Page 22 of Steele

“Um…I…ah…about last night. It was nice, but…uh…I have to be at the school early. And you probably have things to do today.”

I rested on my elbow and cocked an eyebrow. I got that she didn’t have a lot of experience, rather no experience with morning after a hookup. Neither did I. But there wasn’t any reason to be self-conscious.

“I’m not in a hurry.”

She sank her teeth into her lower lip.

Aroused morphed into awkward. I wasn’t expecting her to go cold after last night. Clover wasn’t shy. But she never had regrets after spending a night in my bed.

I was beginning to think Jaymi might. “I should take off,” I said sitting up. I didn’t want her to make up an excuse for me to leave. “I do need to be at work early.” I glanced around but then remembered my clothes were in the dryer. “Do you want to grab my clothes?” Because she had the blanket and only a small section of the corner covered my deflated dick.

Rejection hit like a kick to the balls.

“Yeah, I can.” Her voice was barely a whisper, and she’d yet to look me directly in the eyes. “Maybe you could stay for a cup of coffee.” She didn’t sound convincing as she tucked the blanket tighter to her torso and stood.

I should get dressed and go, but I didn’t want to leave like this. Not when it didn’t have to be weird.

“Coffee sounds good, but then I do need to bounce.” I grabbed the sweats and stepped into them. “I’m going to use the bathroom.”

She nodded, still clutching the blanket.

Once in the restroom, I took a leak and splashed my face with cold water. I couldn’t blame Jaymi for running scared. In a fucked-up way, that worked for me. I had enough shit going on in my own life, and she carried more baggage than a 747-cargo plane.

I still hated the thought of her being alone. Neither of us were looking for more last night, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t be here for her—as a friend. Because she was my kid’s teacher, I was going to see her again. I expelled a heavy exhale. It wasn’t as if I’d ever be able to forget seeing her naked.

A soft knock sounded on the door. “Brett?”

I opened the door. “Yeah?”

“Your clothes are still wet. I started the dryer. It should only take a few minutes. And I started a fresh pot of coffee. Just help yourself. I’m going to grab a shower and get ready for work.”

Before I could respond, she’d bolted up the stairs. I grabbed my phone and made my way to the kitchen. While the coffee brewed, I sat at the island and stared out the window. Branches from the wind littered the backyard. Debris floated in the murky waters of the kidney-shaped pool. A couple of her patio chairs had tipped over. I could get it cleaned up in a couple hours. I was sure Vega and Kodiak would help out. We could grab the hearse and get the branches out of the yard.

I glanced toward the ceiling. That was if I could get her to accept the help.

Once the coffee finished brewing, I found a mug in the cupboard and poured a cup. Waiting alone in her kitchen was awkward as fuck. My clothes had to be dry enough. I wandered around her house, listening for the sound of the dryer.

Around the corner from the mudroom, I found the small laundry. I stripped out of the sweats and tugged on my slightly damp clothes. It would be a cold ride to the MC. Colder because, last night, she’d been fire in my arms.

I left the sweats in the basket next to the washer and headed back to the kitchen. I’d only been gone a minute, but now, Jaymi stood at the sink, sipped a cup of coffee, and stared out the window at the yard. Her hair fell in soft waves and draped down her back.

She pivoted toward me when she heard me enter the room. Tension stiffened her shoulders and straightened her spine, like she was ready for a fight, but she wasn’t going to get one from me. I respected her boundaries.

“I don’t want to keep you from getting to work.” I slid onto the stool at the island again.

“I have a few minutes.” She tucked her hair behind her ear.

A pair of flared-leg pants rode low on her hips, and a cream-colored sleeveless turtleneck hugged her small frame and accentuated her amazing tits. She fidgeted with the neckline, tugging it higher.

Had I given her marks last night? I know I hadn’t given her any hickeys. I wasn’t a dick. But my whiskers could’ve left a road map of abrasions across her body. I shouldn’t feel this tingle at the base of my spine and the rush of heat to my groin. But I wanted her to have reminders of our night. Fuck, I was crushing on her hard.

But I still wanted to meet her where she was comfortable and if that meant last night was nothing more than a lapse in judgment on her part, I was cool. That didn’t mean I didn’t want to help where I could. That wasn’t going to happen with her being closed off.

“You’re going to need someone to haul away those branches.” I took a sip of coffee. “I’ve got a couple of friends. We could come over this afternoon.”

A smile tilted her lips then quickly fell away. “Thank you, but a yard care company takes care of the property and the pool.”

I nodded and wrapped my hand around my mug. “Any word on your car?”