Lessons from a One-Night Stand

by Rayne, Piper

I stand in front of Savannah’s assistant’s desk. “Hey, Sabrina.”

  She looks up over the rim of her black glasses. “Austin!” She stands and rounds the desk. “Savannah didn’t say you were coming in today.” She hugs me and steps back, smiling.

  “Yeah, she doesn’t know. Is she busy?”

  She shoots me a look that suggests Savannah is always busy.

  “Just ten minutes,” I say, thinking this conversation will probably go longer than that.

  “She’s with your grandma. Let me buzz in and see what’s going on.” She rounds her desk and hits the speaker button.

  “Yeah, Sabrina?” Savannah answers over the speakerphone.

  “I have Austin here.”

  Sabrina’s voice is so chipper, I wonder how she keeps up with it when Savannah’s her boss. Not that my sister’s a terrible person to work for, but her work persona and the one she has with the family are very different.

  “Okay, tell him to give me… what, Grandma? Send him in, Sabrina.”

  Sabrina smiles and motions for me to go in.

  “Thanks.” I walk in.

  Savannah’s obviously had a hard day. Her hair is up in a messy bun, and her blouse is untucked from her pants.

  “What’s going on?” I ask, closing the office door.

  Grandma Dori pats the couch cushion next to her. “Just business. How are you, dear?” She leans in, and I kiss her cheek as I sit down.

  Savannah plops into the chair adjacent to us. “It’s that dickwad again. Just so you know, I’m almost ready to go to jail for arson.”

  “What happened now?”

  “He’s actually going to press charges on me!”

  Savannah sounds surprised, but I’m not. She did hit him with a mug. Knowing everything I do about the guy, I’m not surprised that he’d use this opportunity to his benefit.

  Grandma Dori nudges me. “You and the principal weren’t even in Buzz Wheel last night. It was all about my granddaughter.” She looks at Savannah with a proud glint in her eyes.

  “You get upset with me because I was in my Jeep with a woman and Savannah gets arrested and you’re happy?” I ask incredulously.

  She pats my sister’s knee. “I’m proud of her. I wish her arm was stronger and she would’ve broken his nose, but it was the effort that counts.” She winks at Savannah, who rolls her eyes.

  “So, what’s it going to mean for you if he presses charges?” I ask, looking between my sister and grandma.

  “Fines, community service, maybe anger management classes. It’s ridiculous. If I’m going to pay for this, I wish I would’ve broken his nose.” Savannah stares out the window.

  “I think it’s about time I go talk to him,” I say.

  Savannah whips her head in my direction and narrows her eyes. “No!”

  “Why not?”

  “I don’t need some man to come in and save me. I’ll do it myself.” She walks over to her small bar fridge and grabs a water.

  “I’m not trying to save you. I’m trying to help.”

  “No, Austin. I can handle it.”

  Grandma Dori pats my thigh. “Your sister is tough. She can handle this. You.” She sticks out her bottom lip and moves her head from side to side.

  I rear back. “What? You think I’m weak?”

  Grandma Dori shrugs.

  Savannah giggles, opening her water bottle.

  “You think I couldn’t have taken over this business?”

  Savannah giggles some more. Grandma Dori’s eyes widen.

  “Just say it.”

  My grandma pats my leg again. “We all have our strengths.”

  “But being tough isn’t one of mine?”

  “Let me put it this way. If you had thrown the mug, you would’ve broken his nose, but convincing him to drop the charges? Savannah is the gal to handle that.”

  I lean back and cross my arms.

  “Enough with your depressed puppy dog eyes,” Savannah says. “There’s a reason I took the company and you took the kids, remember?”

  I do actually. I would’ve really sacrificed my future had I tried my hand at the business. Even when I interned with Dad—after he lectured me about needing a back-up plan in case baseball didn’t pan out—I sucked. Confrontation that needs to be solved through negotiation isn’t my thing. Neither are balance sheets and payroll. Running a team—which is how I looked at my younger siblings when I first took responsibility for them—was definitely in my wheelhouse.

