Breaking the Rules Page 17

“Nice look.” A deep voice sounded behind her. “A drenched Red Sox player.”

  “Ha ha. Very funny.” She pushed him forward. “Your turn.”

  Colin ducked his head in and got an apple in one bite — without cheating. He pushed his wet bangs back as he pulled it out. Laughing, the apple fell out of his mouth and into his hand. He took a bite and wiped his face with the back of his hand. “Learn from the pro, Ms. Robinson. Learn from the pro.”

  Jason smiled. “Cool. How did you do that?”

  He shrugged his shoulders. “Years of practice.” They all walked to the edge of the dance floor. “Aren’t you going to dance, Jas?”

  “Nah.”

  “Look at that pretty little fairy over there. Come on.” Colin put his arm around Jason. “You know you want to.” The Monster Mash sounded from the speakers. “She wants to.”

  “Why don’t you ask Ms. Robinson to dance?” Jason blurted out. “I mean, since you kissed her, I thought you’d at least dance.”

  Colin and Hope froze before frantically searching to see who might have heard. Kyle stood behind them, smiling from ear to ear. “Cool. Your dad kissed Ms. Robinson?”

  Jason opened his mouth, his eyes wide. “No. I mean, I don’t — ” He stared at his dad, then ran off and faced the fairy.

  Kyle shrugged and walked off with a knowing smile.

  Hope turned to Colin, and her face must have been as red as the apple in Colin’s palm. “Did he just say that?”

  “Hello, Ms. Robinson. Dr. Calaway.” Mrs. Morales stood behind them. Hope inhaled deeply. How long had she stood there? From the look on her face, she must have heard everything.

  Colin tried to laugh it off. “Kids will be kids.” His face was full of strength, and he tried to maintain calm. But she saw the vein in his neck bulge.

  “Mrs. Morales, how do you think the dance is going?” Hope asked, trying not to sound ruffled.

  Mrs. Morales studied the two of them, the glasses on her nose sliding down. “Did you two plan on wearing the same costume?”

  Hope and Colin laughed and spoke at the same time.

  “Funny isn’t it?”

  “No. We didn’t.”

  Then they stood quietly and observed the room, anywhere but at each other.

  “I see,” Mrs. Morales said. “A bit suspicious if you ask me.”

  What was with this woman? Why did she think she was the high and mighty of the school? Only because she was a student’s parent and a board member didn’t give her a right to go around making accusations, even if they were true. In fact, she hadn’t really made an accusation, but it was there on her face. “I believe I just heard Jason say — ”

  Colin cut her off with his unruffled voice and his soothing eyes. “Mrs. Morales. As you know, Jason is an eleven-year-old boy with an active imagination.”

  The woman put her hands on her hips and frowned. “Yes, but I also see you two staring across the room at each other. In fact, a few parents have said something about it. And at a middle school dance, might I remind you. For heaven’s sake!”

  “Mrs. Morales, I’m not sure what you are saying, but I’m the principal and I wouldn’t do anything inappropriate at the school dance. So, if you excuse me, I need to attend to my students.” Hope forced herself away, taking in a deep breath as her chest tightened.

  Of all the women and accusations. She didn’t like leaving Colin there, but she had to prove who she was and what she was about. She was a principal first and foremost. That’s why she came to Harbor Bay and she wouldn’t let anyone get in the way.

  To hell with bobbing apples with the sexiest guy there. To hell with dancing with a student’s father. To hell with board members making accusations. Looking around the room, she had the sensation everyone stared at her, that she was on display for the entire world. Heat swelled in her face and she rubbed her sweaty palms together.

  She would not allow anyone to take away her biggest dream — to be the best principal she could be.

  Kelly occupied herself at the popcorn ball table, arranging the balls into different bowls, and Hope quickly told her what happened, all while avoiding any look in Colin’s direction.

  Kelly rubbed Hope’s shoulder. “Mrs. Morales is always getting her nose up in people’s business.”

  “Exactly. I know she’s going to tell the other board members.”

