CLASS ACT (A BRITISH ROCKSTAR BAD BOY ROMANCE) by Julia Gardener

tour in America. It’s the reason we visited that states so often during our early years. It was the perfect excuse for him to meet her when she was studying in college. Putting her in charge of The Howard Lane Foundation for Orphans was the least I could do for her.”
     
     
    The revelation made her quiet. I hadn’t just killed my best friend. I had also robbed his lover of a future with him. “I see…”
     
     
    The good times flooded back into my mind as I walked through the orphanage. Children in dorms and classrooms glanced at us. “The one I grew up in was nowhere as fancy as this one. Some days, we’d have to go without heating. English winters are no joke. The people in charge of the orphanage were good to us. They would wrap us up and make us huddle around a fireplace. The matron would take the very coat off her back and give it to me.”
     
     
    “Sounds like something out of some Charles Dickens novel.”
     
     
    I chuckled at that. “There was no rich benefactor to save us. We just had each other and our music.”
     
     
    She scanned the interior of the orphanage. A small park like area caught her eye. “I always thought an orphanage, even a well-funded one, would be cramped. This place has a garden and the playground looks massive.”
     
     
    “I know what it’s liked to live in a rundown building held together by chewing gum and tape,” I replied. “It’s like living like a caged animal. Orphans should worry about who they want to be rather than if the home they live in will collapse on top of them.”
     
     
    Charlotte gazed at me as if peering into my soul. “Heath, I never knew this about you. I always thought it was something Howard did before he died.”
     
     
    I gave a cynical laugh. “You won’t read about this in the tabloids. They’ll sooner print that I’m using these orphanages as a public relationships stunt.”
     
     
    My teacher gave me a soft smile. It brightened up my dark thoughts. There was a connection between us that was as powerful as forked lightning. “Heath, why’d you bring me here?”
     
     
    I had never shown these orphanages to my record label. The less they stuck their nose in it, the better. Hell, only Jared was involved since he helped handle the finances for my various charities. “To show you that I’m still a patron of the sciences in spite of my literacy. Or lack thereof.”
     
     
    Charlotte opened her mouth to reply with a witty retort.
     
     
    However, a familiar, feminine voice interrupted us. “Heath, is that you?”

 
    A tall, red-haired woman rushed up to Heath and kissed him on the cheek. It was too wet and sumptuous for what was meant to be an innocent kiss. The beautiful woman before me bled sensuality. I caught a flash of her striking green eyes.
     
     
    I felt rush of jealousy at the gesture. I didn’t know why. I was supposed to be Heath’s personal tutor. Not his girlfriend.
     
     
    Yet, I remembered the kiss I shared with Heath. It was so hard to be a strict instructor when he could soften me up so easily. The kiss burned on my lips like a hot brand. It made me resent the fact I was only here to serve as his tutor.
     
     
    The woman greeted him. “You brought a friend, Heath? Come on, introduce us!”
     
     
    “Megan, this is Charlotte Rosen,” Heath said, gesturing to me. “She’s the tutor I told you about.”
     
     
    “You’re the Megan Halper I keep hearing about,” I replied, extending my hand. Technically, I had only learned of her existence in the past five minutes. “Please, to meet you.”
     
     
    “A tutor, huh,” she replied, taking me in for a brief handshake. Megan glanced at Heath with a teasing grin. “You can always teach an old dog new tricks.”
     
     
    He raised his hands up in defense. “This was the record’s idea. Not mine.”
     
     
    “He’s making progress,” I offered. He had improved from the diagnostic test. It wasn’t enough for him to pass the exams but it was a small