Schooling Their Racy Teacher [Racy Nights 10] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Tara Rose

  “Why did you go over there? I thought you said it wasn’t open yet? Was she setting up or something?”

  “I just happened to get lucky and spot her going inside, so I walked up the front steps and rang the bell. I didn’t know Kari was there until Ava let me in. But I’d been hoping to talk to her because I’ve heard rumors at Northeast that she’s been to all three schools, talking to Patrick, Leticia, and Mary about the music programs. If they put money back into music, they’ll have to cut track and field. Patrick all but told me that last time we had this discussion.”

  Gary nodded. He knew how hard Jake was fighting to keep the sport he loved in the schools, but Gary had his own axe to grind as far as them being forced to cut back on music programs.

  He was lucky that Mary Connor, the high school principal and Dennis’s wife, let him help out during marching band season. And that was only because they’d all cut off their arms in this town before they’d slash football from the budget, and the kids loved his style. He related well to them, and their high school marching band had one of the best percussion sections in the state. That was a feather in their cap, so they kept him around to hang onto it.

  But Leticia Freemantle, the grade school principal, and Patrick Kelly, the middle school principal, hadn’t been able to find a way to keep him teaching percussion at those levels, which is how he’d become the boys’ health teacher at all three schools instead. That position they could pay him to do. He wasn’t thrilled about it, but it paid the bills and kept him close to what was going on inside. “So, what’s she like? Ava, I mean.”

  Jake grinned. “I’ll let you know tomorrow. Kari invited me and Ava to dinner tonight. Adison is making his spicy goulash.”

  “Sweet.” A hot pinprick of jealousy shot through Gary at the smug look on Jake’s face. It had been a long time since either of them had had dinner with a woman. Gary wished he’d taken the initiative and sought out Ava before Jake had. He’d heard the rumors, too, but hadn’t paid any attention to them because he tried not to sweat things like Jake did.

  “Well, gotta run.”

  Once Jake left, Gary said good-bye to Maddox again and walked outside. He glanced up at the trees surrounding Maddox’s home, smiling at the thought of them covered in leaves again. Racy was so pretty in the spring and summer, and these lots along Birch Lane, set back into the woods, made the mansions that were built on them all the more stunning when the trees were full.

  Gary tamped down his usual wave of jealousy at Maddox’s wealth, got into his car, and started toward Market Street. He lived on Oak Street east of downtown Racy in a townhouse that was as empty as his life, and Jake’s announcement only served to emphasize Gary’s loneliness.

  He and Jake weren’t great friends, but they respected each other both as Doms and as teachers. And Jake was no more successful in his dating life than Gary, so they did have that bond. But while Gary wasn’t afraid to try new relationships, Jake hid behind a mask, both figuratively and literally.

  He was always masked at the club on play nights, even when he was only there to serve as Dungeon Monitor. Gary had asked him once if he wore the mask while playing in private, and Jake said he hadn’t had much opportunity to play in private, which didn’t really answer the question, but that was Jake.

  Most people knew who was behind that mask when he topped a sub during a play session, but they were too kind to let on. Gary knew it wasn’t only the aura of mystery Jake liked to maintain. Jake was terrified inside of getting hurt again. He’d been burned badly once, and Jake Malloy didn’t believe in giving second chances.

  Gary thought that was a terrific recipe for isolation. But it wasn’t any of his business, and Jake didn’t listen to reason from anyone, so he left the subject alone unless Jake brought it up. Jake sure hadn’t acted like he wanted to hide behind a mask this morning. He’d lit up like a firefly when talking about Ava. She must be special to have affected him in this way.

  Gary wanted to find out for himself just how unique she was, and he couldn’t see the point in waiting any longer. Since he had nothing better to do on a Saturday afternoon, he turned around and headed west toward Lawnview Drive. Even if the elusive Ava Harmony wasn’t still in her brand-new shop, maybe Kari would tell him more about her? It couldn’t hurt to ask.

