“Yes, we have,” Gregory replied and frowned, looking down at the list of students, moving the pen in an odd way.I was pretty sure he was just doodling, because there was no reason to take notes.
“Knox, thanks for coming early,” I said, putting a hand on his shoulder.
The familiar gesture caught Vanessa’s attention.She frowned slightly, but then Knox cocked a brow at me.I immediately dropped my hand.Oh God, what am I doing?I had to be professional.I took a deep breath.Thankfully, only Joel saw us.
“Well, Joel, the early bird gets the best seat.Have at it,” I said.
“Cool,” he replied as he went up.
The other students started arriving soon after, and we helped them all load up and get settled.
The bus was big enough that everyone had their own seat.I expected Knox to complain that it was a regular school bus—we took the cheapest option—but he didn’t.In fact, he was amazing the entire trip.He didn’t embarrass Gregory even once.
Knox sat up front, behind me, but he occasionally got up and walked around, talking to the students.They hung on his every word.He was telling them about how he’d decided to start his own company after working exclusively at Sterling Investments for many years.The more he spoke, the sexier he became.I was happy to have my own seat because I could curl up a little and just look at him as long as I wanted.
“Where did you find this hunk?”Vanessa asked when we still had about half an hour to go.She was sitting in the seat in front of me.Now she had climbed on her knees to face me.
“We’re friends.We went to college together.”
“Friends,” Vanessa said.She flashed me an interesting smile.It was almost saucy.What the hell?
“Right.Well, this is fun.If I’d known, I would have brought my sexy stuff.”
“Vanessa, you’re a teacher,” I chastised, shocked that she’d share that with me.I’d been around her maybe three times in total.She taught senior classes, and I’d never seen this side of her.
“So what?I still have a life.I’m not a prude.”
I wasn’t, either, but that didn’t mean I wanted to share spicy details with her.Even so, I had to make sure she knew that Knox was mine.
I swallowed hard.Was he, though?He’d had a fit of jealousy, but that didn’t mean he actually wanted a relationship—or even knew what one meant.He’d been crystal clear about it.He simply didn’t want me sleeping with someone else while I was sleeping with him.
Nevertheless, Vanessa had to know that he wasn’t available.
Oh, I was being such a hypocrite.I gave Knox a hard time for behaving the way he did in front of Gregory, and look at me now.
As we finally approached the camp, Knox exclaimed, “Right, looks like we’re here.”
The kids cheered.I swear, he could command the group for the whole trip.I was going to bring this up to Ms.Adams.The teenagers needed to see more adults on a regular basis who weren’t teachers.I strongly felt that this would help them be connected to the outside world and inspire them too.
“That’s our spot,” the driver said as he pulled the bus into a small parking lot next to a forest.
We came here last year, too, and it was a truly lovely place.Just a bit isolated.
As we all got off the bus, Knox came up to me and said, “Had your fill, huh?”
“What do you mean?”I asked under my breath as the two of us walked side by side toward the cabins.
“I saw you watching me.”
“You did?”
“Amy, you weren’t being very subtle.”
I giggled.“Well, I thought I was.I’ll do my best to be on very good behavior from now on, then.”I turned to the group.“All right, everyone.You already know who you’re bunking with.Go in and drop your luggage, rest a bit if you want.We’ll regroup at the firepit in about twenty minutes.”
“All right, cabin colleague,” Vanessa said, winking at me.“I’m going to take a shower.”
I nodded at her.“I’ll come in later.”
