Too bad she was so pissed off.
Arilyn kept her distance and concentrated on helping Luther and Eli, making sure there was plenty of space between them at the table. The three hours whizzed by, and she made sure to stay busy as she wrapped up the session, thanked the director of the kitchen, and transitioned out.
“Do I smell?”
Arilyn jerked around at the deep growl of voice from behind. His brows snapped in a ferocious frown. Arms crossed, hip cocked, he studied her with a mocking judgment that made her temper soar in familiar tempo. “Excuse me?”
He didn’t seem to care that they were on a public street. Pedestrians hurried back and forth, heads ducked from the late fall wind. Cars rushed by, and low chattering filled the air with the steady stream of customers entering the soup kitchen. She took a few steps toward the edge of the building for breathing room. He ignored her request, stepping forward and blocking both the wind and her view with his big body. She shivered under his drilling gaze. “I asked if I smell bad. Because you’ve been avoiding me like the plague since Tuesday, and it’s starting to piss me off.”
She pressed her lips tightly together. “Maybe you’re being paranoid. You’re not my only client, Officer. I can’t dedicate all my time to you. I’m sorry if you thought differently.”
Arilyn tried to push past, but he refused to budge. “I’m not your damn client. And every time you use that snotty tone of voice to call me ‘Officer,’ I want to kiss you again until you shut up and apologize.”
He was crude, and rude, and impossible. Why had she ever thought for a moment something could work with them? Or had she? Maybe her body had just responded and her brain had melted like a Popsicle. So embarrassing.
She clenched her fists and shimmered with outrage. “Don’t talk to me like that,” she snapped. “I will not have you bullying me on the street. We’ll talk in class or not at all, and you’ll just have to respect that. Now move.”
She didn’t wait for his answer. This time she ducked and fled down the street, hurrying into her car. There. Take that. This was better, anyway. They’d be a disaster, and maybe his holding back was a sign for her to stop the crazy train ride before it was too late.
A few blocks in, she noticed the big muscle car bullying her on the road, keeping tight to her bumper. She seethed, maneuvering through the town until she got to her bungalow. Parking quickly, she climbed out and stomped over. He did the same, slamming the door and facing her down.
“How dare you follow me! I should’ve stopped short and forced you to rear-end me. Don’t cops know how to drive, or are you too big and bad to follow your own rules?”
He made a noise deep in his throat and sneered, “If I had followed my rules, I would’ve had your pretty ass locked up last week in my jail. To say I’m regretting it is the fucking understatement of the year.”
“Watch your language,” she hissed. “My neighbor likes to spy. I suggest you take your car and your attitude and leave.” Turning her back, she marched up the stairs, unlocked the door, and stepped inside.
He was right behind her.
“Hey! I didn’t invite you in!”
“Too bad,” he said. He shut the door behind him. “I don’t feel like yelling at you in the damn street.”
“What’s your problem? Are you frustrated because I didn’t fall all over myself trying to catch you over one lousy kiss? Get over it. I’m your teacher, and that’s all I’m ever going to be.”
He gritted his teeth and hissed, “I’m telling myself to breathe right now, woman. If I don’t, I’m gonna lose my shit. And guess what? It’s not working, just like I tried to tell you.”
“Stop cursing!”
“Stop being a damn hypocrite!”
Arilyn panted for breath and tried to scramble for calm. Dear God, she was supposed to set a good example, but this man drove her to the insane asylum within minutes. “A hypocrite? Oh, this will be interesting. How do you possibly imagine I’m a hypocrite?”
He moved closer. The air between them sizzled and crackled. Her breasts lifted as she tried to draw in air, and his gaze roved over her body, trying to eat her alive. The anger combusted and turned into something dangerous and dark, but Arilyn fought with all her strength not to surrender. His husky growl dragged over her skin like velvet and thorns. “Oh, you are one. Begging us to tell you our secrets, and the moment we do, you judge. You disappoint me.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The divorce,” he ground out. “You heard I was divorced and judged me. Hell, I didn’t even get a trial, just a conviction.” He leaned in, his minty breath striking her mouth. “Sorry I don’t have a clean, pure past like you do. I made a crapload of mistakes, rolled around in the muck, and moved on. Sorry if I’m not good enough, but you don’t have to ignore me and treat me like I’m the Elephant Man. I get it. I won’t bother you again.”
Each word struck a deliberate blow. Her lungs collapsed, and before he turned, she reached out and grabbed his arm. “It wasn’t like that,” she said. “I wasn’t judging you.”
“Yeah. Sure. I saw the look on your face. Must be nice not to have made mistakes.”
Arilyn shook, fighting to understand the strong connection between them. Fighting the whole mess that threatened to overwhelm her. Still, he couldn’t go without knowing the truth. Her fingers tightened around his arm, refusing to let him walk away. Her voice tore out in ragged fragments. “It wasn’t your divorce. I don’t care about that, I never did. It’s—”