  As he drove past Tye Me Up, he looked over the shops down the street that appeared to be finished. There were only two. One was Pearl Goodman’s new antique shop, and it already had a sign, so the other one must be Ava’s store, right next door to Pearl’s. He pulled over to the curb and watched the house, but it didn’t look as though anyone was inside.

  Finally, Gary got out of his car and walked up the front steps, peering inside the windows and the oval glass in the front door, but the shop was empty except for a sofa and armchairs in an alcove off the main room, and a computer and keyboard on the counter. He liked the colors. All soft and understated. Was Ava that way as well? Jake didn’t usually go for soft-spoken, shy women. He liked them fiery and passionate, which made Gary all the more determined to meet this enigma.

  He scanned the cars parked in front of Tye Me Up before deciding to walk over there. That’s what he’d come here to do, after all. Even if someone he knew was in there, it didn’t matter. He didn’t owe anyone an explanation, and no one would find it odd that he was there.

  He hadn’t actually been inside Tye Me Up since they’d first opened, and once he crossed the threshold, he stopped and gawked at the décor. Kari and Alexa had done even more to it than he’d realized. It gleamed and sparkled. Contemporary music filled the air, and the entire atmosphere was energized.

  What must it be like to have a business this successful, and to know you’d created it with your own two hands? All he’d ever done was put together a couple of garage bands in high school and college. They’d gotten as far as making a couple of demo tapes, but that was it.

  “Gary, how nice to see you in here.”

  He turned to smile at Kari. He’d always like her, and was glad to see her back home and so established. And he knew how proud Noah and Adison were of her. They talked about nothing else these days. “Your place is even more amazing now than when you first opened.”

  “Thanks. We’re continually looking for ways to improve it. Is there something I can help you find today?”

  He glanced around, then moved closer and lowered his voice. “I have a confession. I’m not here to shop.” He told Kari what Jake had said to him in Maddox’s house about Ava and her music store. “I was hoping to meet the mysterious Ava Harmony, but she’s not in her shop.”

  Kari gave him a wary glance. That was one of the things he remembered about her from school, even though he’d been a couple of grades ahead of her. She was a loyal friend. “It isn’t open yet. But she will be at our home tonight, having dinner. I suppose you know that Jake will be there, too.”

  “I know.”

  Kari looked uncomfortable, and Gary wished he hadn’t gone through with this harebrained scheme. “I’m sure Noah and Adison wouldn’t mind if you came over for dinner as well, but I’m not sure how Ava would feel about it. I only invited Jake because he was standing right next to us when I mentioned it to Ava, and it felt rude not to, you know? But they didn’t really get off on the right foot, if you want to know the truth. He followed her this morning and came inside the store to confront her about talking to the school principals. It was awkward.”

  Gary couldn’t help but grin. Jake hadn’t told him that part. “Thanks. I appreciate the honesty. And you’re right. If you invited me, too, it would seem odd.” Fuck. He was right, but disappointment flooded his body, just the same. It was his own fault. He shouldn’t have waited so long so seek her out.

  “I don’t know what else I can tell you about her. She’s opening a music shop, she hopes to teach in some capacity, but she also knows that there isn’t money for that. I think she’d be happy just giving lessons in the shop, to be honest.”

  “What does she play?�
��

  “Cello, but she can teach any string instrument. She was principal cello in an orchestra in Chicago.”

  “Impressive.” He tamped down the jealousy flooding through his body. He’d give his eyeteeth to play in an orchestra. “Is Harmony her real last name?”

  Kari laughed softly. “Yes. And believe me, she’s told me plenty of stories about how she was teased over it in college.”

  “Did she go to school in Chicago, then? Is that where she’s from?”

  “Her family is from Lake Forest. Software development, but before that they were in lumber and paper products. They’re old money. She earned a dual music performance and education degree from Berklee in Boston.”

  “Holy shit.”

  “It’s a good school, then? I really know nothing about it.”

  “Ah, yeah. One of the best in the country for music. And you two met in New York?”

