Fringe Benefits

by Sandy James

  “Thanks.”

  “I also think the Hunger Games project went over well.”

  “I do, too.”

  He blew a long breath out his nose. “Any concerns with Nate Ryan?”

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “I’ve observed him a couple times. I think he’s great on content knowledge.”

  “Oh, I totally agree. I think his having a bachelor’s in English—especially with his emphasis on literature—gives him more of a handle on content than we’d typically get with a newbie.” Dani folded her hands in her lap. “So why do I hear a ‘but’ in your statement?”

  Jim leaned back in his chair. “Just a small one. I worry about discipline.”

  Scrambling to figure out what he was alluding to, she said, “Whenever I’ve been in his classes, I don’t see any problems.”

  “You don’t think he’s a little too… personal with the students?”

  “In what way?”

  “This is secondhand, mind you, since I wasn’t able to get to the homecoming dance, but I was told he danced with some of the students—especially the female students.”

  Mary Henry, no doubt. She’d been bitching rather loudly to someone in the teacher workroom about how younger teachers needed to stop being so friendly with students, that it was totally inappropriate. The moment Dani had walked into the room, Mary had shut her mouth.

  Time to set the record straight. “I was there, and yes, he danced with students. Girls and guys. But there was nothing inappropriate. In fact, he taught them some new dances so they’d stop with that ridiculous grinding and twerking.”

  Jim winced. “You mean when they act like they’re having sex instead of dancing?”

  “Exactly. Nate showed them some line dances and a little bit of disco.”

  “I’m amazed he’s old enough to even know about disco.”

  “Jim, everyone knows about disco.”

  At least she made him laugh. “Point taken.”

  Hoping that was the end of the discussion, Dani half stood.

  “Hang on a minute,” he said. “Please.”

  She sat back down.

  “Let me get right to the point… There aren’t any rules about teachers dating other teachers.”

  Her whole face flushed hot, but she held her tongue. Better to let Jim show his cards first before giving him a verbal reaction. No doubt he’d already seen her blush.

  “A parent called me this morning with a concern. About you. And Nate.”

  “A parent?”

  Jim nodded.

  “A concern?”

  “Perhaps that’s the wrong word. She wasn’t concerned. I suppose I’m the one who’s concerned.”

  Dani folded her hands and interlaced her fingers to try to appear calm. This was what she’d feared all along. People knew about her and Nate. Sure, there wasn’t a “rule” about teachers dating. But department heads dating their department members?

  “There’s absolutely no reason to be concerned,” she said.

  “Were you dancing with Nate?”

  She nodded. “I did some of the line dances with him and the kids.”

  He shook his head. “The parent was talking about slower dancing. She thought it might be an inappropriate display of affection in front of the kids. That’s all.”

  “We weren’t slow dancing in front of the kids.”

  “Evidently, she was there to take pictures of her son and saw you two slip outside the gym.”

  “Are you saying she followed us?”

  His nod made her stomach lurch. “Without giving you her name, let’s just say she’s one of those parents who thinks everything in the world is her business. So, yes, she followed you and saw you dancing and said you two were a bit too… close.”

  Small towns. So judgmental. So unforgiving. “What exactly do you want from me, Jim?”

  “Easy there, Dani. This isn’t something you need to get upset about. What you do in your personal life is your own business. Yours and Nate’s. All I ask is that you and Nate keep your focus on the students whenever you’re chaperoning an event.”

  Afraid that she’d lose her temper if she stayed in his office too much longer, Dani asked, “We will. May I go?”

  “Dani… this isn’t a big thing…”

  “Thanks, Jim. I’ll be sure and let Nate know what you expect from us.”

  * * *

  Dani let Nate take her suitcase at the top of the stairs. She followed him as he headed downstairs and out to the garage.

  He shoved her suitcase into the trunk of her car before slamming the lid. “I’m amazed everything fit. We’re only going for a week. You didn’t need to pack the kitchen sink.”

  “I just want to be prepared,” she said.

  After taking her hand, he rubbed his thumb over her palm. “I know you’re nervous…”

  “A little.”

  “I’m really sorry that you didn’t get to go to Chicago.”

  So was Dani. She’d been so disappointed when the call came. “Beth couldn’t help getting sick. I just hope she gets to feeling better soon. I still wonder if I should stay to help her. Poor thing can’t stop throwing up.”

  “It’s up to you, but Robert swears she’s going to be fine. You sure don’t want to catch that kind of stomach bug.” He tugged on her hand, pulling her into his embrace. “We’ll have a great time in Indiana. There’s no reason to get this worked up about my mom.”

  A week. A whole week with Nate’s mom and stepdad. Once the Ladies’ Chicago excursion had been canceled, he’d suggested they stay a lot longer than their planned three days. Now Dani was wondering if she should have agreed so readily.

