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“No,” she finally answered, leaving me frustrated as to whatever thoughts had churned behind her eyes in the long moment. The second bell rang, and students filled the hall. “I need to go to class,” she reminded me, and I released my hold on her. A little too quickly I realized when she stumbled and I had to steady her.
“You sure you’re alright?” My lips curled up at her clumsiness, and an arrested expression came over her face. Before I could ask, a shout interrupted us.
“Coach Dom!”
I stepped back as one of my football players came to a halt in front of us.
“Miller, to what do I owe the pleasure of you shouting my name in the halls?” I questioned smoothly, my expression making him rock backwards on his heels.
“Ahh, yeah,” he muttered, tugging on his backpack. “Caleb was looking for you.”
Since Caleb had no need to send someone to find me, I knew he’d set poor Miller up, probably so he’d do exactly what he had done – interrupt my time with Jess. “In that case, I’ll overlook your rule breaking. Now, get to class,” I commanded, and Miller quickly made his escape as Jess watched curiously.
I tilted my head toward her, striving for neutrality, as she edged away from me. She didn’t turn her back to me, instead choosing to walk backwards and I fought the urge to apologize for Friday, knowing there was no explanation I could give her that would make sense until she accepted what we were.
Temptation surged through me, the thought of telling her almost irresistible as she hesitated by the door of her class. My lips parted and her heart reacted, thumping twice as hard, and I wiped my face of all emotion, turning sharply to go down the hall before I gave in to temptation.
***
“Dom,” Anna’s voice whispered lightly over our shared link and I tuned in to her as she stopped at Jess’s locker.
“Need a ride?” She asked lightly and Jess shook her head, not surprised by Anna’s arrival. Stares followed them and I barked a command over the Pack link for them to quit staring.
“They do realize staring is rude?” Jess asked, ducking her head.
“Yes, but you’re special,” Anna replied thoughtfully and Jess nodded liked she’d expected her to say that. “You can really blame Caleb for that. He was pretty excited when he ran into the village.”
Jess glanced at her from the corner of her eye, curiosity lighting her face.
“It’s not often the Hanley’s come into our territory and the fact that they were chasing you….”
“Enough,” I stopped Anna and her words trailed off.
“You know you don’t make a lot of sense,” Jess responded and Anna grinned.
“To you,” she replied lightly. “So do you need a ride?”
Jess seemed to consider it for a second but shook her head. “I have the car today,” she replied, adjusting her backpack as she tugged her hair from under one of the straps.
“Are you going straight home?” Anna asked pointedly and Jess paused.
“Those guys – Hanley’s or whatever you called them – are they a threat to me?” Jess asked directly and Anna froze, her thoughts beating at me frantically as she debated what she was allowed to tell her. “Anna, are they going to come after me?”
“Probably not,” she whispered, her eyes downcast. We’d made it clear to the Hanleys that Jess was under our protection. Any attempt to come after her would be a deliberate attempt to provoke us.
“Probably or not? You can’t have both,” Jess snapped, her gaze boring into Anna.
“I don’t know,” she cried, worry cascading through her. “We’ve never had this happen.”
“What happen? Random guys chasing a girl through the woods?” Frustration radiated from Jess as Anna remained silent. “Look, I don’t know what’s going on and if you can’t tell me, then we’re done. I’m going home.” Anna sent her a questioning glance, and Jess bit out, “Straight home. But if you know something that puts my life at risk and aren’t telling me…..”
“They’ll protect you,” Anna promised, her voice more high pitched than normal and Jess shook her head, glancing away.
“Who?” She questioned. “Who will protect me?” She demanded to know but Anna didn’t answer and Jess stomped off in irritation. We watched as Jess reached the expensive SUV, her body poised to keep going before she yanked the door open, tossing her backpack inside and Anna slumped in relief.
“She deserves to know,” she chided me and I didn’t answer, unable to disagree. I broke our connection as she headed for the Jeep to wait for me and Caleb. We had practice this afternoon and I was under strict orders not to miss another day of work.
Dad was at the motel to meet her father and determine if he knew what Jess was so I wasn’t concerned about Jess’s safety. The Hanleys feared my father and with good reason. He could tear any one of them apart easily and had made examples of any who had trespassed on our lands.
