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“This is an individual task, not a team one,” I state firmly.
Her eyes dart to Jaden’s and he shrugs.
“You’ll each need to be working on your recipes at the same time. Jaden can ask for my help when he needs it.” I stand in front of their table, my hands holding the edges as I look at Candace sharply.
Her head bows slightly as she says, “Yes, ma’am.” She peeks up at Jaden and he nods.
I leave their station and walk around to the other eight students. The knocking of wooden spoons and clanging of metal bowls fills the room. A cloud of flour dust flies above Bob’s head when he flops the soft bag onto the table.
“Ah crap,” he sighs.
“Oh, no,” comes from Samantha. I walk toward her table.
“Do you need my help?” I ask.
Her head shakes quickly.
“I got this. Just poured a little too much vanilla in the mixture. I hope it doesn’t affect the taste.” She twists her lips and slams her eyes closed.
Patting her on her arm, I walk past her and over to the rest of my students, taking a peek at their progress. Seeing how well they are all doing and having things under control, I return to my desk to make some notes in their folders.
As each of my students continues measuring and mixing the batter for their fruit cobblers, my eyes dart to Jaden when he exclaims, “Dammit!”
Candace drops her mixing spoon and goes to his station, helping him recover the spilled sugar.
I push back my chair and walk over to their area. My gaze meets Candace’s, and she quickly finishes helping Jaden. She moves closer to him, placing her hand near his ear. I can’t hear what she’s whispering, but my blood heats up and my heart hammers in my chest. I want to throat punch her.
Now we’re talking.
Touching Jaden’s cast, I stand on his other side and say, “I’ll help you, Jaden. Candace…” I shake my head and find a calmer voice before speaking to her.
“Yes, ma’am?” She looks at me, then at Jaden.
Clearing my throat, I say, “Thank you for helping Jaden, but you need to finish your dessert.” Raising my left arm, I check my watch and continue, “And get it in the oven.” I tilt my head and raise my eyes, gesturing toward her unfinished dish.
I step closer to him. So close, I can feel his body heat. Too close as my body responds with a level of heat I’ve not felt in months. Since he and I were together. A heat I’ve missed so much.
After Candace finishes her dish, she lifts the baking glass with care and walks away from us, toward the wall of ovens near the back of the classroom.
Jaden glances around at his fellow students. Everyone is placing their cobblers into the ovens as he walks me back toward my desk. He leans down, his lips brush my ear as he whispers, “You sound jealous… Miss Turner.”
Turning my head, my eyes dart to his, my lips are less than an inch from his. One hiccup and I can kiss his velvety soft lips.
Kiss me!
I place my hand on his shoulder, gently pushing him back from me. I look around his towering body and see everyone still busy in the back of the room. No one pays any attention to us.
My eyes come back to his, and I glare. Although I don’t want to glare, I want to lean in and kiss him. I squeeze his good arm and say, “I’m not jealous.” I look away from him. In an attempt to convince him that what I just said is true, I stand tall and straighten my shoulders.
But I’m damn full of jealousy and I know it. It’s searing through me like a high-speed bullet train. I don’t want Candace near him. Fuck, I don’t want any woman near Jaden.
His lips tug upward, his eyes sparkle. He leans in again and whispers, “Sure, Blaire.” His body blocks any of the class from seeing him touch me as his hand trails down between my breasts, then along the waistband of my skirt. I quiver and a quiet moan escapes me. His smile fills his face as he whispers again, “I know you’re wet. I can smell your desire for me.” He sniffs my hair and I nearly faint as I grab the edge of my desk.
“And your need for me.” He stands tall, turning and walking away from me, back to his table and his dessert.
My heart’s in my throat as I glance around at all my students again to see if any of them paid us any attention. Christ, if any of them did, I’ll… shit… I don’t know what anymore.
I walk behind my desk and plop into my chair. I need to keep some space between me and Jaden, even though I don’t want any space at all between us. I’ll figure something out. I have to. I can’t keep lying to myself. He is more than just my student. A lot more. I fall back against my chair and close my eyes.