  “Forget Clint Edison. Why are you here?” Savannah sits down and leans forward, eager to hear what I have to say.

  She won’t be so eager after I say it.

  “Well…” I glance at my grandma. She looks good. Healthy. She can handle this news. My attention veers to Savannah. She’s not smiling, but I’m sure she’ll see that Holly’s the victim here.

  “What? Is it Phoenix?” Savannah prods. “Because I was thinking about it, and you should let her go with you to California.”

  “What? No, it’s not Phoenix.” She’s definitely not going with me to California, but that’s a conversation for another time.

  “Then what, sweetie?” Grandma Dori shifts in her seat to face me better.

  “Well, you know how we ran into Holly in Greywall last night?”

  Savannah points at Grandma Dori. “I was just telling her about that and how upset she seemed. What was wrong?”

  “Holly is in Alaska for more than just the principal job. She took the job to get in contact with her estranged father, but…”

  Savannah’s eyes widen. Grandma Dori pats my thigh to encourage me to continue.

  “Turns out she was having dinner with her father at that steakhouse in Greywall.” I wait, but both of them sit there with curious eyes, not putting two and two together. “Her father is Clint Edison.”

  Savannah draws back as though I slapped her.

  An inaudible sound grumbles out of Grandma Dori’s mouth. “She was a sweet girl. I’m sorry, Austin.”

  Now it’s me drawing back as though I’ve been slapped. “What?”

  “I honestly thought she might be the one who would keep you here.” Savannah gulps down her water, sharing a look with Grandma Dori.

  “I’m not going to stop seeing her because of this,” I inform them.

  Their mouths drop open.

  “She’s Clint Edison’s daughter?” Savannah says.

  I nod. “The one he abandoned.”

  “Why would you keep seeing her? I thought it wasn’t even serious, and now that you find this out… help me understand, Austin.” Savannah sits up straight in her chair. “She’s the enemy.”

  “She’s not the enemy. Clint Edison is the enemy.”

  “How do you know this isn’t some scheme for her to get intel on the company?” Savannah says.

  I clench my fists.

  “She was so very sweet,” Grandma Dori says.

  “She’s not a spy. We’re not the government. She doesn’t even know him. She didn’t know about the feud between our families until last night.”

  “So she says,” Savannah says in a biting tone.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me. You actually think she got close to me because I’m Austin Bailey?”

  “You’re so naive. Like we said, there’s a reason I took responsibility for the business.”

  My heart pumps against my ribcage so hard it could make a dent as I try to keep my anger in check. “Are you so close-hearted that you actually believe what you’re spewing?”

  She glances at Grandma Dori and back at me. “That’s harsh.”

  “So you’re saying that Holly’s using me? Does the news suck? Of course, but it’s not her fault. She’s not a spy, and this business has jaded you. Do you even hear yourself?”

  “Now, now, kids. Calm down. We don’t want everyone to hear you.” Grandma Dori puts her hands up, but I’m just getting started.

  I knew Savannah would be pissed, but not so much that she’d make up shit.

&nb
sp; “You’re putting your family at risk if you keep sleeping with her,” Savannah says surprisingly calmly. “And by the way, Austin, everyone in Lake Starlight knows the two of you are screwing. You can keep on sneaking around, but it’s common knowledge.”

  I shrug. I’ve lived here my entire life, so I figured people knew, but I tried to lay low for Holly’s benefit. “It’s not serious between us, but I’ll be damned if I’m gonna let you cast her as the enemy here.”

  Savannah stands. “She is. Her last name is Edison.”

  I stand too. “Her last name is Radcliffe. Seriously, get a grip on reality!”

  “Kids!” Grandma Dori yells.

  Our heads shift in her direction.

  “Stop. Who the hell cares? According to Austin, she’s nobody important to him and they’ll go their separate ways soon. You’re fighting over nothing.”

  I pause at her words. She’s nobody important to him?

  “Fine. Whatever. But keep anything I tell you about the company to yourself. No pillow talk, lover boy.” Savannah sits down in her desk chair and slides it into her desk.