  Kari was the one to glance around this time. “My ex-Dom took me to a party and Ava was there.”

  “Is she in the lifestyle?”

  “Not my place to say.”

  That was another thing he admired about Kari. She never outed anyone. “Fair enough. But I would like to meet her so we can talk music. We do have that in common. Any ideas on how to do that so I don’t look like a stalker?”

  Her smile was back. “You mean like Jake? How about coming over here for pizza and movies Friday night? Alexa, Chase, and Luke won’t mind. I’ll tell them I’m inviting you and Ava, too.”

  “What if they invite Jake?”

  She shook her head. “They won’t. But I’ll let them know you specifically want to meet Ava, just in case they’re thinking of inviting anyone else. Are you all right with that?”

  “Yes. That sounds perfect. Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome. And you know, if you just happen to drive down Turbine Trail and spot her coming in or out of the condo she bought last month from Evan, you could simply introduce yourself. I’m sure she’d love to talk to another musician in this town. She has medium-length, straight brown hair and hazel eyes. She’s a bit taller than me, weighs about the same, and she’s very pretty. You wouldn’t be likely to miss her.”

  Gary would have hugged Kari if he hadn’t known that it was absolutely the wrong thing to do to Noah’s and Adison’s sub without their permission. So instead, he patted her arm. “You are a true gem. Thank you.”

  She smiled. “Good luck.”

  He turned, left the shop, and sprinted toward his car, feeling far better than he had a half hour ago.

  Chapter Four

  Ava had met Noah and Adison when she’d first moved to Racy, but as always, she was struck by how good-looking both men were. Noah’s blond hair and blue eyes contrasted with Adison’s dark hair and hazel eyes, but both men gave off the same aura that Jake had done earlier that day.

  She’d changed her outfit three times before coming over, and even after she was inside the condo that Kari shared with her two Doms, Ava followed Kari upstairs so she could ask her friend if she looked all right. She’d chosen a short charcoal skirt, dark tights, black boots, and a red sweater, but was worried she looked too conservative, even with the sweater.

  Kari laughed. “Will you relax? You look gorgeous, as always. If Jake isn’t drooling all over you by the time he leaves tonight, I’ll be shocked”

  “Not really sure I want him drooling over me. I’m not even sure what I’m supposed to talk to him about.”

  “If he acts like an ass tonight, Noah and Adison will put him in his place. Don’t worry about that. Hey, before I forget, have you met Gary Reed yet?”

  She shook her head. “No. Who is he?”

  “He teaches boys’ health at the schools, but he also works with the percussion section during marching band season. He played in a couple of garage bands when he was younger, but it never went anywhere. I ran into him today and he asked about you and your shop.”

  “I’m quite popular in this town all of a sudden.”

  “That’ll teach you to suck up to the principals.” Both women laughed as they headed downstairs. “By the way, you’re coming over to Tye Me Up Friday night for pizza and movies. I’ve invited Gary, too, because he wants to meet you.”

  Ava paused on the stairs. “You really don’t need to do this.”

  “Do what? I’m having my friends over and introducing you to people in town. You’ve been here a month and you’ve only met mine and Alexa’s Doms. It’s time to meet everyone else.” Kari turned and began to descend the stairs again.

  “Not true. I’ve met the school principals.” Kari ignored her, and Ava knew it was pointless to protest. Besides, it would be nice to meet another musician. “What does this one look like?”

  Kari turned around. “A bit like Noah. Blond hair, blue eyes, and a twinkling smile. He’s always pounding out cadences. Carries his damn drumsticks with him everywhere he goes. But you’ll like him, despite that.”

  Ava laughed at that image. Gary Reed sounded like a lot of fun. It was too bad Kari couldn’t have invited him over tonight as well. Ava wasn’t sure what to expect from Jake this evening, but she hoped he was pleasanter to her than he’d been earlier, or she’d be faking a headache and calling it an early night.

