Bending the Rules

by Margaret Watson

  “I agree.” Nathan watched the teacher steadily. “Don’t you think that a student who’s getting an almost perfect grade and doing math projects on her own should be in a higher level class?”

  “The advanced class is for freshmen. Harley’s not ready for it.”

  Nathan glanced at Emma, and she nodded. She could read his mind perfectly. “Thanks for your opinion, but we’ll discuss that with the principal,” she said, keeping her voice pleasant.

  Nathan switched his gaze back to the teacher. “Thank you for your time, Mr. Dempster. Ms. Sloan and I appreciate it.”

  Emma pulled the envelope out of her purse and set it on the desk, in front of the teacher. “Here’s the signed note,” she said.

  “We’ll check in with you from time to time,” Nathan said. “To make sure there aren’t any further problems.”

  Thank you, Nathan. He’d just put the teacher on notice.

  “It’s always helpful when...parents and guardians take an interest in our students,” he said. “I’ll look forward to speaking with you again.”

  Emma stood up. “I doubt that will be necessary. Since we’ve discussed Harley’s situation, I’m sure we’ve solved the problem.” She and Nathan would be speaking to the principal about that advanced math class before they left today. “Thank you, Mr. Dempster.”

  Dempster nodded and focused his attention on his computer. Nathan narrowed his gaze at the teacher, but Emma hooked her arm through his and tugged him out the door. Neither of them spoke until they were in the stairwell.

  “I wanted to kick that guy’s ass,” Nathan growled.

  “Yes, I know you did.” She let go of his arm. “I did, too, and it would have been really satisfying. But if we can’t get Harley into that advanced math class, she’ll have to deal with that idiot for the rest of the year.”

  A muscle twitched in Nathan’s jaw. “We’re going to talk to the principal right now. I don’t want Harley in that class even one more day.”

  “Nathan. Wait.” At the landing, she stepped in front of him. The stairwell was colder than the classrooms, and she shivered. “You were great in there. You were calm and you got your points across. But you have to do that with the principal, too. I’m sure she knows Dempster isn’t a good teacher—we can’t be the first to complain about him. We’ll tell her that Harley isn’t being challenged and needs higher level math. She’ll get it.”

  A muscle twitched in Nathan’s jaw, but as he stared at her, his eyes softened. “You’re right. Thank goodness for your cool head.”

  She was unable to tear her gaze away from him. “And your steadiness.”

  “We’ll be just as good with the principal,” Nathan said, edging closer. “You’ll charm her and I’ll be the logical one. The woman won’t know what hit her.”

  “I think you’re the one who’ll charm her,” Emma said softly. The evening they’d met, his smile had made her toes curl. “Just like you charmed me.”

  His eyes darkened as he stared back at her. “When was that, Emma? I haven’t exactly been Mr. Suave lately.”

  In the quiet of the stairwell, his low voice echoed off the walls and felt like a caress. “The night we met,” she said. “Before Harley came to live with me.”

  “What would have happened, Emma?” She didn’t see him move, but somehow he was closer to her. “If Sonya hadn’t died? If Harley hadn’t come to live with you?”

  The weak winter sun streaming in through the windows turned his eyes to silvery-blue pools, deep and mysterious. “I think...” She took a deep breath, trying to draw air into her suddenly tight chest. “I would have called you,” she whispered. She wanted to lean closer. To test the fragile connection they’d woven between them.

  “Only if I didn’t call you first,” he murmured. His hand cupped her cheek. He was so close she saw the tiny gold flecks in the blue of his eyes.

  He leaned closer and brushed his lips over hers before drawing back a little. Her eyes had fluttered closed, and she opened them to see him hesitating, as if waiting for a signal.

  She closed her fists in the leather of his jacket and pulled him in. It was as if a dam broke. He took her face in his hands and pressed his mouth to hers.

  He slid his lips over hers slowly, as if memorizing her taste. Emma swayed closer. Let go of his jacket and wrapped her arms around him. His chest was hard against hers as he kissed her more deeply. Nibbled on her lower lip, drawing it between his teeth.

  A tiny moan echoed in the silence of the stairwell. Hers? His? She wasn’t sure. She slid her hands up his jacket and threaded her fingers into his hair. Opened her mouth to him.

  He tasted of coffee and peppermint. Heat rose between them, and she moved against him. She wanted to rip off his jacket. She wanted to run her hands over his skin.

  A door above them banged open, and they sprang apart. Panting, they stared at each other. Nathan touched her lips with his fingertips. Then let his hand drop.

  Unable to look away, Emma fumbled for the railing behind her. His face was all hard planes and angles, and his eyes were dark. Aroused. She knew she looked the same way.

  Footsteps descended above them. Nathan grabbed her hand and led her down the stairs. They waited at the next landing, and the doors above them opened.

  He didn’t let her go. His thumb caressed small circles on the back of her hand. Each brush of his skin against hers made her want to take up where they’d left off.

  “Bad timing,” he finally said.