  “She’s always had it out for you since her cousin’s son applied to be principal, too, and he didn’t get it.”

  “Well, that explains things,” Hope whispered.

  Finally chancing a look, she noted that Colin continued to talk to the nosy lady, his hands in front of him in a defensive mode, yet still with comforting eyes. When Hope turned to watch the kids on the dance floor, Kyle stood to the side with a huddle of other sixth graders, pointing in her direction. Great. The little sneetch. Now, the whole school would know.

  Kelly handed Hope a popcorn ball. “It’s really no big deal. Remember that you can have a life. Your relationship does not interfere with how you run this school.”

  Hope bit into the candied treat and a kernel stuck in her throat. She coughed, louder than she intended, and many eyes landed on her.

  Kelly patted her back and tried to calm her down. “Are you okay?”

  After one final deep cough, she nodded her head. She tried to hold back the tears from the strong coughing, or the fear of Mrs. Morales pulling her down, she didn’t know. She looked out over the crowd of students and the song “Thriller” shrilled from the speakers. She had to make a final decision. “No more.”

  “Yeah, no more popcorn for you.” Kelly reached for the ball in Hope’s hand.

  “No, I mean no more seeing Colin. I cannot risk losing my job or sounding unprofessional. Even if Mrs. Morales is wrong, some people might wonder, and I cannot handle that. It’s Vincent all over again.”

  Kelly shook her head. “No, Hope — ”

  “Colin is wonderful and I’m having the time of my life, but I can’t take the scrutiny from the community again. I just can’t.” Hope looked around because she needed something to drink. “I’ll be back. I’ve got to get some water.”

  “Think about what you’re saying, Hope. You’re wrong,” Kelly called after her.

  In the hallway by her office, she guzzled water from the fountain. Taking her final gulp, she stood up and came face to face with the hunkiest Yankees fan she’d ever seen. Damnit.

  “There you are.” He caressed her cheek. “I didn’t know where you ran off to.”

  Hope looked around the hallway to make sure the coast was clear. “Did you clear things with Mrs. Morales?”

  He shrugged. “She’s a bit meddlesome, isn’t she? I swear I’m going to kill Jason. He’s completely ignoring me now.”

  “Don’t kill him. He’s only saying the truth.” Hope looked around again and dragged Colin into the administrative office. She opened her office door and then slammed it shut once they were inside. “We need to talk.”

  “I like this private talk idea.” He reached for her, but she stepped back.

  “I’m sorry, Colin, but I can’t continue this.”

  “Are you going to let little ol’ Mrs. Morales ruin what we have?” He stepped toward her, but Hope only stepped back again.

  Holding up her palm, she raised her chin and willed herself to speak strongly enough to continue with her new plan. “It’s not just her. You heard what she said. Others are talking and I don’t even question why. Think about it. The hot, single dad and the new single principal, both wearing baseball outfits, spending a lot of time together. Seen at dinner a couple of times, even with Jason there. Maybe others have seen us at the boardwalk or at the swim meet. We’re probably the talk of the town.”

  A line formed between Colin’s eyes and he tried to stroke her arm a
gain, but she stepped further back.

  She held her hand up to stop him, before he could say anything. “I cannot be the talk again. I cannot allow people to think of me as some young principal with sex on her mind and not her work. I cannot do it, Colin.”

  He smiled. “The sex is good.” When she didn’t smile back, he walked toward her until she backed into the wall. “What about the other night at my house? Don’t tell me you didn’t feel anything then.” He splayed his fingers out over her shoulder and caressed up her neck, circling the little area he knew drove her crazy.

  She turned her head and whispered. “Stop, Colin.”

  “Or how about the beach and boardwalk?” He ran his fingers up to her lips and caressed her full bottom lip. “The night at your condo. Don’t pretend we don’t have something.” He leaned in to kiss her. Their lips lingered longer than she wanted. It just felt so right. But she couldn’t allow this to continue, so she turned her head to make him stop.