  My mind is still hiccupping over two words—nobody important. Holly isn’t a nobody.

  “You’re delusional.” I kiss my grandma’s cheek and slam the door when I leave.

  I pull out my phone, my thumb resting over Holly’s name, ready to press the call button.

  “Have a great night.” Sabrina smiles even though I’m sure she heard our raised voices.

  “You too, Sabrina.”

  I shove my phone back into my pocket and paste on a fake smile as I leave the building.

  Thirty

  Holly

  After another heart-to-heart with my mom last night, feeling unwanted by my dad has dissolved into the background. Maybe I’ll develop a relationship with him and maybe I won’t, but whatever happens, it doesn’t mean I’m unlovable.

  It’s fourth period, Austin’s free period to catch up on work, so I walk down the hall toward the bathroom as an excuse to pass by his classroom.

  He didn’t text or call me last night, said he had some marking to catch up on.

  I glance into his classroom as I pass by, but he’s not at his desk and his biology classroom is empty. Disappointment sets in, and my footsteps grow faster toward the bathroom.

  Washing my hands since I don’t really need to go the bathroom, I stare at myself in the mirror. Who am I becoming? A woman who purposely tries to put herself in front of a man to make him notice her? That’s not me.

  If Austin Bailey doesn’t want to see or talk to me, I need to carry on with my life. How on earth do I think I’ll be able to leave him in two months if I can’t stand not seeing him for a single day?

  On my way back to my office, I refuse to look into his classroom.

  “Principal Radcliffe.”

  If only my body would be in agreement with my mind. Butterfly wings leave a fluttery feeling in my stomach at the sound of his voice.

  I turn to face his open classroom door. He looks breathtaking in slacks and a button-down with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, showing off his strong forearms. His hair is perfectly styled, and the extra scruff on his face completes the entire package.

  How will I survive not seeing him every day?

  “Do you have a moment?” he asks.

  “Of course, Coach Bailey.” I step into his classroom, seeing it’s empty.

  “Do you mind shutting the door? It’s about a student and…” He lets the sentence hang there, and I wish I knew if he was saying it for others’ benefit or whether it’s the truth.

  “Sure.” I turn and shut the door.

  “You can stay just like that.”

  I still.

  “I do love to admire your ass.” His shoes click along the linoleum behind me, each step bringing him closer, and a shiver runs up my spine.

  I glance behind me at the windows. Thankfully, the blinds are all drawn.

  “I had a movie day today,” he whispers, his head nudging my ear and his hand sliding down my side until he grabs my ass.

  I lift up on the balls of my feet as heat pools between my thighs.

  “God, I missed you,” he says in a rough, low voice.

  The words a girlfriend would say are on the tip of my tongue. Why didn’t you call? You didn’t have to miss me.

  “Yeah?” I say instead and swivel around to face him.

  He steps into me. “How is your mom? I was giving you two, some time together.” His mouth moves into the crook of my neck, kissing his favorite spot under my ear.

  Was he really giving me time with my mom?

  “She’s good, but the bad news is that she’s staying until I leave.”

  He steps back. “That puts a crimp in our plan.”

  I nod, fiddling with the buttons of his shirt. “We’ll have to find somewhere else for our extracurricular activities.”

  “We may just have to take opportunities when they present themselves. Like right now.” His hand slides up my thigh, and I lift it to rest on his leg. “You might just have to wear a skirt every day.”

  Goose bumps chase his fingers, and I squirm under his touch.

  “We’re in school.” I put up a fight, but I’m so starved for him, I know I’ll lose this battle.

  “It’s fourth period. No one is looking for me.” He nibbles on the flesh of my earlobe. “I’m so hard right now.” He slides my panties over, his finger sliding along the slickness of my folds. “Always so ready for me.”

  His seductive tone shatters the last of my resolve, and I lean back against the door in a silent offering for him to do with me as he wishes.

  “I love when you agree with me.” I feel his lips smiling against my collarbone.