  “The worst.” She swallowed. Tried to compose herself.

  He lifted his other hand, stroked her cheek. “To be continued?”

  “Yes,” she whispered instinctively. Closed her eyes. “No. This would be a huge complication.”

  “You’re right,” he said. “It would. But...”

  “Yeah.” She swallowed. He’d barely kissed her, and her body was humming with desire. Begging for far more than a kiss. “But.”

  She tugged her hand away from his and immediately wanted to give it back. But they needed to lighten this up. “Harley would be horrified to know her...that you and I were kissing on the stairs at her school.”

  He stepped away. “The ultimate in teenage embarrassment.”

  His smile made her sway toward him again. She gripped the railing, curling her fingers tightly around the worn varnished wood. “We should go find the principal.”

  “Yes, we should.” His mouth curled into a grin. “Before we get a note sent home for inappropriate behavior.”

  He stepped beside her and put his hand on her back. Even through her winter coat, she felt the heat of his hand. The press of his fingers into her spine.

  “No,” she managed to say. “No more notes.”

  Arousal still quivered in the air between them, making her legs weak. Trying to distract herself, she said, “We were a good tag team with Dempster. Let’s go in and continue our teamwork with the principal.” Her voice echoed in the open space, bouncing off the cold, pea-green walls. “Before she leaves for the day.”

  “Right.” When they reached the bottom of the stairs, he pushed the door open for her and his hand fell away from her back.

  “Mrs. Simon’s office is at the other end of the hall,” Emma said, knowing if she looked at him, she would see the same desire in his eyes that coursed through her body.

  “You’ve been here before,” Nathan said quietly.

  “Yeah. I have.” The memories of that first week after Sonya died
were painful. Harley’s grief had broken her heart.

  “Thank you,” Nathan said, shoving his hands into his pockets. “For taking care of Harley so well.”

  “I love her.”

  He glanced at her, then stared straight ahead. “Yeah, I know you do.”

  As they reached the hall that held the administrative offices, a man with a fringe of close-cropped white hair stepped into the hall and headed their way. He smoothed one hand down his overcoat, and Nathan stopped abruptly. Stared at him. “Mr. Kopecki,” he said.

  The older man froze. He dropped his hand to his side. “Nathan. What on earth are you doing here?”

  Nathan hesitated. “This is Emma Sloan,” he finally said. “She’s the guardian for the daughter of a friend of hers, and she needed to talk to one of Harley’s teachers. I tagged along. Emma, this is Mitch Kopecki. He’s a big deal in the state’s attorney’s office. His son Danny went to school with Patrick.”

  “Nice to meet you.” Emma shook his hand.

  Kopecki smiled. “Nathan exaggerates. I’m a very small cog in the wheels of justice. But he was right about one thing—I’ve known his family forever.” Kopecki glanced at Nathan’s leg. “Didn’t see you walking the other night. Looks like you’re recovering well from your accident.”

  “I’m coming along. Still have some rehab to do.”

  Tilting his head, Kopecki asked, “Are you sure you don’t want to prosecute Bridie Sullivan? She shouldn’t have been driving when she hit you that night.”

  “I’m good,” Nathan said. “And I’m impressed that you know her name.”

  “Danny told me about the accident,” Kopecki said easily. “Cops like those kinds of cases—the ones where all’s well that ends well. Don’t see that too often.”

  “I guess not. Is there a problem at the school?” Nathan asked politely.

  “Nah. Just had to drop something off. About a case,” Kopecki clarified. He held out his hand and Nathan shook it. “Good to see you, Nate. And nice to meet you, Ms. Sloan.”

  The older man tugged at his collar and loosened his tie as he walked out the door. “He’s got a good memory,” Nathan finally murmured. He glanced at Emma. “He used to be a cop—I guess that’s where he picked up the knack.”

  “For someone he hasn’t seen in a while, he seems to know a lot about you,” Emma said.

  “Neighborhood guy. He was at Mama’s not too long ago. And everyone from Wildwood remembers my parents. Remembers how they died.”

  “I guess they would,” Emma said quietly. She gestured toward the door to the office complex. “Let’s go talk to Mrs. Simon. I know you have to get back to the restaurant.”

  “I, ah...yeah. Actually, our new manager started this week, so I don’t technically need to be there. But I want to check in and see how she’s doing.”

  Fifteen minutes later, they were back in the corridor. “That was easy,” Emma said. “Mrs. Simon didn’t seem to have any reservations about putting Harley in the advanced math class. I wonder why Dempster did.”

  “The guy has a big ego,” Nathan said, opening the door for her. Emma wrapped her coat around herself against the rush of cold air. “Bastard didn’t want to admit Harley was too smart for his class.”

  “I hope Harley’s okay with the move,” she said as she hurried toward her car. The wind was blowing off the lake, bringing the taste of snow.