  Colin stood up straighter and grabbed her hand with a sigh. “Listen, Hope. This is not what happened to you in Virginia. This is different. Who the hell cares what people are saying? It’s not against any damn rules. We are two consenting single adults who enjoy each other’s company.”

  When she didn’t respond, he ran his hand through his thick hair. “Hell, Hope. What about what I think? I know it’s shitty what others say, but maybe they are actually happy for us. Maybe they approve.”

  “Oh, yeah, Mrs. Morales looked like she approved with her nose twitching like she smelled locker room feet.”

  Colin gently pushed his knees between her legs. “Just think about this before you make any hasty decisions. We already decided this was worth a shot. We would be civil to each other at school events, and have our private relationship elsewhere.” He rubbed his damn big hands down her arms, then back up to her shoulders and pulled her closer. “You cannot deny we have something good going on here.”

  She looked into his charming green eyes and sighed. “We do … but I can’t.” She tried to wiggle free. “You’re making this harder than it needs to be. We cannot have a relationship, Colin. I can’t risk my job.”

  “No one said you’re risking your job. Damnit, don’t let some old busybody ruin the best thing that’s happened to me in the last five years.”

  She reached up and touched his cheek. “I don’t want to hurt you, Colin. I’m feeling like crap, too. But it’s over. I’m sorry.”

  He let go of her body and stepped back. “This is bullshit.”

  Hope blinked. He actually was angry now. His eyes flared and his chest heaved behind that blue jersey of his.

  She tried to reach for his shoulder, but he scooped it away. “It’s not bullshit. It’s just life.”

  He laughed throatily and stepped back. “It’s that easy, huh?” He reached up and rubbed the back of his neck. “I guess I just have stronger feelings than you do.”

  Hope bit her lip to stop herself from speaking, to contain the tears that welled up in her eyes. She wanted to tell him he was the best thing that happened to her in her whole life. That maybe she loved him. But she couldn’t risk her job or her reputation — she’d worked too hard for it.

  “No more toying with me, Hope. If you say this is it, then this is it.” He pointed at her and his eyes narrowed with something she hadn’t seen from him. “I can’t keep going back and forth. I’m not some teenage boy who wants to ask a girl to dance. I’m a grown man with a son who adores you. Shit, I adore you.” He stopped short and looked at her with softer eyes. “I adore you.”

  For a moment, her heart leapt in her chest. A man adored her. A sweet, gentle, kind, sexy man who knew how to please her, how to tempt her, how to make her laugh and dream. But when she looked away from him and her principal diploma peeked behind his shoulder, framed on the wall behind her desk, she knew she had to go with her gut decision — not her heart decision. “I’m sorry, but it’s over,” she repeated.

  Colin’s shoulders dropped and his head lowered. He shook his head slowly, back and forth, like a grandfather clock counting down until midnight, his eyes still on the floor. A sense of dread overwhelmed her and for an instant, she knew she’d hurt him more than she thought he would be hurt.

  Anger welled up in her. Of all the men, he had her heart in his hands, but she had to splatter it against his chest and crack it into pieces. It was her own damn fault, but she had to do it. She would not relive what happened with Vincent. It would kill her.

  Colin eyed her with a stony expression and whispered, “You’ll regret this one day, Hope, and when you do, I’ll be gone.”

  “You’re probably right, but there’s nothing I can do about it.”

  “I think there is.”

  A ten-second stare down commenced. When she didn’t answer back, Colin frowned and held up both palms in a “whatever” motion. “See you around.” He turned and walked out the office door and didn’t look back.

  When Hope finally made it back to the cafeteria, after ten minutes of crying, he and Jason were nowhere to be found.

  Later that night, she tucked herself into bed feeling the loneliest she had ever felt in her life. She’d lost the best thing that happened to her, for her damn job. She’d better make it the best job she’d ever done.

  Chapter 18

  Two hellish weeks passed. The longest two weeks of his life. He stayed busy with work, but he missed Jason. And when he was honest with himself, he yearned for Hope. He tried not to miss her, since he was furious with her decision. The thing was, she had already worked herself into his bloodstream. Not seeing her was like missing a body part.

