"Yes, well, now that…now that you're here and I was able to do a little more research with the school board, I think we can make some sort of exception," he spluttered, his animated hands waving desperately as he spoke.
"So, you're saying I’ll be able to test out and graduate early?" she asked hopefully.
Mr. Hodgson smiled, some of the tension easing within him as he saw that she was just as eager for his solution as he was. "Well…maybe not graduate early, but," he lifted a halting hand at her suddenly disappointed expression. "I think with a few adjustments, you will be able to finish your credits in a month or maybe even do a portion of your classes as take-home work. We'll just have to see."
Sapphire frowned. That wasn't really what she was hoping to hear. She wanted to test out of all of the classes and maybe even get her diploma early so that she could call Oakes University and see about starting her scholarship in the summer instead of the fall. She wanted to get out of this town.
Mr. Hodgson chuckled at her expression. "Don't look so disappointed, Miss Waters. I think this-"
"Sweetheart," the abrupt tone from the doorway interrupted him.
They both looked to see the woman at the reception counter standing there, her worried look bouncing from Sapphire to Mr. Hodgson.
"Yes, darling?" Mr. Hodgson gave her a questioning frown.
Ah,darling. Sapphire turned and gave the woman a cool, knowing smile. It made sense now.
Stiffening, the woman gave her a flash of disapproval before turning to Mr. Hodgson. "I just wanted to remind you that we have dinner with my sister tonight and-"
"Of course, Mildred. I didn't forget." Now it was Mr. Hodgson whose face settled into a reproving frown as he stared back at his wife. "Please allow me to finish my meeting with Miss Waters, and I'll be ready."
Looking chastised, Mildred nodded and turned on her heel, not giving Sapphire another look. For a second, Sapphire let her mind linger on the sad woman. Just what did she think she was doing in here with her husband? Seducing him to leave his wife and run away with her?! She was wearing jeans, sneakers, and a t-shirt, not necessarily the uniform of a seductress. Besides, the office door was wide open. She was no doubt watching them talk this whole time.
"I'm sorry about that," Mr. Hodgson continued. "As I was saying, I think we can reduce some of the hours you need to come up here, making it so that you can just turn in the work weekly. Of course, if you need the in-person experience with the teachers, you can do that as well. I just want you to be comfortable during your time here."
Seeing that he genuinely meant it, Sapphire nodded. It wasn't her ideal choice, but it was better than nothing.
Getting up from his chair, Mr. Hodgson extended his hand to her. "Again, welcome to Holter, Miss Waters. I know it’s nothing like Houston or even Stardust Cove, for that matter, but we are a fun and loving community, and I hope you will come to love it here."
Fun and loving.Sapphire scoffed at that as she walked alongside the road back toward the motel. Those were not the words she would use to describe this town, more like a rural, barren wasteland.
The deep growl of a motorcycle interrupted her thoughts.
Looking over her shoulder, she watched as two motorcycles rumbled through the intersection. She watched them both pass, taking in their details. One of the big thundering bikes pulled ahead of the other, cruising past her and on down the highway, but the other slowed as it passed by. Sapphire watched as the man on the second bike turned his head toward her, his eyes hidden behind his dark shades, before looking back at the road and turning the throttle. The black and chrome machine answered the command with a chest-thumping roar and sped off until he was alongside the other bike.
Sketch as hell was another descriptor she would use for this godforsaken town.
On her first visit into the town to get some food, Sapphire had gotten her first glimpse of some of the town's colorful citizens. People dressed in khaki overalls and wearing matching shirts that read H & K Meat Co. all piled into town after their shifts. The noxious odor of the meat packing plant left an odorous trail in their wake as they talked and complained about the day. Sapphire had listened behind a pair of women in line as they shared their plans of going to the local bar,Heathens, somewhere deep in the woods.
It had taken all of Sapphire's control not to sneer when she overheard the women's plans to score someicebefore finding a few guys to have a good time. God, this town was more of a shit hole than she thought.
Now, as she looked at the pair of bikers fading down the long two-lane road, Sapphire didn't bother hiding her look of disgust. This town was most certainly not home.
Chapter five
"Comeon,Joel,"thewoman pleaded as she looked up at him. Her hands, which had been creeping up the front of his chest, stopped and grabbed fistfuls of the fabric, latching herself onto him.
Joel looked down at the pixie-haired brunette, trying but failing to hide the curl of disgust on his lips. Forcing a strained smile, Joel grabbed both of her hands as he took a purposeful step forward, walking her backward in the process.
"Maybe some other time," he said, his voice sounding gruff even to him.
Getting her through the threshold, he quickly shut the heavy metal door just as she opened her mouth to say something else.
Joel let out a deep breath and turned, and caught the look from his friend and business partner standing on the other side of the long bar counter. With a long dish towel slung over a shoulder, Hayden Taggert watched him with an amused expression as he dried a glass tumbler.
"What?" Joel asked.
Hayden didn't say anything he just shook his head, causing his dark shaggy hair to shake as he took another wet glass from the sink behind the counter and began drying it.
