Wild Chance (Wild Irish Universe)(11)

I don’t know. What do you want to learn?



She set the phone on the desk then proceeded to clean the board. It had the rules for the test—no speaking, no cheating, no phones, no books—identification was necessary. The phone vibrated against the desk and she charged for it.



From you—anything.



Mona squealed, spun on her heels and fell into her chair before replying to his text.



I’m at school, Aedan Callahan. You behave yourself.



LOL. I’m sorry.



She groaned. No, you’re not.



You’re right. But I’m sorry I didn’t plan another date with you. His follow up text read. Would you like to go on a second?



Of course. You weren’t weird or anything.



LOL. That’s good to know. If you don’t mind giving me your address, I could pick you up. I promise to have you home again in time for bed. I know you’re a good girl and there are rules.



Mona chuckled.



You think I’m a good girl?



Maybe—do we have a date for tonight, then?



Mona smirked. You’re on.



With a grin, she sent him her address but didn’t have time to see what his reply was. Third period was coming in for their test and as the teacher, she had to behave.

Ugh. Time—ticks—by—slowly.

Somehow, she survived and at lunch time, snuck away to a corner of the teacher’s lunchroom to see what he’d sent her. It was only confirmation that he’d see her at six.

At the end of the day, Mona stopped long enough to let Esme know what was going to be happening with Aedan. After they flailed and squealed like school girls, Mona darted across the parking lot to her car. She arrived home twenty minutes later, plugged her phone in and took a shower. She closed the door to the art room and was going back to finish getting dressed when the doorbell rang.

She’d still not had a chance to put clothes on and had been walking around with a towel wrapped around her body. With a groan, she stood in the hallway, debating what she should do. She didn’t want to give him the wrong idea—hell, what was the wrong idea? If he was to offer her—Mona groaned and headed to open the door.

“Hi,” Mona said, smiling at Aedan. She gripped where the towel was hooked in just to make sure it stayed on. “I’m sorry. I’m running behind. Do you want to come in?”

Aedan smiled and stepped by her. He waited for her to close the door then followed her through the hall and into the open concept living space.

“Do you want something to drink while you wait?” Mona asked, her cheeks burning.

“I’m going to go on the thought that you meant an actual drink and say I’m good for now,” Aedan said.

“I’m—I’m gonna—um…” She pointed over her shoulder. “Gonna get dressed.”

She darted from the room and in her bedroom, Mona pressed her back to the door and exhaled long and hard. What was happening? Why did she feel so wild when his eyes landed on her? She’d never had that before—never since she’d began dating had she wanted to merely tug at that towel and let it fall. It was almost as if the urge to feel his eyes on every inch of her body was clouding her judgment.

There was something there.

Quickly, she lathered her body with lotion then hauled on panties, bra, black leggings and an off the shoulder top. After grabbing a shawl, Mona made her way back to Aedan to see him staring at a painting she’d done of the Toronto, downtown skyline.

“This looks so real,” Aedan said.

“You knew I was here?”

“Bad habit I developed in the military,” Aedan said, still staring at the art piece. “The air shifted in the room when you stood in the doorway.”

He turned to look at her.

“I painted that about four years ago.”

“This is one of yours?” Aedan asked. “It’s beautiful.”

“Thank you.”

He turned to her again and tilted his head. “I didn’t tell you last night how beautiful you looked. I won’t make that mistake twice.”

“I’m not one of those women who need to hear it all the time.”

He smiled, a small twitch at the right corner of his mouth that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “What if I would like to say it?”

“Then I’ll take it.”

“Good. You look beautiful.”

Mona giggled. “Thank you.”

Aedan lifted a black helmet with an orange dragon curved around it. “Ready?”

“Ride? Oh no!” Mona shook her head. “I shouldn’t be on the back of a motorcycle.”

“Why not?”

“I’m too heavy for that!”

Aedan smiled and stepped forward. He eased in close. Silently, he pulled her ponytail free then slipped the helmet on her. “Do you trust me, Mona?”

She sighed, his large chest pressed into hers. Mona locked her lips and lifted her head to meet his gaze. His eyes were soft and shimmered with something mysterious, something alluring.

“Yes.” That one word stunned her at the truth in it.

“I won’t let anything happen to you.” He promised. “All you have to do is wrap your arms around me and hang on.”