With Paige I’m using every ounce of self-control I have. I know we need to take it slow. I know she needs time. I needed time too. But when she says stuff like she just did, it drives me fucking crazy.
We’ve kissed. A lot. Light touching. Nothing under the clothes. And I’m OK with that. She’s comfortable and that’s what’s most important.
And when she’s in stern teacher mode like she was before she left? Forget about it. I’m hard as fucking stone. I want to bend her over that desk and fuck her until she can’t walk the next day.
“And there’s my desk!”
My head snaps to the door, only to find Cullen racing in, Mark not too far behind. Nothing like the sound of your nephew’s voice to instantly get rid of your hard-on.
“I know, buddy. You’ve shown me. Every time I come to the school.”
Cullen stops when he realizes I’m there. “Uncle Garrett? What are you doing here? Did you come to see my desk? Or the new picture I drew? Miss Blackstone hung it right by her desk so she could look at it all the time.”
I look up at Mark who just shrugs as I bend down to talk to Cullen. Paige and I haven’t told him that we are dating yet. Not that we are hiding it. When I told Mark and Charlie, I thought they were going to cry they were so happy. Apparently the dire warnings Charlie gave me about staying away from Paige at the beginning of the year are far from her memory. And I’m not about to remind her of them.
When it came to Cullen, we didn’t know how he would take it. He loves Paige. He’s refusing to acknowledge that in a few months she won’t be his teacher anymore. So, on that hand, we think he’d be all for it. On the other, I don’t want him thinking I’m moving in on his teacher.
Us Dixon men can be pretty territorial like that.
“I was just getting something for Miss Blackstone. I have it now. Let’s go down to the gym!” I say, rounding them up and heading out of her room.
“But you don’t have anything. What did she forget?”
“Yeah, Garrett. What did Miss Blackstone forget?”
I shoot my brother a glare. “I couldn’t find it.”
“That’s what she said.”
I slap Mark upside the head as we make our way down to the gymnasium where all the games and activities are set up for the kids. I am amazed at what I see when we walk in.
There is a never-ending amount of games. There is a popcorn stand and an ice cream bar. There are superheroes and princesses walking around in costume. And since the day was good weather, there is a bounce house and a dunking booth outside the gymnasium doors.
“Holy shit, this rocks!” Cullen yells before he sprints off to get into whatever trouble he can. He isn’t wrong, though, this shit does rock.
“How did you get stuck with him tonight?” I ask.
“I volunteered. Plus, I knew your whipped ass would be here. I figured we could have some brother bonding time.”
“You know we live together. Do we need to bond more?”
“I just want to make sure you’re OK. You’ve been through a lot with your health scare… and Annika and Trevor. I know Paige is nothing like your gems of ex-wives, but you aren’t even officially divorced yet. I just want to make sure that you’re OK. That you aren’t rushing into anything.”
We take a walk through the games, making sure to keep an eye out on Cullen. God knows what he will get into if he’s left unsupervised.
“I appreciate your concern, and I know it’s coming from a good place. This is different. This is nothing like before.”
“Good. I’m just glad you’re seeing someone with real boobs for a change. How much is it different? Does she—”
I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket, which gives me the perfect reason to cut Mark off and this line of questioning. I’m not talking about my exes, or Paige’s boobs with my brother.
As I look at my phone, I’m taken aback to see that it’s Trevor.
Yes, I kept my word that nothing would happen to the practice during the divorce. So far it’s been OK. He’s kept his distance and I’ve kept mine. So the fact that he’s calling me now means something is up.
“Hello?”
“Hey, where are you?”
I take a step outside the gymnasium into an empty hallway. “Cullen’s school. What’s up?”
“Someone tried to break into the clinic.”
“What? How?”
“I don’t know. By the time I made it over to the clinic from my office, they must have gotten scared and took off. The cops were already on their way because of the automatic call when the alarm was triggered. I just thought you would want to know.”
Holy shit. Who would try and break into the clinic?
“Did the cameras pick up anyone walking in? And wait. It’s Saturday. What are you doing in the office on a Saturday?”
“No, they were wearing hoods so we couldn’t see anything. And… I was here. That’s it. No big deal. I just wanted to let you know because I’m sure the police will contact you.”
“Do I need to come over?”
“No. They didn’t get in, so nothing’s gone. The police are about wrapped up now.”
I let out a relieved breath. “OK. Call me if you need anything.”
We hang up and I walk back inside. We’ve never had anything happen like this before. We are in a safe neighborhood. Hell, I think this is the first time the security system has even been set off. Yes, we treat families that are on hard times, but none of our patients strike me as pill poppers looking to get their next fix. Which is the only reason I can think of for breaking into a medical clinic.
“Everything OK?” Mark asks as I walk back into the gym.
“Someone tried to break into Innovative.”
“What? Who? Do they know who?”
I shake my head. “No. Cameras didn’t get a look at their faces and the alarm scared them away.”
“Do you need me to do anything?”
“No, man. At least not yet. Thanks. I’ll keep you in the loop.”
“Oh my gosh, there you are!” Paige says, pushing her way through a row of kids lined up to try to dunk the principal. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you!”
I take her hand and give it a squeeze, only because I don’t want to get her in trouble for PDA at a school event. “Sorry, Angel. Ready for the announcement?”
She puts the envelope in my hand. “The stage is yours. Go make your nephew and his class the happiest kids here.”
Her smile is so big that I’m not about to ruin her day with news of a failed break-in at my practice. I can tell her later.
Now, it’s time to tell them which class won a trip to a baseball game.
Chapter Thirty
Paige
“Hold still while I zip this up.”
I let out a groan as Kelly tries for I’m pretty sure the tenth time to get this dress on me. “Quit trying. It’s not going to fit. Don’t you have something a little less… I don’t know… tight?”
“You are not going to your first Virginia society function in a loose dress. The vultures will eat you alive. You will wear a dress that shows off your amazing body that you didn’t have to pay a cent to have altered, which will drive those bitches crazy. And it will zip. I just need… a little… more… there! Got it!”