbow.

  My mind shrieks to snatch my arm away, but I don’t. He’s strong and warm and looks so freaking good in his suit. I’d have to be crazy to pull away.

  Or am I crazy because I’m allowing him to lead me into the dance like we’re here together? Jesus, we’re technically working, and I know if I turned my head just a little more to the right …

  Yep. His manly scent drifts right off him and up my nose, a tantalizing mixture of cologne, deodorant, and something that just screams Damon, though for the life of me, I don’t know what it is.

  A little whimper escapes my lips just as we walk through the doorway. Damon’s gaze snaps to mine, and he gives me the sliest grin—like he knows the thoughts running through my head or can feel the sensations coursing through my body like warmed honey. I’m feeling decidedly like I may melt when I take a deep breath and pat his arm. “Thank you for the assist.”

  He looks at me, a strange glint in his eyes. “Anytime, Piper.”

  I blink, then edge away, finally tearing my eyes from him to go in search of my friends. I spot Sophia and Heath looking gorgeous in a shimmery dark-pink gown and navy suit and tie, respectively. Damn, they are a dreamy couple.

  The gym floor is crowded as I make my way to where they are watching over students near one of the tables full of heart-shaped, pink-frosted cookies, sodas, and bottled water. It strikes me when I reach them that I’ve barely noticed all the red and pink balloons floating about, the paper heart decorations hanging down from the rafters, or the giddy teenagers dancing and having a good time. Awesome chaperone I’m going to be tonight.

  With eyes wide, Sophia pulls me in to her and whispers in my ear, “What the hell was that?”

  I shake my head and mumble. “I don’t know. I don’t know.” I press my hands to either side of my head, trying to think clearly.

  She grasps my arms, gently pulling them down. “Breathe, Piper.”

  The air I’d been holding in my lungs comes out in short bursts. My eyes meet hers and then Heath’s before I wave my hands in front of my face for a few seconds, fanning myself. “I almost fell on the ice out there, and Damon caught me. But then he insisted on walking me in, and—”

  Heath chuckles, sliding a glance at me. “Damon’s a good guy. We’ve even met up for drinks before. I’m sure he was just being a gentleman, Piper.”

  I whisper-shout, “‘Gentleman’? That gentleman has been doing everything he can to ensure that I have a hard time being mad at him all while he steals the department chair position right out from under me.”

  Sophia wrinkles her nose and slides a glance at Heath. “We’re just going to go have a little girl talk. Be right back.”

  She leads me to a quiet corner where we can still face the dance and observe the students like we’re supposed to be doing. She crosses her arms in front of her, eyes scanning over the dancers, then side-eyes me. “Piper, you seem really flustered. Like more flustered than I’ve ever seen you over anything. Is there some other underlying issue? Maybe we can talk it out.”

  My blood is pumping rapidly through my body, creating the loudest whoosh, whoosh, whoosh noise in my ears, making it impossible to think straight. I blink and shake my head as I try to clear it. “I’m—I don’t know.” I bite my lip to stop myself from talking, but the understanding I see in her eyes has it all just gushing out of me like a geyser spurting everywhere. “I think I may be attracted to him, but there’s this whole situation with the job. And then, you don’t even know this yet because I got so distracted the other day with Damon taking over my class and the Midol and the Valentine’s Day period chocolate that I didn’t get a
chance to tell you and then I missed my chance and I was too embarrassed.” I stop for a quick breath and cringe. “That was an awful, horrible, run-on sentence.” I huff. “But there’s this guy I met on a dating app and I like him, too, and he wants to meet me and I keep saying sexy stuff to him that kind of isn’t me, but he’s clearly bringing it out in me, and oh my God, I don’t know what to do anymore. I feel like my whole world is spinning around and it makes me feel dizzy and I’m just trying to hang on.”

  I stop and stare at Sophia, my lower lip trembling. Her mouth opens and closes a few times. “Wow. I don’t know which aspect of that has you the most worked up, but you’ve been holding an awful lot of stuff in.”

