Page 14 of Steel & Jenna
Before she could think better of it, Jenna stepped between Jack and Principal Foote. Her action meant Principal Foote had to step back or his hand would be touching her breasts. Not wanting to lose her nerve, she told the principal, “Actually, Jack would have been on time. I’m the one who made him late. I got lost.”
Principal Foote’s eyes narrowed. He hadn’t met her in person last week, but she had no doubt he had met her father. No way a man like Mr. Foote was going to miss out on seeing the Great Mr. Scanlon when there was a chance to talk the man into a donation. People werealwayslooking for handouts from her father.
The longer Mr. Foote stared at her, the more nervous Jenna got. What had she been thinking? This wasn’t any of her business. Was it? No, Jack would have been late, with or without her. So why had she stepped up? She was just as late as Jack. Maybe that was why. Mr. Foote hadn’t been trying to giveherdetention. Unless he just hadn’t gotten to her yet. Maybe he’d been about to give her detention, too, and she was only speeding up the process.
Jenna had never gotten detention in her life. It wasn’t even her last name that had saved her from punishment. She just wasn’t an ‘in trouble’ sort of girl. Not like Carolyn.
A hand landed on the small of her back. It wasn’t much. Just as he had done outside on the stairs, it was just a slight amount of pressure. But it wasenough. Like he was lending her his strength.
Jenna squared her shoulders and stared down the principal. Whatever happened next, be it detention or freedom, they would face it together. That reassurance, that small touch, meant so much to her. She’d never felt so…partneredbefore. Like two halves of a whole. Because of her last name, she found it was very difficult to trustpeople. Someone always wantedsomethingfrom her, usually money. Jenna wanted to give, but onherterms. People too easily thought their friendship to her should equate to gifts and privileges.
Jack hadn’t asked for a single thing. In fact, she couldn’t recall the last time, if there ever was one, that someone had told her that they would repay her act of kindness. If her suspicions about Jack were correct, he didn’t have the extra money to spare on paying her back. Yet he had sworn to.
She didn’t know Jack Duncan from Adam, and yet there was a piece of her that had trusted him from the beginning. Her own insecurities and self-doubt aside, Jenna wouldn’t have stayed outside so long waiting for him if she didn’t trust him.
She had to lock her knees so she didn’t step back into the touch. If she did that, she might not be able to control what her body did next.
Mr. Foote finally lowered his hand with the yellow slips. “Ms. Scanlon, is it?” She nodded once. “I doubt your father would be happy to hear about the company you’re keeping.”
Jenna fought not to show her sudden fear—because there was no doubt that her father wouldnotbe happy about her being with Jack. Not because he was a boy, but because he was apoorboy.
“Appearances matter, Jen.”She’d heard that line from both her parents her entire life.
Jenna lifted her chin. “I’m sure he won’t. Nor would he be pleased to hear about me being in detention.” Her eyes flicked to the yellow slips in his hand. “Because if Jack has detention for being late, then so do I.”
The pressure at her back increased, as did the heat. Jack had stepped forward. As low as possible, he whisper scolded, “Do not get yourself in trouble for me.”
He was taller than she was by a few inches, so his hot breath touched her hair, her ear, and down the back of her neck. Jenna’s knees nearly collapsed at the sensation, her nipples pebbling against the padding of her bra. She wanted him to blow air on her again like that…but when they were alone.
Mr. Foote huffed out a growl. “Well played, Ms. Scanlon.” Hepocketed the detention slips. He looked around Jenna to Jack. “Keep in mind, Mr. Duncan, that Ms. Scanlon’s presence won’t save you again from detention.” When his beady eyes fell on Jenna again, they did not look any kinder. “You have a bright future ahead of you, Ms. Scanlon. I would hate for the bad influences of this town,” he said pointedly while tipping his chin up at Jack, “to prevent you from having that future.”
“My future is just as bright as anyone’s in the school, Principal Foote,” Jenna rebutted. “Or have you forgotten the purpose of your job is to guide our young minds to that bright future and not set us on a path of destruction?”
The best description of the expression on Mr. Foote’s face was a sneer, but he did not say anything back. Instead, he turned on his heel and made his way down the hall.
Jack stepped out from behind her until they were standing shoulder to shoulder watching the principal walk away. His hand, she noted, was still at the small of her back. God, she wished it could always be there. It was so warm and comforting.
“Don’t do that again.”
Surprised by the growl in his voice, Jenna turned towards Jack. “Do what again?”
Jack moved to stand in front of her. Slowly, he crowded her. She hadn’t even realized she’d moved backwards until the cold of the metal lockers touched her back. He caged her in, placing a hand on either side of her head as he leaned down to place his mouth by her ear.
Just as he had done on the sidewalk outside the bookstore.
“Never place yourself between me and a potential threat, Jenna.Never. I can take care of myself. But don’t youeverput yourself in front of me like that again.”
Her breath got caught in her throat. Her entire body felt overheated, making her grateful for the coolness of the lockers behind her to keep her thoughts in order. “He—” She gasped at the feel of his teeth at her earlobe. He didn’t bite down, just scraped them along hersensitive skin. “It wasn’t right. Giving you detention for trying to take care of your little sister. And I wasn’t in danger.”
“Foote’s an ass,” Jack concurred. His hot breath puffed against her cheek as he moved his head in front of hers. “And I’ll grant you that Foote is not a danger to you. But having you stand between me and a potential threat felt wrong on a visceral level. Don’t,” his lips touched her nose, “do,” left cheek, “it,” right cheek, “again.”
Jenna wasn’t even sure she was breathing anymore. “Jack…”
“But I do want to thank you for getting me out of detention. It means I can pick up Lilly sooner.” His lips hovered over hers. “Ask me to kiss you, Jenna. Tell me I can and I will.”
Before she could nod or speak, though, a door slammed down the hall, reminding both of them of where they were.
Jenna jumped and Jack scowled, but the spell was broken. He leaned down to press his lips to her nose again. “Don’t worry. I’ll thank you later.”
