Darcy had worried that the workshop might get too violent, but Reed proved to be a natural teacher, as well as a cautious and intelligent one. He didn’t allow too much physical contact between the kids, but the know-how and skills were still being transmitted.
A couple of times, he’d had to demonstrate a particular move on her, but his touch had been entirely impersonal. Nothing sexual about it, and yet her body tingled whenever he touched her. She’d attempted to hide her response to his nearness, and it helped that they were surrounded by children, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t stop her pulse from racing each time he wrapped one muscular arm around her or when his fingers grazed her bare arm as he showed the kids the best way to twist out of an opponent’s grasp.
To make matters worse, her mind kept going over the text message she’d received from AJ earlier in the day. Even though she’d known Reed was planning on telling his best friend about them, she’d still been dreading AJ’s reaction.
But her ex-boyfriend’s message had shocked her to the core.
I hope it works out with Reed. He plays it like he’s a tough guy, but he’s got a good heart.
Um, what? Darcy had replayed the words in her head like a broken record, but unless she was missing something, there was really only one way to interpret them.
AJ had given them his blessing.
Which was crazy. Did he think she and Reed were dating now? Did he want them to?
Did she want to?
She couldn’t deny she was attracted to Reed—and unbelievably tempted to explore that attraction—but sex and dating him were two very different things. She might be looking for passion, but successful relationships required a lot more than combustible chemistry. She wanted a reliable partner, a man who wasn’t a “selfish bastard,” as Reed had so readily described himself.
So no, she wasn’t interested in dating a bad boy like Reed Miller. Never had been, never would be.
But sleeping with a bad boy? Well…maybe she could get on board with that, especially since AJ didn’t seem to have a problem with it.
The workshop lasted an hour. The moment they wrapped up, all the kids streamed into the locker rooms to change into their street clothes, while Reed and Darcy hung back to gather up the mats and stack them in the corner of the gymnasium.
“You were fantastic with them,” Darcy confessed.
He looked embarrassed. “They’re good kids. I had fun.”
“I’m pretty sure Devon found himself a new hero.” She laughed softly. “He was staring at you like you’d stepped off the pages of his favorite Superman comic.”
“What’s his deal anyway?” Reed asked curiously. “Did he skip a million grades or something?”
She shook her head. “He’s a fifth grader. His mom doesn’t finish work until five, and she doesn’t want him walking home alone, so she has an arrangement with the school that Devon gets to sit in on whatever after-school activity is happening that day.”
“Can’t he take the school bus?” Reed asked as they headed for the double doors on the other side of the gym.
“Yes, but then he’d still be home alone until she got back. Their building isn’t in the safest area, and Monique can’t afford to pay for a babysitter. She’s very protective of him.”
“I don’t blame her. He seems like a great kid.”
They made their way back to the main lobby, pausing near the front doors. Although it wasn’t part of her job description, Darcy liked to make sure her students were all right when they left the school after regular hours, and that the ones who were walking home were doing it in a group.
After the last kid had gone, she turned to Reed and said, “I just need to grab some things from my classroom. You don’t have to stick around.”
His blue eyes flickered with curiosity. “I wouldn’t mind seeing your classroom. “
She swallowed, unsure if it was a good idea for them to be alone for a second longer than they had to. He looked so damn good right now, in those long shorts that hugged his trim hips, and the tank top that outlined every curve of delicious musculature.
“Sure,” she stammered. “It’s on the second floor.”
They ducked into the stairwell, climbing the steps until they reached the second floor landing. The brightly lit hallway was empty, all of its walls adorned with children’s artwork and colorful projects stuck on Bristol boards. Darcy’s key was attached to a spiral bracelet on her wrist, and she used it to quickly unlock the door to her classroom.
Reed’s sharp gaze instantly swept over the room, taking in the neat row of desks, the wall of windows, and the blackboard covered with the grammar exercises she’d assigned for the first English class of the school year.
“I feel like I’ve traveled back in time.” He wandered around the room, amazement clinging to his husky voice. Then he laughed softly, the rough masculine sound sending a shiver through her.
“What’s so funny?” she asked.