by Jodi Vaughn
“I didn’t know I had a type.”
“Don’t even think about making a go for her.”
Mitch’s eyebrows shot up and he eased forward in his seat. “Is that because you like her?”
“What? No.” Suddenly he wasn’t so hungry anymore. He shoved his half-eaten sandwich away. He glanced at his watch. Another thirty minutes left on his lunch hour.
A smile grew across Mitch’s face. “Mrs. Hogard over at the bank said I should ask her out.”
Sloan gritted his teeth. “Mrs. Hogard is clearly insane if she is trying to set you up on a date.”
Mitch shrugged his shoulders. “Maybe she thinks I should settle down.”
Sloan laughed.
“What’s so funny?”
“You’re funny, that’s what. Did you tell her you’re not the settling down kind of guy?”
Mitch furrowed his brows. “Maybe I am. Maybe I just haven’t met the right woman.” He gave him a shit-eating grin. “Maybe this new chick is the right one.”
“She’s not the right one for you.” He slammed his hand on the table.
“Relax, Sloan. Just pulling your chain.” Mitch munched on a chip. “Seems to me you’re interested in her yourself.”
Sloan started to speak, but Mitch held up his hand, stopping him. “Look, I don’t care what your interests are in her, just as long as you do something about it.”
“What does that mean?”
“I mean you need to stop moping around and snapping at everyone. Felicia was a bitch. I knew it from the start. Consider yourself lucky that you didn’t get married. Can you imagine what kind of hell that would have been?”
“I don’t mope,” Sloan groused.
Mitch shook his head. “Whatever. Look, for the first time in months, you’re different. I wouldn’t exactly call it happy. At least you’re not so damn moody. It started when that new woman showed up. To me, that’s a good thing.”
Sloan ran his hand through his hair. “She’s made it clear that she’s not interested in a relationship.”
“Did you kiss her?”
Sloan nodded. That had been the hottest kiss he’d ever had.
“Did she slap you?”
“No.”
“So a beautiful woman makes it clear she doesn’t want a relationship, but didn’t slap you when you kissed her? Sounds like she just wants something with no-strings attached. Basically, you have hit the jackpot.”
Sloan shifted in his seat, not really knowing if he liked that scenario.
Mitch got to his feet and slapped him on the back. “Now, what you need to do is get your ass over to her house and show her just how welcoming you can be. You’ll be surprised how much more interested a woman is in a relationship, after giving her a couple of orgasms.”
***
“Mr. Heffner will see you now.” The young secretary smiled, opened the door with PRINCIPAL etched into the glass, and waved Grace through.
Grace had been told it would be half an hour before the principal could see her. She debated leaving. In the end, giving this job a shot won out and she waited. She’d spent those minutes trying to think positive thoughts while flipping through old magazines filled with recipes and parental advice.
“Miss Witherspoon, I’m Principal Heffner.” The short fat man behind the large desk stood long enough to be considered polite before plopping back down in his leather chair. “I was told you wanted to meet with me about the dance instructor position?”
She wasn’t getting a friendly vibe so she decided to give him her best smile and try to kill him with kindness.
“Thank you for seeing me on such short notice. I appreciate it.”
Ignoring any pleasantries, he shuffled some papers on his desk and glanced at his computer screen. “Did you fill out an application?”
“Yes, I did, but . . .” She held out the paper and he snatched it out of her hand.
His gaze roamed down the application. His thin lips turned down into a frown. “This is not filled out properly. There is a lot of missing information.” He tapped the paper as he spoke. “Here, you didn’t put down your social security number.”
She swallowed. “My social security card was destroyed in a fire and I never had time to get a new one. I see where it says you need to have a copy, so you see, I don’t have that.”
He smirked. “I’m sure you’ve been busy. You must know in order to be considered for a position here at our school you’ll have to provide the necessary information.”
“I understand.” She gritted out between her teeth. Forget killing him with kindness, she just wanted to kill him.
“What about personal references?”
“Well, I only went to school for dance, so I really don’t have anyone to vouch for my dancing skills.”
He sighed and gave her a pitying smile. “Mrs. Witherspoon, I’m afraid I can’t help you. We are looking for a qualified instructor with experience.”
Grace swallowed and glanced at the trophies on the shelf to the right. “I see your school has done quite well in football.”
His face lit up and he puffed out his fat chest. “Yes, it has. We’ve been state champs for three years in a row.”
“What about the dance team? Has it ever made it to regionals?”
His smile faded. “No. That’s not our strong area. Football is.”
She licked her dry lips. “I bet with the right teacher it could be another strong area. Another trophy never hurts.”
“Miss Witherspoon…” He stood and walked around his desk to open his door. “I’m afraid until you get the proper paperwork, the answer for the position is no.”
Her face heated as she walked out into the waiting area. Two women stopped talking and watched her with unveiled curiosity.
“Thank you for your time.” She clutched her purse to her chest as she strode out the front door. Once outside, she sucked in a deep breath and hurried for her car, seeking refuge.
This whole thing was a mistake. She never should have come.
