Page 69 of The Jack*ss in Class

“A party? For a donkey?”

“Welcome to the Navarro family. We celebrate everything. When my sister Rosalind got her braces off, Abuela hired a mariachi band.” I shrugged at Flynn’s incredulous look. “She’s... theatrical.”

He leaned against the fence post. “So am I invited to this donkey party?”

The question caught me off guard. “You want to come?”

“Well, yeah.” He looked almost shy. And I definitely did not find that the cutest thing I’d ever seen in my life. “I’ve gotten invested in this little guy’s welfare. Plus, it seems only fair that I meet your family since you’ve met mine.”

“My family is a lot,” I warned. “Four sisters, my grandmother who acts like she’s eternally on a telenovela, and probably a dozen other aunts, uncles, and cousins who’ll show up. It’ll be chaos.”

“I have seven siblings,” he reminded me with a grin. “Chaos is my comfort zone.”

I pictured Flynn at Abuela’s welcome home party, surrounded by my family, subjected to a literal Spanish Inquisition from my sisters, Abuela, and a smattering of tios and tias. At least Mamá wouldn’t be there to judge him.

Judge Judy had nothing on Dr. Luz Navarro.

“Fine,” I conceded. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“I’ll consider myself warned.” His smile widened. “So, since we’ve finished donkey duties in record time, want to grab lunch? There’s a great sandwich place down the street.”

My heart did that stupid fluttery thing again. “Is this that date date thing?”

“Depends.” His eyes held mine, suddenly intense. “Is this you saying yes?”

I opened my mouth to respond, but my words caught in my throat as he took a step closer, deliberately closing the space between us.

“Tempest,” he said softly, my name almost a question on his lips.

Time slowed, just like in the movies, and he reached up, gently tucking a curl behind my ear, his fingers lingering against my cheek. His touch sent electricity racing from my face, down to my heart, and then straight between my legs. Ridiculously, I found myself leaning into his palm, wanting this connection, wanting it to be real.

“I’ve been wanting to do this since you calmed a rogue donkey without even looking up from your book,” he murmured, his eyes dropping to my lips. “Will you let me?”

He was going to kiss me. Flynn Kingman was going to kiss me, and despite all my walls and rules and reasons to keep him at a distance, I wanted him to. In less than a whisper, I forced out a yes.

His head dipped lower, and I could feel his breathwarm against my lips, the faintest tickle of his beard so close to my face, my eyes fluttering closed...

A sudden, sharp tug yanked me backward, nearly sending me stumbling. The donkey had grabbed the hem of my sweater between his teeth and was pulling with surprising strength, braying indignantly.

“Hey,” Flynn steadied me with his hands on my waist. “Let go, you little terror.”

The donkey refused, tugging harder until I was forced to take a step away to avoid being dragged across the yard.

“I think someone’s jealous,” Flynn laughed, though there was frustration beneath his amusement.

Donkey gave a little kick and a hee-haw directed at Flynn, then trotted away triumphantly, looking entirely too pleased with himself.

“He’s never done that before,” I said, breathless from more than just the surprise. “I think he might actually be jealous.”

Flynn’s hands went back to my waist, his thumbs tracing small circles that made it hard to think. “Can’t say I blame him. I don’t want to share you with anyone else either.”

The intensity in his gaze made my knees weak. The moment stretched between us, charged with possibility.

“Flynn—” I started, not even sure what I was going to say.

A series of loud, demanding brays broke the moment for a second time. We both turned to see him pawing at the ground, clearly distressed about something.

I walked over to see if there was something actuallywrong with him. Donkey positioned himself between me and Flynn, glaring at him with what could only be described as donkey disapproval.

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