Page 2 of Pretty Relentless

“I’ll set it under the floor mat, so Marcus has it,” he tells me, reaching for the small, black device. My fingertips brush his palm as he gently takes the fob from my hand. “Be right back,” he adds, shutting the door and blanketing me in the warmth of the truck interior.

He goes to my Kia and places the key fob under the mat. He takes a look around, probably making sure I have everything I need, and shuts the door.

I pull out my cell phone once more and fire off another text to Marcus.

Me:Key fob is under the mat. Someone is giving me a ride home.

He replies back a few seconds later.

Marcus:Sounds good. I’ll tow it back to the shop and take a look at it first thing in the morn.

Me:Thank you, Marcus, and again, I’m sorry to pull you away from the reception.

Marcus:All good, Ava.

The driver’s door opens, and Gavin slips inside. I look through the windshield just in time to see snow flurries start to fall, making me even more grateful I’m not sitting in my broken-down vehicle right now.

“Thank you, again,” I say as soon as the door is closed.

“It’s no problem, Miss Rutledge,” he replies with a warm, friendly smile.

I catch a whiff of his clean scent, whether it’s soap or cologne, it tickles my nose and makes me want to inhale deeply. I don’t, of course, because that would be weird, and while I’ve always been considered an odd duck, leaning in to smell someone would definitely elevate my weirdness level.

“Ava,” I blurt out, my brain kinda spinning.

“What?”

“My name. You keep calling me Miss Rutledge. You can call me Ava,” I tell him, feeling a blush creep up my neck that has nothing to do with the heat inside the car.

He flashes me another smile, one that makes my nipples tingle and my thighs clench. “Ava,” he repeats, as if trying out the word, and I’ll be gosh darned if it isn’t the sexiest sound I’ve ever heard.

“Annabelle,” I practically holler, wishing I could crawl into a hole. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to yell that. What I meant to ask is how she’s enjoying her Christmas break. I know it’s only been a day, but I’m sure she’s enjoying the time away.”

He throws his truck into drive and slowly pulls away from the side of the road, leaving my disabled car behind. “She has no complaints yet, but I’m sure once Christmas is over in two days, she’ll be itching to return to school and her favorite teacher,” he tells me, sending a wink my way.

“She’s such a great student. One of the hardest working kids I’ve ever had in fifth grade,” I tell him as we continue to drive along the dark roadway. I’ve been teaching for fourteen years already, so that’s saying something.

“I have no idea where she gets it from. I wasn’t that smart when I was in school,” he replies with a chuckle. “You’re up here in Strawberry Hill, right?” he asks, quickly switching conversation directions.

“Oh, yes. Second road, blue house on the right.”

He taps his thumb on the steering wheel while he drives. “Annabelle loves being in your class. You’re all she talks about,” he informs me.

Thankfully, he’s unable to see the blush on my cheeks as he keeps his eyes on the road. “I appreciate you saying that. She really is a wonderful student. She’s on track to be our top reader, as well as top speller this year.”

He laughs. “Doesn’t surprise me. Do you know she asked for books for Christmas this year?”

Hearing that makes my heart sing. I was one of those students. You know, the nerdy ones who got all excited to go to the book fair and actually buy books? I was a regular at the library and always competed in summer reading challenges. I won four years in a row, competing as a child in the adult category.

“A girl after my own heart,” I reply with a smile, placing my hand against my chest.

Gavin chuckles as he starts to slow as we approach the subdivision. He turns onto the second road, which winds around to the back of the small grouping of houses. We slowly make our way to the row of houses, mine being the second one on the right. He pulls into my driveway and stops in front of my attached garage.

Reaching to release my seat belt, I say, “Thank you so much for the ride.”

“You’re welcome.”

The click of his seat belt lets me know he’s unfastening his too and causes me to look his way. “What are you doing?”

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