No creep vibe, though. Connor was picking up that she thought he was hot, but a lot of women did, and he didn’t hold it against them.
“Could I have a moment?” Mrs. Tellier asked.
“We’re running late,” Angelina said in a rush.
“This will only take a second,” Mrs. Tellier said as she grabbed Connor by the arm and dragged him several feet away. In a low voice, she said, “Pretend I’m gushing about how much I like you.”
Was there something in the water at Reemsly? In a loud voice, Connor said, “How nice of you to say so.”
“Did you agree to speak to the soccer team?” she asked.
“Flattering, but I must decline,” he answered, impressed that his response was both true and fit their improv session.
Mrs. Tellier laughed like they were flirting and yanked on his arm so he lowered his head. “Angelina’s a single mom. Her son is being bullied by a boy on the soccer team. If you are half the man you were in Danger Doubled you’ll help stop it.”
Angelina has a son?
God, I hate bullies.
He didn’t need to ask why it couldn’t be handled by the administration. He’d met their excuse for one. He straightened. “Okay, I’ll do it.”
Angelina was at his side in a flash. “Wow, look at the time. We really have to go.”
Mrs. Tellier fanned her face. “I hope to see you again, Connor.”
He looked from her to Angelina and back. “Never know what the future holds.”
“Mr. Sutton. Please. They’re waiting for us,” Angelina said.
“Coming.” He winked at Mrs. Tellier.
She winked back.
Angelina held the door open. As Connor walked through it, she said, “Whatever she asked you, know that she was just joking. The older she gets the more questionable her sense of humor becomes.”
He stopped, leaned down until his face was just above hers and lied. “She said you’re single. Are you?”
Angelina blushed, her eyes dilated and her breathing changed. Bingo, she wants me. “My personal life is none of your business, Mr. Sutton.”
“Yet,” he said and almost whooped in victory when she swayed on her feet. “I changed my mind about speaking to the soccer team.”
She swallowed visibly. “Thank you. I think it’ll be beneficial for them.”
“I’ll make sure it is.”
They stood there for a long moment, simply looking into each other’s eyes. The attraction he’d felt for her earlier was back—full force. Part of him wanted to crack a smile, confess that her entire impression of him was wrong and suggest they start over. Another part of him, the same appendage that had been sure Mary Ellen’s father wouldn’t actually shoot him . . . was certain he should wait until she knew him better before she . . . well, knew him better.
“Okay, so let’s do this.” Her voice was deliciously breathless.
“Yes, let’s,” he echoed in a low growl women had told him melted their defenses.
She gave him another long look, then turned to lead the way through the building.
As they walked, Bradford said, “I believe I have underestimated you, Connor.”
“I’m used to it,” Connor said with a smile that he wiped from his face when Angelina opened a door that led to a stage.
“You got this?” Bradford asked.
“This one yes,” Connor said. “I may need a little help with the soccer team.”
He walked past Angelina and fell into the role he’d played over the last year. Claire would have been impressed with his pacing, the naturalness of his movements, the way he used the stage but also connected with the audience.
He spoke about the importance of learning the craft, the dedication required as far as memorizing scripts, and the long hours during production. He delivered every appropriate joke effortlessly. He paused after each motivational comment to ensure it was delivered with impact. When he wrapped up the talk, the students were applauding enthusiastically.
The drama teacher came over and gave him a grateful hug that became awkwardly difficult to extricate himself from, but Angelina had thankfully intervened. Always a gentleman, he complimented the teacher on her class and left her smiling and gushing about how much pleasure he’d brought the drama department.
Angelina was still speaking to that teacher when Bradford said, “A seventh sense isn’t required to see that women get stupid around you.”
Connor’s gaze went to Angelina, and he sighed. “They don’t stay, though. It never really bothered me before. I can make her want me, but you’re right, she’s out of my league. She has a son too. That’s a big responsibility. And some asshole on the soccer team is messing with him. That’s why she wants me to speak to them. Don’t let me screw that up. We don’t leave until we know her kid is safe. That’s the stuff that matters.”
“You mean that.”
“Of course I do.”
“This isn’t all about fucking her?”
“Dude, how hard do you have to try to get someone to have sex with you? I just have to stop saying no.”
Angelina hadn’t expected to be impressed, but Connor Sutton had a stage presence that was undeniable. He might only have one movie under his belt, but she could see a long career for him. Reemsly students were notoriously difficult to impress, yet all those who’d packed into the theater to listen to him seemed to fall under his spell.
After peeling Miss Kleplin off Connor, it was no easy feat to convince the single teacher that her place was with her students rather than in his arms. Not that Angelina could blame her. All he’d done was flirt a little and Angelina was finding it difficult to breathe normally around him.
He was deep in conversation with his bodyguard as she approached. She took advantage of the opportunity to soak in the perfection of him in his suit while remembering what he looked like beneath it. Along with almost every other woman with a functioning set of eyes, she’d watched Danger Doubled more than once simply to see him answer the door in just a towel. The heroine had made a huge production about having him put on clothing, but every single one of Angelina’s friends thought she was crazy. And when he dropped the towel and walked away bare-assed? Who hadn’t watched that scene a thousand times?
That woman was a fool.
I guess it would have been a short movie if he’d opened the door and she’d said, “Yep, let’s do this.”
Angelina blushed as she’d remembered saying those very words to Connor. Not in that context. Definitely not with that intention, but she had to admit when he’d looked deeply into her eyes “Yes” was a word that would have come easily to her.
Sex. No wonder commercials used it to sell everything.
Angelina wasn’t a prude, but her early pregnancy had made her cautious when it came to men. She’d dated since having Whitney—even had sex a few times. The men she’d been with were very nice and had understood that her priority was her son. None had been in her life long enough to meet him.
Nor had they made her feel all wound up the way Connor did. He was exciting, irritating, arrogant, sexy on a fantasy level. She told herself he was the opposite of her type, but there was no denying that her body had a very different opinion.