“No, a different kind of field trip. Trust me.”

“I do trust you, but . . .”

“Have you ever seen that TV show Scared Straight?”

Understanding brightens his brown eyes and a slow smile spreads across his lips. “I’m going with you.”

“Can you get away for a whole day?”

“I’m the boss, sweetheart, I can do whatever I want.” He pushes his hand through his hair and sighs.

“If you’re coming with me, you need to understand that I’m in charge. You keep quiet and you let me do all the talking.”

Josh narrows his eyes at me and steps closer, until he’s close enough to touch me. “Okay, but enjoy it while you can, honey, because I’m not a man that gives up control easily.” He tucks a piece of my hair behind my ear before pulling his thumb down my cheek to my chin. I can’t move. My eyes are caught in his dark gaze.

“Your eyes are amazing, Cara.”

“They’re kind of weird,” I whisper.

“No, they’re not weird.” He shakes his head slowly. “I’ve just never seen eyes that go from amber to hazel to green. I wonder what color they are when you’re turned on?”

Whatever color they are right now!

This is not the kind boy I knew as a girl. This man is still kind, and gentle, but is self-assured and sexy and calls to me in ways I thought existed only in the romance novels I read.

Think about Seth! Think about your job!

I take a deep breath and step back, close my eyes for a moment, and then square my shoulders. “I’ll pick you guys up at seven tomorrow morning.”

“That’s early.” Josh’s eyebrows shoot up as he shoves his hands in his pockets.

“I’m sure you’ll have been up for a few hours by then.” I smirk. “It’s going to be a long day. You might want to make sure Seth gets a good night’s sleep.”

“You mean business, don’t you?” Josh asks with a chuckle, then he sobers when he sees how serious I am.

“If this doesn’t mellow Seth’s attitude out, I don’t know what will.”

“We’ll see you then.”

Chapter Three

JOSH

I wonder what she has up her sexy little sleeve.

Seth, yawning, is in the backseat of Cara’s car, and I’m sitting shotgun. I can’t help but look over at her and grin. Her sunglasses are perched on her cute nose, her shoulder-length blond hair is pulled back into a ponytail, and she’s wearing jeans—imagine that—that hug her full ass perfectly. Between those jeans and the red, V-neck T-shirt that shows just a hint of cleavage, my cock has been at half-mast since she picked us up.

It’s going to be a long day.

I’ve tried to respect her space, and her position as Seth’s teacher, but I’ll be damned if I can stay away from her. I love the way she feels, and I need to find out what it feels like to have her beneath me, to be inside her.

Jesus, I’d be happy to just hold her while we watch TV, and I haven’t had that urge in a long, long time.

Cara was always a sweet kid, if not a little, well, plain. Not ugly, just not someone who would have made a teenage boy pay attention.

Until Monday, it hadn’t occurred to me to pay much attention. Thank God Kyle sent her to my place.

Cara glances over at me and offers me a soft smile. “What?”

“Where are we going?”

“Breakfast.”

“You wanted to take us out for breakfast?” I ask, surprised. My gut clenches when she laughs. Has her smile always been that amazing?

“We need to eat something, it’s going to be a long day.”

“I already had breakfast,” Seth grumbles. “Where are we going, anyway?”

“That’s fine, you can watch me eat the best waffle in town.” She smirks and turns in to Ed’s Diner, and despite my having had breakfast a couple hours ago, my stomach growls.

“Ed makes the best waffles,” I agree, and hop out of the car.

“Who’s Ed?” Seth asks as he shuffles along behind us.

“My uncle.” Cara smiles at him, and I wish she’d turn that smile on me. I adore her smile. “He owns this place.”

“Gee, imagine that, with it being called Ed’s Diner and all.”

“Watch your smart mouth,” I warn him with a glare, and he glares back at me.

“You agreed,” Cara whispers, reminding me that she is in charge today, and I fidget. I don’t like giving up control, and I definitely need to be able to protect her from any harsh words Seth might decide to fling at her. “I’ve got this.”

She leads us into the diner and to a booth. We order three waffles with bacon and orange juice on the side.

Seth makes quick work of his own waffle and polishes off half of Cara’s. He definitely hasn’t lost his appetite.

As we are finishing up, Ed himself comes out of the kitchen, smiling when he sees Cara sitting in the booth. Cara stands to give him a big hug. “Hey, darlin’, it’s always good to see you.”

“Hi, Uncle Ed. You look great.” She grins up at the aging man lovingly. Ed is short for a man, but still much taller than Cara. He’s stick thin and gray, with kind eyes.

“So, I see you’ve brought me a new worker.” Ed narrows his eyes as he gazes at Seth.

Seth’s eyes go wide with surprise. “Worker?” Seth squeaks.

“I have. Seth is going to help you out this morning. Ed’s short a dishwasher today, so you’ll be filling in, Seth.”

“I am not!” Seth’s gaze turns to me. “What the hell, Uncle Josh?”

“You will be respectful and do as you’re told,” I tell him softly, barely keeping my temper leashed.

“Aren’t there laws against kids working?” Seth grumbles, making my lips twitch. This kid is really too smart for his own good.

“Not for just a few hours. Come on.” Ed walks briskly through a swinging door and into the kitchen. Seth follows, with Cara and me bringing up the rear. On one side of the kitchen is a large tub sink with a nozzle that pulls down from the ceiling and is used to power-wash dishes. Quite a stack is already waiting for Seth.

“This is gross!”

“Breakfast dishes usually are, son.” Ed winks at him and flips an egg. “Gravy and syrup are the worst.”

“You have an electric dishwasher! Why are you making me wash these?” Seth crosses his arms and scowls at all of us.