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“Who was that?” I startle and turn to see Russ standing beside me. I didn’t even hear him come over, but that’s because I’ve been watching Tanner walk away, and I couldn’t help smiling, and daydreaming…
“He’s a parent,” I say, although that’s not even half the story.
He frowns, and I let out a sigh. I hope he’s not going to be jealous, because he has no right.
“Really? His son looks too old to be in your class.”
“He is.”
“Then why were you talking for so long?”
“Because he was asking me to have dinner with him, if you must know.”
Damn… I didn’t mean to say that, and as Russ moves around in front of me, blocking my view of Tanner’s retreating back, I wish I’d kept my mouth shut.
“Dinner?” he says.
“Yes.”
“Is that wise?”
I take a breath, trying to rein in my growing anger. “He’s not married.” I’m thrilled to say. “He’s divorced. So what’s the problem?”
“Only that dating the parents of students isn’t usually something schools go for.”
“I’m pretty sure that only applies if the students are in our class, but if you know something different…”
He holds up his hands. “I don’t, and I’m sure you’re right. It’s just that in small towns like this, people can be weird about things like that.”
“Maybe they can, but to be honest, it’s none of their damn business.”
He tilts his head. “And is that your way of saying it’s none of my damn business, either?” I don’t reply and he steps back, nodding. “Do you still wanna have coffee with me, or would you rather suffer death by a thousand cuts?”
“That seems a little extreme,” I say.
“Which one? The coffee, or the ancient Chinese method of execution?”
“The latter.”
“In that case,” he says, and he turns toward the door, holding it open for me, just as his phone beeps. He waits until we’re both inside, then pulls it out, and checks the screen as he smiles. Without a word, he replies to the message, and then puts his phone away before he looks up at me again. “Sorry. That was my fiancée, just checking I survived the day,” he says, as he opens the door to the teachers’ lounge.
I’m surprised but do my best to hide it, helped by the fact that there are quite a few people in here, and the noise level is fairly high.
“I didn’t realize you were engaged,” I say, looking over my shoulder as I make my way to the coffee machine.
“Yeah. We live in Concord. Hattie’s just started working at the hospital there.”
“As a nurse?”
He nods his head, selecting a couple of cups for us and waiting while I fill them with coffee from the machine. “This was the only teaching position I could find within commuting distance, so I took it, even though I seem to be entirely surrounded by women.” He says all that with a smile, and I have to smile back, feeling not only relieved that we’ve overcome our argument, but also a little foolish that I thought he was attracted to me… and jealous of Tanner.
“Shall we sit?” I suggest, and he nods, finding two vacant chairs in the corner of the room. He waits until I’m seated before he joins me, and then leans back, resting his head. “Does your fiancée mind you working with so many women?” I ask, and he turns, looking at me.
“No. She trusts me. She knows I’m not dumb enough to stray. I’ve got far too much to lose.”
I really did read him wrong… although it seems I’m good at that. Let’s face it, I’ve only met two men since I’ve been in Hart’s Creek, and I’ve misjudged them both.
“How was your first day?” I ask, needing a change of subject, and he takes a deep breath.