  “Why wouldn’t she be?” He tucked Emma’s scarf more tightly around her throat, then let his hand linger on her shoulder. “I’m guessing she’ll be glad to get away from Dempster. She’s probably bored as hell in his class.”

  “Were you good in math?” she asked.

  His hand fell away. “Yeah. I always liked it.”

  “Harley gets that from you. Sonya hated anything that involved numbers.”

  He shoved his hands into his pockets. “That still freaks me out—seeing parts of myself in a kid.”

  “Really? I think it would be pretty cool. A little bit of immortality.”

  Nathan rolled his shoulders. “Assuming you’re used to the idea of having a kid.”

  “And you’re not?”

  “Come on, Emma. I’ve known about her for how long? A couple of weeks? Of course I’m not used to the idea.”

  “Plus you have other things in your life,” she murmured.

  “Yes. I do. My spare time is consumed by the investigation we’re involved in.”

  “You need to tell me about that. Soon. In fact, why don’t we do it now? I still have a little time before I pick Harley up.” Emma knew her voice had cooled. But she wasn’t going to take a chance with Harley. “I need to know what to watch for.”

  “Not tonight. I have to get back to the restaurant.”

  “You said you have a manager starting tonight.”

  “Who shouldn’t be alone her first night on the job.”

  “Harley’s important, too.”

  They stared at one another, and all the warmth from their kiss on the stairwell was gone. Now Nathan looked uncomfortable. Tense. As if it had finally struck him—this was real. He was a parent, with responsibilities to his child. And he wasn’t ready to be.

  “It looks like it’s going to snow,” he finally said. “You’d better get going, in case traffic gets bad.”

  “Right. Have a good evening, Nathan.”

  She slid into the car, started the engine and pulled away. As she glanced in her rearview mirror, Nathan stood alone in the middle of the almost-empty parking lot, watching her leave.

  Everyone had fears about being a parent. She guessed no one embraced it unreservedly, especially at first. She’d been terrified about being responsible for Harley.

  Nathan had been alone for a long time. Ever since his parents died. He’d already raised three siblings. Did he not want to be a parent again? Was that why he was holding back?

  She eased her foot off the accelerator. She should turn the car around and invite him to dinner with her and Harley. Maybe he just needed more time to be comfortable with the idea of being a father.

  That could only happen if he got to know Harley.

  She pressed the accelerator down. The more time he spent with Harley, the more likely he was to bond with her. To want his daughter with him.

  The more likely Emma would have to give Harley up.

  But Emma wanted to spend time with Nathan, too.

  Before she could make up her mind what to do, she saw Nathan get into his own vehicle. She hesitated for a moment, then kept going. She and Nathan were all about missed possibilities.

  She owed it to Harley to try to foster a connection between child and father. So she’d call Nathan soon. Try to figure out an activity they could all enjoy together.

  The first few snowflakes hit her windshield, melted and disappeared. Just like those fleeting moments inside the school when she’d thought everything would work out so easily.

  Just like those moments that had her thinking of happily every after.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  NATHAN SLAMMED ON the brakes as the light turned yellow, then smacked his palm on the steering wheel. He should have asked Emma and Harley to have dinner with him. He should have gotten them all away from the distractions at Mama’s. Away from the emotional land mines that lurked in every memory-soaked corner of the restaurant. He needed to know Harley better—it was his responsibility to take the initiative on that.

  And Emma? He wanted to know her better.

/>   The truth was, he’d freaked out. Emma had referred to him as Harley’s father so easily. So naturally. As if he was supposed to feel all parental toward Harley already.

  In reality, the kid was a stranger to him. It wasn’t admirable, and it wasn’t right, but with everything else going on, he hadn’t been in a hurry to change that.

  Instead of stepping up to the plate, he’d ignored the reality of having a daughter. That made him feel like a slimeball. Dad Jerk-face.

  That kiss he’d shared with Emma had freaked him out, too, once he’d gotten his libido under control. The strings binding them together had gotten stronger this afternoon. But those strings were entwined with Harley. He couldn’t ignore the fact that Emma was his daughter’s guardian. Even though he wanted to.

  Emma was a beautiful woman. The chemistry between them had been smoking hot from the minute they’d laid eyes on each other.

  But now Harley stood between them. And going to a parent-teacher conference together wasn’t the connection with Emma he was looking for. It was like being Mom and Dad. Hell, he wasn’t sure he was ready to be a father. Let alone one of a set of parents.

  After their kiss in that dreary stairwell, he’d wanted more. In that brief moment of barely kissing her, he’d been ready to drag her somewhere private and make love with her for hours. And based on the way she’d looked at him, she felt the same way.

  But...

  He and Emma were far more complicated than that. And he wasn’t sure if he was ready to go there.

  Finally, after battling stop-and-go traffic, with the snow flurries skidding across the street in front of him, he pulled into Mama’s parking lot, which was almost empty. With the forecast calling for a few inches of snow, people were staying home.

  So what was he doing here? Phoebe didn’t need his help. He should have gone to dinner with Emma and Harley.