Page 29 of Unsupervised

Kelly is leading a little boy who looks about eight out of the back room when I arrive. “Just keep practicing like you have been. You’re doing fantastic,” she tells him, smiling at his mother as she approaches.

The little boy gazes up at her like she invented ice cream, and I can’t help but smile. She has that effect on everyone, it seems. She sure won Grandma over in record time and that woman can be discerning to say the least.

We sit at the piano, and she grins at me. “So, have you managed to memorize Happy Birthday?”

“I think I’ve got it.” I’ve played it so much over the past week I don’t need to look at the notes on the sheet, just on the keys.

“Great, I have a couple of songs for you to choose from after this one. The residents at the retirement home had plenty of requests.” She scoots a little closer. “Okay, sit up straight and show me.”

It’s a little different playing on the piano than on the keyboard but I make it through without missing a note. Before she can say anything, I run through it again and it sounds much smoother and more natural.

When I turn to look at her after to see what she thought, she cries, “You did it!” Her excitement is adorable, and she throws her arms around me in a hug.

“Let’s hope I can do it again at the home.” She feels too good in my arms. Too right. As soon as I pull away a little, she shocks the shit out of me.

Her lips land on mine and any self-control I thought I had dissolves into nothing. I don’t care that she’s younger than me, or that she’s my student. I don’t care about anything but the little moan she lets out when I slide my tongue into her mouth.

She presses her body against mine and my hand slips under her hair, my palm resting on her nape. Her tongue explores, stroking mine, so gentle but not hesitant. Had I thought of her as innocent and shy? Because there’s nothing about the way she’s kissing that reflects that.

“Kelly! Did we get the shipment of reeds today?” Mr. Cooper’s shout is like a pitcher of cold water dousing us.

Jerking back, both of our heads turn toward the open door, and I’m not the only one relieved to find no one there. He’s just called out from the front of the store. What the hell am I doing? One little hug and I’m mauling her in the back of the store.

“They’re supposed to be delivered tomorrow!” she calls back.

The relieved smile on her face fades to a cautious look when I stand up. “I’m sorry.”

“Why? I kissed you.” She blinks, her gaze locked on mine.

My mind races for the right words. The last thing I want to do is hurt her feelings. “Kelly…you’re my student. I can’t.”

Her smile is forced and her cheeks flush as she tries to hide her embarrassment and disappointment. “Technically, you’re my student too. They should cancel each other out.”

When I start to speak again, she beats me to it. “It’s alright, I get it. Let’s just pretend I didn’t do that, okay?”

There’s no way I can sit down beside her and not continue where we left off. I’m at the end of my self-control. “Okay. I need to go. I have to get home early tonight.”

I’m not fooling her, but she isn’t going to argue.

“Yeah, sure.”

Less than ten minutes after I arrived, I rush back out as if I’m being pursued by flames. Fitting, since she’s like a flame drawing me in, so gorgeous to look at, but she’ll burn my life to the ground if I touch her.

Chapter Eight

Kelly

What the hell was I thinking? In what universe did I believe it was a good idea to kiss my teacher? Not just my teacher. A man I will now still have to see at school, Adulting Club, and for piano lessons—if he comes back. I won’t be surprised if he doesn’t.

I’m not sure what came over me. His arms felt so good around me and his lips were right there and I just…went for it. And made a complete fool out of myself.

All I want is to get home to bed, pull the covers over my head and never come out. A silent curse rings in my head when Mr. Cooper calls my name just as I’m clocking out.

“Kelly, can I have a word before you go?”

Nerves instantly set in. Surely, Mr. Aldrich didn’t tell him I attacked him with my lips. “Um…of course, Mr. Cooper.”

“Jesse,” he reminds me with a friendly smile.