Page 52 of Always Been Yours

I don’t realize that he stopped just a few feet inside until I turn back toward the door. “Is… is everything okay?” I look down at my dress and gently pat my hair. Everything seems like it’s in place, but Grady’s still looking at me.

“Yes, everything is fine.” His voice is gravelly, and he tries to clear it. Twice. “You look beautiful in green. You always have.”

That comment sends a mix of emotions through me. Satisfaction, confusion, lust.

And it’s at that moment that I realize that Grady isn’t looking at me like something’s wrong.

He’s looking at me like I’m the most beautiful woman in his world.

“Thank you, you look very handsome yourself,” I say shyly. He looks more than handsome. He’s striking. In his all-black outfit consisting of a form fitting button up shirt, suit pants, a belt and dress shoes. It’s simple but let me tell you, it’sworking.

“Thanks,” his voice is still incredibly low. “I wasn’t sure what color you were wearing, and I didn’t want to clash.” One side of his lips tip up and his eyes snag on my neckline. The dress is slightly less demure than what I would wear on a school day, but it isn’t immodest by any means either.

Yet somehow, when Grady looks at me with his bedroom eyes, so clearly full of desire, I feel like I might as well be laid out bare for him.

And there is no possible way to deny that this is more than a simple carpool any longer.

I bubbly laugh spills out of me as we walk into the gymnasium. Prom is held at the local theater every year, but homecoming doesn’t have as high of a budget. And only about two weeks to prepare compared to the month allotted for prom.

But this year? The dance committee did amazing.

The theme isEnchanted Forest. There are papier-mâché trees with lights wrapped around them, a full moon backdrop for photos, moss and butterfly jar centerpieces, a flower arch near the entrance and seating areas made out of logs.

“This is incredible,” I breathe.

“It really is. I knew that a lot of the clubs came together for the dance, and some of the businesses even donated decorations and food, but I never would’ve imagined this.”

I’m beaming up at him as we walk further into the dance. “Isn’t this the best school you have ever worked at?”

It’s only the second school I’ve ever worked at but there isn’t a single ounce of me that would consider looking somewhere else.

“Yeah,” he gives me a soft smile in return. “Let’s see where they need us.”

Two hours later, I wish that Grady and I hadn’t asked about our stations. I’m helping the art teacher, Kara Lee, and the other eleventh grade history teacher, Lily Dawson, at the photo station. As distracted as I’ve been, it hasn’t been a bad night. Both of them are the supervisors of their own organizations, art club and book club, respectively. I’ve been so busy recently there hasn’t been much time to talk to any of the teachers about the fair coming up, and the complaints are always so much louder than the praises. So, it’s been encouraging to hear their positive thoughts, and that the students are just as excited to raise money for new computers.

Grady was assigned to the beverage station with Knox. I’ve snuck glances at him throughout the night and every single time, he’s staring back at me. The last time I caught him, I was looking over my shoulder toward him, but his eyes were glued to my ass. It took him a solid five seconds to notice my attention was on him, but for once Grady didn’t blush. He gave me a sultry smirk and a quick wink before responding to whatever Knox was telling him.

I should be ashamed of the wetness between my thighs, evenafter fifteen minutes, just from a look. Granted, a look I almost swear I felt coasting along my curves and wrapping around my neck.

Instead, I promised myself that I wouldnotlook in his direction again and I’d focus on helping the students fix their hair or ties and taking photos. Nothing else.

Until I feel a looming heat crawl up my back and a familiar presence crowd me from behind.

I let out a shuddering breath before Grady even has a chance to speak.

“Will you dance with me?”

I only turn my head toward him, but it’s enough to get a whiff of his musky amber scent that’s so intoxicating I might as well have downed two shots.

“I’m helping with photos,” I say quietly.

From the tightness that creeps into his shoulders and the way his lips thin, I know he wants to argue with me but before he gets the chance, Lily encourages me to go.

“Don’t worry. It’s slowing down enough that Kara and I can handle it until clean-up,” she says with a sly smile.

“Are you sure?” I ask uselessly. Lily’s already pulling the camera from my hands while Kara nods in a dismissive way.

I turn fully and look up at Grady. His eyes are the color of my morning coffee, and his short curls are starting to fall on his forehead.

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