  As soon as she stepped into the living room, Jake walked in the front door, and Ava caught a stronger whiff of cologne this time. It was similar to the one Leo had always worn, but this time she was able to detect enough subtle differences that the memories didn’t overwhelm her. Jake was dressed in Dockers, a button-down shirt, and wore the same wool coat she’d seen on him earlier, but this time it looked more appropriate over his clothes.

  As he shed it and his gloves, then shook hands with Noah and Adison, she was struck by his smile. It really was brilliant, and she began to hope that the edginess in him she’d glimpsed earlier was the exception rather the rule. He gave Kari a quick hug then turned his gaze toward Ava. She swallowed hard at the look in his eyes as he made no pretense of slowly checking out her clothing. The expression on his face was combination of lust and approval, and her knees grew weak as she imagined him looking at her like that in a darkened room, holding a flogger or a paddle in his hand.

  Shit. Get a grip on yourself. He’s not your Dom.

  “If the music teachers in our schools back in the day had looked like you, I might have learned to play an instrument.”

  It was a corny come-on, but coming from him it didn’t sound that way. Instead, it made her pussy wet, and she had a sudden urge to call him “Sir.”

  “Thank you. You look very nice as well.” It was true. He did. And Ava never believed in holding back the truth. You never knew when you might not have another chance to say it to someone.

  His eyes twinkled. “Thanks.” He reached into his coat pocket before handing it over to Kari, and extracted a small, wrapped present. “This is for you. It’s a welcome to Racy present. I spotted it in a gift shop this afternoon, and thought it would look perfect in your store.”

  “You found it here in Racy?” asked Noah, cutting his gaze toward Adison for a split second. Ava didn’t miss the humor in the look that passed between the two.

  “No, in Indy. I had business there earlier.”

  Adison raised his eyebrows but didn’t say anything. It didn’t take a genius to recognize that everyone in this room believed that Jake would have had no real reason to drive to Indianapolis earlier in the day.

  Ava’s face burned as she unwrapped the gift and opened the box. Inside was a wind chime made of wood, and featuring various string instruments, including a cello. “Oh my.” She really had no idea what to say. This wasn’t something you just happened to spot in a gift shop. This was the kind of item you specifically searched for online, then either ordered before they ran out of them, or drove two hours one way to buy.

  “What do you think?”

  “I think it’s exquisite, and perfect for the shop. I’ll hang it up right over the front counter. Thank you. This was very t
houghtful.” She shook it, smiling at the slightly clunky yet pleasant sound it made as the little instruments bumped into each other. “It’s too delicate to hang outside, except maybe in the summer when I know it won’t storm for a few days.”

  “Actually, they told me you could hang it outside and it would be all right. The homes on that street face east, right? We don’t get a lot of wind or rain from that direction, so you could hang it on the front porch and it would be protected.”

  So he’d thought that through and asked about it. Now she really didn’t know how to react. Kari’s mouth was frozen partway open, and Noah and Adison kept giving each other incredulous looks. She didn’t have to know Jake well to understand that what he’d just done was completely out of character for him. Score ten points for him. He’d just made up for his rude behavior earlier by a mile.

  “Well then, I’ll hang it on the front porch.”

  He nodded then lifted his chin as if he were sniffing the air. “Adison, it smells incredible in here. I think you’ve outdone yourself tonight.”

  “Let’s eat, then.”

  The food was heaven. As they ate, Adison and Noah made small talk about what was going on at each of their jobs, and Ava was grateful that they kept the conversation going. She was still reeling from Jake’s gift.

  Adison was head of security for Notus and Noah was an R&D specialist there, so most of the talk focused on the power company. Would Jake admit to being part of the family that owned it? Ava wasn’t about to comment on that. She didn’t want Jake knowing that Kari had told her who he was. Gradually, the talk turned toward Jake’s English classes and his hopes for the track team this spring, and Ava listened carefully.

  “I think the high school team has a good shot at getting past regional meets this year. We have a lot of strong juniors and seniors now.”

  “How long have you coached it?” she asked.

  “Fourteen years. I have an MA in exercise physiology, and I ran track as an undergrad.”