“Excuse me, miss!”
She reached her car and held her breath as she turned. The two women who’d been in the waiting room ran after her. One woman had short blonde hair cut in a pixie style with sharp blue eyes and was dressed in jeans paired with a lacy white peasant T-shirt. The other woman was a brunette with brown eyes and dressed in a simple maxi dress in a vivid array of colors.
“Sorry to bother you. We couldn’t help but overhear what Principal Heffner was saying.” The blonde gave her a sympathetic smile.
She cringed. Perfect. Her humiliation was now public.
“I’m Beth and this is Heather.”
“I’m Grace.”
“Yes, we overheard.” Heather spoke up. “So you’re a dance instructor.”
She shrugged. “I’ve gone to school for dance. I really don’t have experience in teaching it.”
“So you can dance, right?” Beth cocked her head and gave Heather a look.
“Yes, but there’s no way the school is going to hire me without references.” She stuck her key in the door.
“What if we hired you?”
Grace turned. “What do you mean?”
“What if the mothers of the dancers hired you? You could practice after school on the football field after the football team is finished.”
She shook her head. “I don’t think the principal would allow it.”
“As long as it’s after school hours and he’s not paying for it, then I don’t think he would care.” Heather crossed her arms as a slow smile crossed her face. “In fact, I think I can get him to agree to that.”
“You could. That little asshole has a crush on you.” Beth snorted.
Heather’s gaze flicked upward. “Yes, well as long as I can use that to our benefit, I’ll take one for the team and be nice to the troll.”
“What do you say?” Beth looked at Grace, waiting for answer.
“How much are we talking about?” Grace’s heart sped up with
excitement. She didn’t want to jump on the offer, but any income would be wonderful.
“There are ten girls. We had twelve, but one moved away and the other is preggers.”
Heather pulled out her phone and typed in some numbers. “The last dance instructor was on the school staff so she was paid a salary. We can’t pay you that much.”
Grace quickly calculated some numbers in her head. “Usually lessons are twenty to forty dollars an hour. How does ten dollars per girl sound?”
Beth’s eyes lit up. “How long would the lessons be?”
“At least a couple of hours, three days a week. Some days they might need to stay later than others. Even though its spring, I’d like for them to start getting the routines down for the fall.”
Heather smiled and stuck out her hand. “Sounds like a deal to me.”
“Really?” Grace took her hand as her heart tumbled in her chest.
“Yes. Looks like you just found yourself a job, Miss Witherspoon.”
***
Grace pulled into an empty parking space near the football field with butterflies in her stomach and second thoughts in her head.
After agreeing to take on the job of teaching the dance team, the first thing she did was go to the library to use the computer. She’d gone over her allotted time, but the kindly librarian let her use the computer longer since there was hardly anyone else in the building. She’d spent those hours going over dance routines she’d found on You Tube and taking notes.
That night she went over the routine in her dining room until she got something that would work.
She just hoped the girls would like it.
The next afternoon, Grace parked near the football field. She grabbed her clipboard, gym bag, and cell phone. She had made a play list and wanted the girls to listen and pick out music for the routine. She was going in blind with this whole dance team. If she could make enough money to get her dance studio set up then she could start teaching private ballet lessons.
The murmur of voices grew louder as she walked toward the bleachers. Girls gathered in a huddle laughing and talking, while Heather and Beth stood off to the side texting.
“Grace. We’re so excited you’re here.” Beth looked up from her phone, grinned and put her arm around Grace’s shoulder.
“Thanks. I see everyone is already here?” She nodded toward the girls who’d suddenly stopped talking and were now checking out their new instructor.
“Yes. They got here early to watch the football players.” Heather sighed. “I keep telling them they need to date a nerd. They are the ones that will be making all the money after college.”
Grace held up her cell phone. “I downloaded some songs onto my phone. I don’t have a speaker for it.”
“Oh, I already thought of that.” Beth dug in her large designer bag and pulled out a rectangular speaker. “It may be small, but it’s loud.”
“Thanks.” Grace took the speaker and sat it on a nearby bleacher.
A young girl with long blonde hair and blue eyes ran over to where they stood. “Mom, can I spend the night with Kelly?”
Heather sighed. “You know it’s a school night.”
“Mom, please.”
Heather sighed. “Let me think about it. I want you to meet your new instructor. Melanie, this is Grace.”
“Hi, Melanie.” Grace stuck out her hand.
Melanie hesitated and then took it. “Hi. Wow, you sure don’t look like Mrs. Parsons.”
Grace smiled. “I’m guessing she was your last instructor?”
“Yes, and she was about forty pounds overweight.”
“Melanie!” Heather chided.
“What? Even you said she had the calves of a linebacker.” Melanie gave her an innocent look.
Grace held in her smile.
“Anyway, I’ll introduce you to the rest of the girls and we’ll leave so you can get started.”
***
After introductions, the girls showed Grace the routines they already knew. Grace then introduced some new moves. The girls seemed really excited about her choice in music and the new routine. They practiced for another hour before calling it a day. Just as she was walking to her car Tabitha and Allison pulled up next to her.
