Page 15 of Defending her Heart

I reach for the most loaded chip I can find and crush it into my mouth before responding. It’s ridiculous how upset he was at finding out I’m Paisley’s teacher, and that I watched her for one night. Shouldn’t he be worshiping me with gratitude? Whatever beef he has is on him, not me.

I’m not a weak, insecure female who is going to scurry away with her tail between her legs. My reputation at school is perfect. The kids and parents love me. How I spend my personal time has nothing to do with him or my job unless I allow it to interfere, which it hasn’t.

I’ve never dated a father of one of my students, even though plenty of single—and married—fathers have asked over the years.

“What are you going to do?” Rowan asks as she piles chips onto her paper plate.

“Nothing. Play it by ear. Whatever his problem is, it’s all on him. Hopefully he’ll ask to have Paisley moved to the other kindergarten class. I’ll miss her, but it beats putting up with her asshole father for another seven months.”

Rowan’s phone rings and she takes it, stepping into her room for privacy.

“Walker can be discreet. Are you sure you don’t want me to ask him to put some feelers out? Maybe name drop you here and there to see if Nash cracks?”

“I’m sure. Thank you though.”

“Sorry, girls. I have to go into work. You’re more than welcome to stay if you want.”

“If I stay, I’ll finish the bottle of tequila.” We do our usual group hug. “I love you guys. Thanks for listening to me tonight.”

“You have a beautiful heart and are the sweetest person I know, Kendall. Don’t let Nash’s words make you think otherwise.” Rowan pushes back my hair and kisses my forehead.

“Bullshit. I’m snarky, sarcastic, swear like a sailor, and love to get fucked against a wall. You’re the sweet one, Row. And Riley, you’re the whole fucking perfect package so just shut up and look pretty while I give you one more hug.”

We walk out together and give another round of hugs before going our respective ways. When I get home, I don’t unload on my mother or sister. Instead, I cuddle up with them on the couch and watch the game show channel that they love so much.

No matter how shitty my day is, I’m thankful to have them in my life. Rowan, Riley, and my small-but-perfect family.

Nash Humphries can go to Hell.

CHAPTER SIX

NASH

I’m going to Hell. I’m fucking going to Hell. I’ve done nothing but obsess over my behavior since picking up Paisley. Now that she’s in bed and I’m trying like fuck to unwind, this afternoon’s bombshell and the way I handled it keeps playing over and over in my head.

What the everloving fuck was I thinking talking to Kendall that way? Despite what she thinks, I’m not an asshole. Okay. Fine. Iwasan asshole to her.

I can blame my behavior on my shock of learning she was the infamous Miss Wentworth, whom my daughter and parents have raved about since the start of school. According to them, she’s funny, smart, kind, pretty, and good with kids.

I can agree on one: she’s gorgeous. I’d find her more humorous if I wasn’t always the butt of her jokes. In the few times I’ve been around her, she’s flirted with me and every other man in the vicinity.

We met once in January after a game. I watched her from afar until she came up to me and tried making conversation. When I grunted my responses, she called me Nash Potato and teased me about my glowing personality, then sauntered off to dance with the next willing and able man.

And she had her pick of them.

The next time I saw her was at Walker and Riley’s wedding. The self-destructive side of me couldn’t stop watching her dance—dirty dance—with Miles. I wanted to be the man plastered against her ass, rubbing his cock against her curves. Feeling her hands around my neck. Her lips around my cock.

When she and Miles snuck off the dance floor giggling like the drunk fools they were, I immediately put her on the Do Not Go There list. I don’t share. I don’t fuck around.

Not anymore.

If that’s where she is in life, good for her, but that’s not for me. Not that I’ve been looking for a woman to settle down with. Hell, I haven’t even been dating. Since I became a single father, my sole focus has been Paisley.

The other two times I’ve seen Kendall have been at post game get-togethers. She’s the life of the party wherever she goes, and she has an obvious connection with Miles. Do I think they’re dating? Hell no. He’s not into serious commitments, and by the look of it, neither is she.

But I don’t mess with women who’ve been with my teammates. Again, been there, done that. Not that I want to mess with Kendall. Well, my body does, and that pisses me the hell off.

What’s pissing me off even more is how out of line I was this afternoon. It was my fight or flight response, which makes no sense. One moment I’m eye fucking her ass and tits, and the next I’m accusing her of sleeping with the team and teaching kids to swear, when my intent was to introduce myself to Miss Wentworth and beg her to watch Paisley for me tomorrow.

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