  Nodding, I say, “I know. I’m really confused.”

  “So, let me summarize what you said, just to make sure I’ve got it. You like this guy on the app, but you said some naughty stuff and now you’re nervous to meet him. Then you’ve got Damon being nice, and you feel like you might be attracted to him, but you’ve got the whole work issue looming over both of you. Is that right?”

  I let out the biggest sigh known to womankind. “Yes. That’s pretty much it.”

  “Well, don’t look now, but problem number two is headed this way.”

  Chapter 13

  Damon

  On my way across the gym to talk to Piper, I get waylaid by Elena and her friend Marcy, both of them gussied up and full of excitement.

  Elena gives me an excited, cheeky grin. “Damon—I mean, Mr. Madero—” She pauses, like she’s trying to decide whether to ask me something. “Did we see you come in with Ms. Mathison?” She taps her fingertip to her lip. “I thought that’s what I saw, but then we thought, surely not.”

  Well, that’s not something I want to discuss with my sister in the middle of a school dance, and definitely not with her friend.

  “I was merely making sure she didn’t fall on the way up the sidewalk. Her shoes were slipping on the ice.”

  “Bummer. We thought you looked kind of cute together.”

  Marcy giggles and whispers to Elena behind her hand. “Oh, Marcy had a good idea just now! You should totally dance with her.”

  I scratch my head, pretending like I don’t understand what they are getting at. “‘Her’? Who are we talking about?” I wink at Marcy, who giggles again.

  “Damon. You know who.” She gives me her best duh face. “Teachers are allowed to dance some. You should ask her.” She plants her hands on her hips and cocks her head to the side. “She’s just standing over there with Ms. Caringello. Girls like to dance.”

  When did my youngest sister get so grown up that she thinks she can offer me advice on women?

  “And her dress is so pretty, Damon. You should tell her.”

  I’d noticed the dress as I was coming up behind her. It’s a deep red and nips in at the waist. The material at the bottom of the dress just seems to float around her like a red cloud. I steal a peek in her direction out of the corner of my eye.

  Her hair is done up in an intricate braid knotted on top of her head, leaving her neck bare. I’ve already established that I’m a fan of that—but now I’m getting a look at her bare shoulders, too, and it’s like a full-strength kick right to my gut. She’s goddamn stunning, and the best part is I’m not sure she has a clue.

  “Maybe I’ll just talk to her. How about that?”

  “Fine, but talk about something other than school.” Elena rolls her eyes at me. “We’re going to go try the cookies.” She pats me on the arm. “You can do it.”

  I chuckle. “Thanks, Elena.” The girls walk away and my eyes stray to where Piper is talking to Sophia over in the corner. Maybe my sister has a point. I shake my head and run my hand over my jaw. Slowly, steadily, my feet begin their journey to the other side of the gym.

  What my sister doesn’t realize is that I was already on my way over to Piper, but then Sophia had walked away with her, ushering her over to a corner to talk. I’ve got to say, that bit caught my attention. Had I done something wrong? I know she’s a little prickly toward me right now, but I didn’t think it would carry over to a school dance. Maybe I’m fooling myself, though. More and more, I’m getting the sense that this job is a big deal to her, but I can’t tell if it’s because it’s something that she wants, something her parents want, or a combination of the two. She’s a damn fine teacher, and I wish there were a way I could accept the job without it hurting her because I’m beginning to see that’s what’s happening. That’s why she’s so averse to every little kindness I show her right now. That’s why she’s shying away from me. At least I think so, anyway. I’d like to think I understand women pretty well.

  Then again, my sisters may claim otherwise.

  My gaze travels over the students on the dance floor to others on the sidelines eating cookies and still others who have gathered in groups, their laughter a good sign that the dance is a success. Because that’s what I’m supposed to be here for—to chaperone.

  Too bad my mind has other ideas and keeps straying to Piper. I wish it didn’t have to be like this. She’ll probably be royally pissed off when she learns what I’d spoken with Jake about earlier today, so I may as well try to make nice right now. With a sigh, I head in Piper’s direction, only to stop short when I notice Elena stop to whisper something to her quickly before slinking off.

