Toby’s mouth opened and closed, then he slapped the table and laughed. “Jade was the groupie you got too close to?”
“Hey! I’m not a damn groupie.” She pointed a finger at Nate. “And will never be one, especially yours.”
The smirk on Nate’s lips grew into a huge smile, and once again a shot of electricity hit her chest. Did she need to start carrying around a portable defibrillator now that they would be working together?
Working together! How could she work with him? He was rude, and his moods changed quicker than her underwear.
“Why would a big rock star want to waste his time teaching a bunch of kids music? You must have better things to do with your time like…sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll.”
Jade couldn’t believe how effective Nate’s disguise was as her gaze traveled over him. If he hadn’t called her Freckles, she never would have guessed even though she’d seen him without the wig.
He crossed his arms over his chest. She couldn’t help noticing the lean, toned muscles defined under his dark blue t-shirt, and her belly did a little flip-flop. And his smile, along with his good mood, dropped.
“I’ve put that on hold for a few weeks.”
She averted her gaze, feeling a stab of guilt for hitting what must be a sore spot, then focused her attention on Toby, whose shoulders were shaking from laughter. “Do you find this situation amusing? He threatened to sue my arse off, and you want him around our young kids?” She was judging Nate’s character before she got to know him, but hey, he’d judged her for some skanky groupie first. “And how the hell do you know about his disguise?”
“Shhh,” they both said as they threw a panicked glance at the open door.
Nate stuck his head out into the corridor and glanced up and down the hallway. When he turned back around looking relieved, Jade assumed it was empty of eavesdroppers, but he still closed the door.
“I told you we’re old friends. I’ve known from the beginning. And Nate, Jade’s trustworthy, your secret won’t get out.”
Thank God someone had a high opinion of her, not like the brooding man she would have to spend her afternoons with for the next few weeks.
“I’d love to see how this meeting between you two progresses, but there are reports waiting on my desk to sign.” He got up, shook Nate’s hand, and whispered, “Good luck.”
“I heard that!” Jade took offense.
Toby shrugged. “Actually, you both might need it.” And he walked out of the room.
With Toby gone, Jade had a better look at Nate. The other night she’d been flustered and confused by what she saw, but she could have sworn his eyes were dark and dangerous. Now as she stared at him, they were a light hazel with flecks of gold.
“Your eyes are a different color. That night we met, they looked almost black.” As black as his heart she’d thought. But if Toby was friends with him, he couldn’t be that bad, right?
Nate nodded. “I’m not wearing contacts.”
And when she’d felt his tattooed arm, his skin wasn’t smooth or even hairy, it was like he’d stuck his arms into pantyhose. Now they were bare of any ink. He didn’t wear a nose ring nor were there studs in his ears.
“Why go through this much trouble to change your appearance? Isn’t being rich and famous something many people covet?”
“I have my reasons,” he snapped.
“Well then…” She pushed her chair back and rose. Working with him was going to be a bunch of belly laughs. “I’ll show you where the lessons will take place.”
As she started to walk past him, he stopped her by grasping her arm. She sucked in a startled breath as heat zapped her skin and traveled through her body. He dropped her arm as if he also felt the effects.
“It’s a long, boring story. You wouldn’t be interested.” This time he’d softened his tone.
Wouldn’t be interested. Wanna make a bet? But it was his story, and if he didn’t want to share with the class, that was his business.
They stood almost chest to chest, staring at each other. She swore Nate’s gaze dropped to her lips, and she thought he might kiss her. Then he opened the door as if the moment had never happened.
But as she made to pass, Nate’s gaze traveled to her chest. Wow, if he was trying to turn up the sexual attraction, he had another thing coming. They were in a primary school!
“You like a bit of sauce?”
She frowned. What the hell did that mean? “If this is some new term for sexual favors I haven’t heard of before, you’re out of luck. Do you even know where we are? I suppose women give you sex no matter the location. Well, not me, buddy.”