Page 115 of The Headmaster’s Rule

“You’d best speak to Miss Hart.”

Helen’s eyebrows rise a fraction, and she glances at the growing queue of people waiting to talk to Eleanor. “Looks like I’ll have to speak with her later,” she says with a chuckle, turning back to me. “Congratulations, Theodore. I’m looking forward to seeing the positive changes Safe Harbor brings.”

I smile as she leaves, knowing it’s Eleanor who deserves the congratulations, not me, but she’s swamped with people wanting her time. Pride hums through me as I watch her chat animatedly about Safe Harbor, laughing as she fields questions, walking them through it with confidence.

She’s never looked more beautiful. Her hazel eyes glitter under the fairy lights, hands fluttering as she speaks, and every atom in my body vibrates with love for her.

God, I need to get her alone.

When there’s a lull in the crowd, I reach for her wrist and touch it gently, nodding toward the side exit of the tent. She smiles in understanding, and I slip out into the night, under the cover of shadow. A moment later she appears in the near-darkness, wrapping her arms around herself in the cold.

“They’re so positive about Safe Harbor,” she says, eyes wide as if she can’t quite believe it.

And I can’t wait another second.

I haul her into my arms, crushing my mouth to hers. She responds immediately, softening and melting against me, mouth warm and open in invitation. Her hands go to my face, my beard, fingertips warm as I kiss her with hungry strokes of my tongue.

“I am so fucking proud of you,” I whisper hoarsely, kissing her again, hard. I thread a hand into her hair, not caring if I ruin it, if I ruin her makeup. If I ruin her. I need her to know I’m desperately in love with her, that I’d burn the world down if she asked.

She’s breathless when we finally break apart, clinging to the lapels of my tux. “I love you so much,” she breathes, and I drop my forehead to hers.

“I’m dying for you, sweetheart.” My voice comes out low and ragged. “Watching you in there… I’m counting the minutes until I can have you in my bed.”

“God, Theo—”

A twig breaks behind us. We freeze. With shaking hands, I glance around to find someone standing in the shadows, only a few feet away.

And my heart stops.

CHAPTER 38

Theo

The figure steps closer, and their face comes into view. Jake Ashby. Local boatbuilder. Fundraiser volunteer.

And Wetherly parent.

Shit.

His eyes lock with mine, confirming my worst fear.

He saw everything. He heard it all.

I open my mouth to speak, to say… I don’t know what. Nothing could justify me being out here with Eleanor, kissing her like that, speaking to her like that.

But a futile need to defend us rises inside me anyway.

“Jake…”

He gives me a long look, saying nothing.

My words die on my tongue as he quietly walks away. I draw a shuddering breath of cold night air, trying to calm my whipping pulse.

Jake saw. He saw. And he could go to the board.

Eleanor looks up at me with wide, terrified eyes.

“I’m sorry,” she begins, and I stiffen, taking a step back.