Maybe it’s time he got to know who I am. No more tricks.

I decide to go along with the truce, knowing there’s a 99% chance this is a ploy in his war against me. I’ll play along, but I’ll remain on guard.

I knock on his open door before heading down to my classroom.

“Hi there.”

I approach him like I’m approaching a wild boar. “Hi.” I place a steaming coffee and a donut on his desk. “Before you say anything, I swear I didn’t put anything in your coffee.”

He lifts an eyebrow. “So this is an ulterior motive-free treat?”

“More like an apology treat.” I wring my hands as I blurt out what I want to say before I lose my nerve. “I never should’ve expected you to believe me when I told you I didn’t steal the ring. You don’t know me. You have no reason to trust me. And with the way I’ve acted the last month and a half, I don’t know why you’d ever trust me. I’ve behaved totally out of character from the moment I met you. I went through a lot with my divorce, and that’s not an excuse but it’s the only way I can explain why I behaved the way I did. So, I’m sorry.”

His head tilts to the side. “Your ex did a number on you, didn’t he?”

I look down at my shoes. “He did, but I think I did more of a number on myself than anything. I just want to leave everything behind me now and start fresh.”

Jaxon rises from his chair and walks toward me. I crane my neck to look in his eyes as he advances. His intense gaze commands my attention.

I’m confused by what he’s doing until he extends his hand. “Hi. I’m Jaxon. It’s nice to meet you.”

I bite my lip to keep from laughing as I slip my hand in his. The same goosebumps that shot up my arm the night we met make their reappearance. “Raegan. Nice to meet you too.”

“I look forward to working with you this school year.”

“Likewise.”

He’s still shaking my hand when Beth appears at his door. “Knock, knock.”

“Look, it’s my favorite secretary in the whole world.”

Beth rolls her eyes. “Nice try. I’m your only secretary.”

I pull my hand out of Jaxon’s grasp and tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “Hey, Beth.”

“Hi, my sweets.” She surveys my outfit. “You look amazing. Is that hot bod from those kickboxing classes? Because I’ll sign up tonight if it’ll mean I get to look like you.”

I laugh and shake my head. “I also run every day after work.”