  He didn’t think it could get worse, but after the phone call he had received an hour ago, he knew he was wrong.

  Jason was in trouble again.

  Walking into the now familiar administrative offices of Harbor Bay Prep, he saw the secretary on the phone. The office was empty except for another person making photocopies in the corner. He tried to smile back at the skinny woman, but he couldn’t.

  Smiles were rare in the last fourteen days. He took a deep breath, knowing he’d have to face the woman who offered him many smiles, but now took them away, leaving him like a kid opening a stocking full of coal.

  The secretary stood. “Dr. Calaway, Mr. Stevens will see you now.” She pointed to a second door behind her.

  He flinched. “Where’s Ms. Robinson?”

  “She’s not in today. Mr. Stevens is the assistant principal.”

  He frowned. “She’s not here? Where’s Jason?”

  “He’ll be with you in just a minute. He’s getting his things. Right this way.”

  Colin scratched his head as he followed the secretary. Was Hope avoiding him? She should know better. They could act normal with each other. A disappointment swept through him. He had hoped he would see her. He missed her so much — that laugh of hers, the way she stood up straight to act like a school marm, the teasing, the seductive texts, the kisses, the warmness she brought into his heart.

  He blinked to clear the thoughts and knocked on the assistant’s open door. “Mr. Stevens?”

  The man stood from his desk. “Come in, Dr. Calaway. Have a seat.” He motioned toward the empty chair in front of him.

  Colin sat at the same time as Mr. Stevens. “Sorry it took me a while to get here. I was in surgery.”

  “I understand.” Mr. Stevens took off his glasses and rubbed his nose, then gazed at Colin. “Jason has been suspended for two days.”

  Colin sat up straighter. His throat closed up for a second and he had to clear it before he spoke. “What happened?”

  “He and another boy, Bret Wilson, were in a fight. Mr. Hunter had to break them up and it wasn’t easy. They’re both a little battled and bruised, but the nurse took care of them.”

  A heavy feeling plunged to t
he bottom of his stomach. His breath caught in his chest as it dawned on him who the other boy was. He gritted his teeth and asked, “What will happen to Bret?”

  “He’s suspended, too, although I’m not at liberty to discuss the other boy.”

  “Mr. Stevens, Bret Wilson has been picking on Jason all year. This is not the first incident. I’m sure Jason only defended himself.”

  “Actually, I’m aware of that and that’s why Jason only has a two-day suspension. We’re just following the discipline protocol. It’s his third major offense and this is what happens. When he gets back, he’ll work with our counselor on anger management.”

  “Anger management? Jason doesn’t need help with that. What he needs is someone to stop this other boy. He continues to berate my son and Jason’s only using the defense he knows.”

  “We understand.”

  “We? What does Ms. Robinson say?”

  He avoided eye contact with Colin. “Ms. Robinson is not involved in this case. There will be serious measures taken with the Wilson boy.” With the finality of his statement, he leaned forward and tapped his pen on the desk. “Now, about Jason, you need to go ahead and take him home. The suspension takes effect immediately. He can come back on Friday.” Mr. Stevens stood and held out his hand to shake.

  What did all this mean? Why wouldn’t Hope be involved? What the hell was Jason thinking? Who the hell was this guy and why didn’t he show any emotion?

  Colin scraped his hand over his face and then shook the man’s hand. “Thank you.”

  In the main office, Jason sat in one of those uncomfortable plastic chairs, with his face down. Colin stood in front of him and lowered his chin. “Let’s go, Jas.”

  Jason looked up with a bandage over the right eyebrow and a blue mark underneath his left eye.

  “What the — ” Colin cut himself off. “Alright, let’s go.” He walked out with Jason following behind. Once they were alone in the hallway, Colin hovered over Jason. “What happened?”

  Jason lowered his gaze.

  “Look at me, Jas. What happened?”