  Oh, hell. What is my sister doing? She giggles as she walks away with Marcy at her side. I swear, the two of them are completely devious.

  Sophia sees me coming and, for some reason, decides it’s time to rejoin her fiancé. At least there won’t be anyone to witness whatever is about to go down.

  I put on my best game face as I approach. “Hey. What’s Elena up to now?”

  Piper’s face is flushed, her cheeks almost a perfect match for her dress. “Oh, um …” She looks down at her clasped hands, biting her lip. Her eyes flick up to mine. “She said you’d mentioned that you were hoping to dance with me.”

  My brows raise ever so slightly. I study the way the color on her cheeks deepens before I question, “Did she?”

  Her teeth sink deeper into her plump lip, and my gaze is drawn there, lingering for a moment before meeting hers again. Emotion swirls in her eyes, but I can’t be certain what I’m seeing.

  And then it hits me. It’s longing. Fuck me, I think it’s longing.

  Without further thought, I reach for her hand, taking it in mine. As if it was meant to be, a slow song begins to play through the speaker system. And slowly, I pull her a little bit closer to me, my other hand landing on her hip as hers comes to rest on my shoulder. My fingers flex and bunch in the fluffy material of her dress at the same time my insides riot with the knowledge her body is so close to mine.

  We begin to move together, and it’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. At my age, I’ve done my fair share of dating, fair share of dancing, but I’ve never felt like this with a woman in my arms. Never. She’s like a hazy, beautiful daydream, and I want to live in it with her for as long as I can. My body practically vibrates with the need to sweep her closer, to press the length of her body to mine. But I can’t—not now. And it’s not just where we are. I’m certain if I did that, she’d run. There’s too much between us on the work end of things and—fuck. She quakes, a tremor rolling right through her. Both of my hands squeeze in reassurance, one at her hip, the other at her hand as my head dips down next to hers. With my lips near the shell of her ear, I rasp, “You are breathtaking.” She shifts, her face turning toward my neck. “I mean it. You’re flawless. I’m utterly stunned.” She’s warm and soft in all the right places, and she smells so goddamn good, I have to fight the urge to nip at her neck and see how her skin tastes.

  But, no. We’re at school, maintaining a slightly less-than-appropriate distance from each other. In fact—

  The song ends, and I ease away from her. She looks up at me, and my heart squeezes right in my chest at the tormented look in her eyes. I don’t—

  “I’ve g
ot to get some air. I’ll be right back.” She hurries to one of the side doors, pushes it open, and races away from me.

  Chapter 14

  Damon

  I don’t know how to take that. Shoving my hands in my pockets, I turn and look back toward the center of the gym. All appears to be well and in hand. Then I see Sophia shoo at me and nod toward the door Piper had exited through.

  Making haste, I leave the building, carefully putting a doorstop in place before looking around outside. Piper hadn’t gone far, as the sidewalk isn’t very well shoveled. It’s damn near thirty degrees out tonight, yet she appears to be content to shiver in her strappy dress, arms wrapped around herself. I can’t tell if she even knows anyone else is out here with her. Quickly, I remove my suit coat before stepping up behind her. My voice is low so as to not startle her when I say, “Put this on.”

  She glances back at me, eyes flaring wide. With a shake of her head, she silently announces her intention to let herself freeze.

  “Don’t be silly, Pipe—”

  Slam. Both of our heads whip around toward the sound. Behind us, the door has swung shut, locking us out here in the cold. Ah, hell. Just what we needed. I edge closer to Piper, lean in and whisper, “You will take my coat.” I arrange it over her shoulders before I turn back to the door and pound on it a few times. With my hands braced against it, I drop my head, shaking it briefly. Awesome. The music is loud enough inside that they can’t hear us, and “Cupid Shuffle” has just started. I can hear the damned instructions coming from inside to move right, move left, and kick, kick, kick, and, holy fuck, no one is going to be paying attention to us trapped out here.