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“You’re a growing woman,” he taunted, knowing she wasn’t a fan of most green foods. “You need a vegetable.”
“Avocados are a fruit. So are tomatoes.”
She had him there. He hadn’t really cared whether she was eating every food group. He just wanted to keep her company for a little while longer.
“Principal Kidd, you left your watch at our house when you were over last night,” said Molly. The little girl’s voice carried over the Top Forty tunes coming out of the ancient jukebox. A few glances turned their way.
Kylee’s cheeks turned redder than the salsa on her plate. Ron was sure his did as well. This time he couldn’t blame the burners. Kylee’s gaze met his. Once again, they were the only two people in the room.
“I can drop it off tomorrow,” said Kylee. “Or you can swing by later…?”
Kylee shrugged her shoulders as she let the sentence trail. Ron was mesmerized by that shrug; how her collarbone became more pronounced. One shoulder was higher than the other making an asymmetrical shape that he wanted to measure. By the curve of her lip and the way she looked up at him from beneath her lashes, she wanted him to fill in the blank she’d left.
Ron knew his answer, but before he could complete the request, there was the sound of a throat clearing, followed by the high-pitched voice of an irritated child.
“You’re holding up the line,” said Ricky, Jr.
Ron wasn’t the only teacher manning the food station. There were three others. But of course, Iman Hilson would come to his line expecting special treatment.
“As I live and breathe,” Iman drawled. “If it isn’t Princess Kylee.”
Kylee grit her teeth. Her family had lived in this town long enough that no one bothered with ceremony. His Royal Highness Prince Edvard Nicholai Bauer was simply Eddie when he’d walked the streets every evening. The only time the Bauer’s royal status was brought up was when someone wanted to drag the family through the mud. Like when their little princess ran off with the town bad boy.
Seeing as that little dig didn’t get a rise out of Kylee, Iman went for the jugular. “Did you return to your maiden name? Or are you still holding onto Jason’s?”
&
nbsp; Kylee had never done fake well. It was why she and Iman rarely crossed paths back in high school. Kylee had seen right through the mean girl’s fake friendliness.
“Nope, it’s Bauer. I smartened up and cut both the name and the man loose.”
“Oh,” Iman pressed her hand to her heart and her face contorted into a compassionate grimace that didn’t reflect in her gaze. “I had heard Jason found someone else.”
Kylee bobbed her head, the crown slipped down to her ear, holding on by a few strands of her lush hair. “He’s probably found a few more someone else's by now. I’d be happy to be your reference if you want to wait in his line.”
And with that, Kylee turned her back on Iman. But not before giving Ron a quick smile. “See ya?”
Ron couldn’t articulate after that performance. He was too busy trying his hardest not to fist pump Kylee’s retort. But he didn’t need words with Kylee. He knew she saw clearly in his gaze that she would indeed see him later tonight. And tonight, he planned to say every flowery, romantic word he’d ever dreamed of saying to her.
Before Kylee stepped away from the serving table, Ron reached out and fixed the crown on her head, securing it back in its rightful place. Kylee gave him another warm smile. Then she and Molly headed off to find a table.
“My dad left a watch collection at my mom’s house,” Ricky, Jr. was saying. “You can come to my house and see it.”
Ron took the kid’s plate and began loading it up. “Why not bring it in for show and tell? With your mom’s permission, of course?”
Ricky nodded as he took his tacos from Ron.
Ron began on Iman’s plate. He moved as quickly as possible so that she could move on and take her false smiles with her and out of his line.
“Looks like you’re showing interest in a parent,” said Iman. “Isn’t that against the rules?”
“But Mom, I want him to show interest in you,” said her son.
“I always knew you had a thing for her,” Iman said, ignoring her kid as usual.
Ron didn’t respond. He simply handed the woman the lettuce and beans she’d indicated that she wanted.
“Well, you better not let it interfere with business,” Iman said as she took her light fare in one hand. “You wouldn’t want to be accused of showing favoritism to your girlfriend.”
