Page 39 of The Headmaster’s Rule

“It’s fine,” I squeak, but he shakes his head.

“It’s dark…”

“Thanks, Headmaster—” I grimace, not meeting his gaze. “Theo. I’ll be fine.”

Before I can humiliate myself further, I flee from the room, taking the marble steps two at a time, heart slamming against my ribs.

What was I thinking, touching him? This is my chance to make my mark on this school, to prove I can do more than show up with big ideas, that I can build something, and instead I almost blow it by eye-fucking my boss.

That’s not how you get taken seriously. That’s how you get written off.

But that look in his eyes when I said his name. The roughness in his voice as he brought me Tylenol. The way his pulse jumped under my hand…

Fuck.

What I wouldn’t give to not care, for just one night. To stop worrying about respect and consequences, to let him take me however he wants.

Serious or not.

I blow out a frustrated breath as I exit the building, heading toward the back parking lot. The cool evening air is a welcome relief on my hot cheeks, and I slow my steps, trying to steady my racing heart. A single lamp casts an orange puddle of light, illuminating my lone car, and the inky blackness surrounding me tells me it’s later than I realized.

I’m almost at my beaten-up Mini Cooper when a voice comes out of the shadows.

“Hey there, are you a teacher?”

I spin on my heel, blinking into the night. An icy chill runs down my spine. Beyond the pool of light, everything is black. I’m pretty sure the voice was male, but as a woman alone in a dark parking lot, I know better than to stick around and find out. I turn for my car, hurrying my steps.

“Don’t walk away. I asked you something.”

Panic zips through me. I fumble for the keys in my bag. I should have let Theo walk me to my car, embarrassment be damned. That’s a small price to pay for not being murdered in the dark.

“Hey!” the voice says again, closer. A figure steps into the light, approaching, and adrenaline floods me.

“Is there a problem here?” Another voice cuts through the dark, firm, commanding, and deadly serious.

A voice I’m all too grateful to hear.

The figure looks over his shoulder, hesitating. My heart leaps into my throat, hands shaking so much I can barely grasp my keys.

Then suddenly, Theo is at my side. I don’t know where he came from, but the minute I see him, I know I’m safe. He steps between me and the guy, a solid wall of protection.

“Step away from her. Now.” I barely recognize his voice, it’s so deep. Tension radiates off him, hands on his hips, shoulders wide and intimidating. I’ve never seen him so protective, so fierce, and I suck in a shuddering breath of relief.

The guy mutters something under his breath, hastily retreating. Theo stands there for another beat to be sure, then spins around.

“Eleanor?” he asks, stepping closer. The dim lighting casts his face in shadow, and it’s hard to make out his expression.

I unlock my car with the fob, the sharp edges of the keys digging into my palm as I try to steady my galloping heart, not wanting him to see how shaken I am.

“I’m fine,” I say, but the tremor in my voice betrays me.

He leans closer, and I can make out the worry in his eyes. His hand comes to my shoulder, the lightest touch, but it burns through my cardigan.

“You’re not.” His voice is low, edged with concern.

“I…” My mind scrambles. It’s hard to think with his hand on me, my pulse still thrumming. “I will be.”

He stares at me for a long moment, then reaches past me to open my car door. My shoulder feels instantly cold at the loss of his touch, and despite myself, I wish I could find a way to make him touch me again.