  He inserts a finger, arching it to hit the bullseye he never misses. My hands jolt up and grab his shirt. He adds another finger as his thumb rubs slow circles around my clit. How did this man learn a woman’s body so well?

  I push that thought from my mind. I don’t care. I don’t need to care. Austin and I don’t do that. There’s no past and no future for us, there’s just right now. It’s supposed to be fun.

  “Stay out of your head and with me, Hol,” he says softly, his fingers sliding in and out of my slick heat, his thumb applying more pressure but not too much. He draws back, his aroused eyes locking with mine as I climb closer to coming undone.

  “Jesus, Austin,” I pant.

  He steps closer, his hard dick straining against his pants. I desperately want to touch him, to fall to my knees and pleasure him the way he is me, but I’m selfishly taking what he’s offering. I swallow, and he separates my legs farther. I raise one thigh higher up on his hip, allowing him the access to completely unglue me.

  “I love watching you come.” His eyes are fixed on me, and my wetness can be heard in the empty classroom as his fingers move faster, his thumb pressing harder.

  “I can’t hold on,” I whisper.

  Right as I’m about to break away to heights I’ve never imagined, he adds a third finger and covers my mouth with his other hand. I buck into him while blackness blocks my vision and tiny stars burst apart in my own personal universe.

  When I regain my sense of self and open my eyes, Austin is staring at me with half-lidded eyes and an amused smirk.

  “God, I love that.” He withdraws his fingers and sets my panties back in place.

  I bring my leg down and reposition my skirt. He looks like a happy man, but did he really think I’d leave him with blue balls for the rest of the day?

  I drop to my knees, my fingers unhooking his belt and sliding down his zipper.

  “You don’t have to,” he says.

  But I want to. More than anything right now, I want to bring him the pleasure he just gifted me. I sneak a look up at him, watching him suck the fingers that were inside me. My insides clench with the familiar stir in my belly that only Austin can give me.

  “Just so you know, I plan on really tasting you tonight.”
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br />   With his promise, I smile, my hand sliding through his slacks to his boxer briefs. His dick is hard, thick, and heavy. I stare at him much like he did me as I wrap my hand around it, bringing it to my mouth.

  He splays both hands on the door behind me, leaning over me as I lick his tip, his pre-cum salty on my tongue.

  “Fuck,” he growls. “I want to do so much to you right now.”

  I pump him with my hand, my mouth slowly swallowing him inch by inch.

  He stays still, never directing my head, never bucking his hips to get farther down my throat. There’s something alluring about that. I always liked it when a guy tugged on my hair or tried to push forward to get farther into my mouth, but Austin’s patience and trust that I’ll bring him where he took me makes me want to rock his world even more.

  I guide him to the back of my throat, which appears to be his undoing. His nails scratch the wood of the door. After squeezing and pumping his hard length when I draw back, I hollow out my cheeks and suck him back in, wiggling my tongue around when my lips reach the base of him and he’s breached the back of my throat

  After a few minutes, he says in a gravelly voice, “I’m gonna come.”

  I don’t let up in my efforts. My left hand runs up under him, playing with his balls, and he inches back, jerking in my mouth. I look up and our eyes lock as he pumps into me. I swallow and lick him clean before putting his dick back in his boxer briefs and zipping him up.

  He pushes off the door, offering me his hand. “Fuck, you know how to do that too well.” His hand lies on the side of my neck before moving to the back, bringing my face to his.

  Our lips meet as the bell rings. Loud voices fill the hallway, and Austin draws the kiss to a close before we’re caught.

  “This timing sucks,” he mumbles with a satisfied smile. “Tonight?”

  “Sure.”

  “Dress in black. I’m sneaking you into my house.”

  The door handle jiggles, then someone knocks on the door.

  “Hello, Buzz Wheel,” I joke, stepping a good distance from him.

  He laughs. “Who gives a shit? We’re out of here in a couple months anyway, right?” He kisses me one last time before opening the door.

  Kids barrel into the classroom, some clocking my presence and others oblivious as they chat with their friends.