“Hey, heard the dance team hired a hot new teacher,” Tabitha yelled out the window.
Grace laughed. “I just started today. How did you find out so fast?”
“Small town, remember?” Allison got out of the car and walked over to her. She was holding a brown wicker basket. “We brought you something.”
“For what?”
“It’s a small congrats on landing the job.” Tabitha eased out of the car and pulled something out of the backseat. “She brought you treats to eat. I bought you the good stuff. Wine.”
“I will never turn down wine.” She took the basket and smiled. “There’s chocolate too.”
“That was my idea.” Allison stuck out her chin.
“Thanks guys. A glass of wine and a long bath sound really good right now.”
“I know what would make it even better,” Tabitha purred.
“What’s that?”
“If you shared that bath and the wine with Sloan.” Tabitha cocked her eyebrow.
Allison cringed. “Hey. I’m standing right here.”
Tabitha shrugged. “I can’t help it that your brother is hot.”
Allison stuck both fingers in her ears.
“I think I’ll just stick with the wine and bubble bath.” Grace blushed.
She busied herself with sticking the goodies in the backseat of her car, while trying to get her heated face under control.
“Hmmm. Me thinks she doth protest too much.” Tabitha grinned.
“Leave her alone. She’s not interested in Sloan. Isn’t that right, Grace?” Allison waited for an answer.
Grace shifted her weight and looked away.
A slow smile crossed Tabitha’s beautiful face. “Isn’t that interesting?”
“What?” Allison looked between them.
“Spill, Grace. What’s going on between you and Sloan?” Tabitha nudged her with her elbow.
“Nothing.” She rubbed her hands on her thighs.
“Why do I not believe you?” Tabitha smiled.
She swallowed and shook her head. “It was nothing.”
“What was nothing?” Allison and Tabitha asked in unison.
“You guys totally did it. You had sex.” Tabitha pointed her finger.
Grace’s mouth fell open. “We did not. It was just a kiss.”
Tabitha gave her a smug look. “I knew I could get it out of you.”
Grace blushed and Allison winced. “Allison, I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. It was after the yard sale and he was helping me move stuff inside. Then there was the whole snake debacle.”
Allison wrapped her arms around Grace and squeezed. When she pulled away the joy on her face was evident. “I’m pretty sure you’re the first woman he’s kissed since Felicia. That means he’s moved on. He’s trying to get his own life back now.”
“You’re not mad?” Grace cocked a brow.
“Absolutely not. I couldn’t be more thrilled.” She hugged her again.
“I want to hear more about this whole snake debacle.” Tabitha peered at her. “Is that what he calls his thing?” She pointed to her crotch.
“Tabitha.” Allison shot her a warning look. “We’ll let you go. I know you’ve had a long day and want to get home.”
The two waved as they drove out of the parking lot.
For the first time since moving to Cloverton, a sense of peace settled over her. She inhaled the cool night air and smiled as she got behind the wheel of her car. Maybe this town was where she needed to be. Then she could finally start living again.
***
“Want to grab a beer at the bar?” Mitch unbuttoned his uniform shirt and pulled a T-shirt out of his locker.
“I’ll be by later. I promised the coach I’d swing by football p
ractice after I got off.” Sloan slammed his locker shut. It had been a long fucking day and he had the weekend off.
“I hear your girlfriend is Cloverton’s new dance team instructor.”
Sloan froze. “What?”
“Thought you knew.” Mitch snorted. “It seems the principal wouldn’t hire her as an official staff so some moms got together to hire her to give the girls lessons. Since it’s after school it doesn’t matter if he approves. Plus one of the moms, you know the one with the big tits, sweetened the principal up in order for him to agree to the arrangement.”
“Which one? They all have big tits.” Sloan faced him. “And how the hell did you find out before me? Allison and Grace are friends. I’m surprised she didn’t tell me at lunch today.”
Mitch pulled his T-shirt over his head and faced him. “Maybe since you let her know you’re not interested in Grace, she just thought you wouldn’t care.”
Sloan looked away. He shouldn’t have told Mitch about their disastrous dinner at Allison’s.
Mitch gave him a slow grin. “Grace practices with the girls after the football team is off the field. Maybe you should stick around. In fact, maybe I’ll go with you so I can meet her myself.”
Sloan glared. “Don’t even think about it.”
Mitch let out a laugh and slammed his locker shut. “If you wait too long to make a move some other guy will. Just giving you the cold hard facts, my man.” He slapped him on the shoulder and headed out the door.
Sloan reached in his locker and grabbed the long forgotten bottle of cologne he’d kept in there when he was dating Felicia. He told himself he wasn’t doing it for Grace’s benefit. He told himself he had missed wearing cologne.
He applied the cologne and shook his head as he stuffed the bottle back in his locker.
He knew in his gut that Grace wasn’t telling him everything. Not that she’d told him much to begin with, still, there was something she was trying so desperately to hide.
He inhaled deeply and shut the locker.
A relationship was nothing without honesty. He’d been there and done that and he wasn’t going down that road again.