  “I want her to like me,” she said.

  Nate rubbed his chin against her temple. “She will. No doubt at all. Once she gets to know you, she’ll realize how special you are. And you’ll learn to like her, too.”

  “Let me check things one more time and grab my purse. Then we can get on the road. Thanks for taking my car.”

  “Not a tough choice,” he said with a grin. “Yours isn’t nearly as likely as my beater is to leave us sitting on the side of the highway, waiting for a tow truck. Are you going to let me drive your car, or do I resign myself to shotgun?”

  “Drive my baby?” Dani stepped back and blew a raspberry. “No way, José.”

  “Shotgun it is. At least I can catch a nap part of the trip.”

  Although she took another fifteen minutes to give the house one more go-through, she made up the lost time and then some by speeding most of the way to Indiana.

  Nate’s parents had a condo in Indianapolis, which wasn’t far from Patrick’s house. No doubt she and Nate would visit there as well, but the plans had called for the two of them to bunk with Jackie and Mark. Nate’s stepsister Carly was supposed to be there later in the week—another person Dani would have to try to win over.

  As she pulled along the curb and parked the car, she had a thought that made her stomach twist into a painful knot. “Exactly how much does your mom know about us? You did tell her we were dating, right?”

  Looking a bit sleepy, Nate shook his head. “I haven’t told her much of anything yet. Figured we’d surprise her and tell her about us in person. She’ll be thrilled, I’m sure.”

  “Then what reason did you give her for me coming with you?”

  “I told her we were coming for a teacher conference.”

  Her eyes wide, she had no idea what to say. She’d taken for granted that he’d smoothed the path by letting Jackie know about them being a couple and about the new living arrangements. Why wouldn’t he have told her that Dani was his girlfriend—his roommate?

  Her disappointment and apprehension were her own fault. She’d had a stupid fantasy, born from her favorite movie, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, that they’d be welcomed into Jackie and Mark’s home, and Dani and Nate would play card games with them and grow closer to each other when his family embraced her with open arms. She’d even pictured
him taking her for a ride on a motorcycle he’d happen to own exactly like Matthew McConaughey in the movie. And then there was that hot sex scene in the shower…

  Instead of a romantic comedy, Dani faced a potential disaster.

  “You’re thinking awfully hard over there,” Nate said. “I probably should’ve told her, but”—he shrugged—“it’s really no big thing.”

  “To you, maybe.”

  “Why are you so worried?”

  She’d never seen a reason to share her thoughts about Jackie with him. But now that the two women were about to come face-to-face, now that Nate was going to let his mom know he’d attached himself to his boss, a woman eight years older, Dani needed to tell him about the tension the last time she was with Jackie. “Remember the day you moved in?”

  He nodded.

  “Your mom came in and had a cup of coffee with me.”

  “So?”

  “She seemed kind of… angry about you moving into my place.”

  He cocked his head. “Why would she be angry? I was renting your basement, and it was a huge step up from that horrible room I had.”

  “I know, but she acted upset about the move.”

  “Are you sure? Mom is sometimes a bit intense. She was probably just being her crazy self. I love her to death, but she honestly takes some getting used to.” Nate let out a light chuckle. “Ask Mark. He’ll have a million stories about Mom’s volatile emotions. Besides, my guess is that she was just tired from the long drive so early in the morning. Mornings are definitely not her thing.”

  His words were comforting, but Dani couldn’t quell her anxiety as he got their luggage out of the trunk. Ever the gentleman, Nate carried her suitcase and his duffel to the front door. When she reached for the doorbell, he shook his head. “You’re family now. Just go on in.”

  Damn if her hands weren’t trembling as she opened the front door. She held it open as Nate headed inside, and then she shut it behind them.

  The town house was amazing. The two-story foyer made the place seem huge. The enormous chandelier was made of crystal and dark wrought iron. She’d seen one in the lighting store Robert used and had considered it for her own foyer before settling on a brushed nickel finish with frosted glass. The walls were painted a warm beige, and the travertine floor tiles were an inviting mixture of beige, walnut, and gray. The pleasant scent of roasting meat wafted through the air.

  Jackie Brennan obviously had excellent taste, but after hearing Nate’s stories about her lacking any kind of cooking skills, Dani wondered about that heavenly smell.

  “Mom?” Nate’s voice echoed in the cavernous foyer. “We’re here!”

  “Nate?” a feminine voice called from down the hall.

  He set their luggage by the bottom of the staircase, took Dani’s hand, and led her down the hallway into the enormous kitchen. When he stopped suddenly, she ran right into him as he stared at the young woman drying her hands on a blue towel.

  Peeking past him, Dani gaped. The twentysomething woman was nothing short of beautiful. Her long, dark hair fell in thick waves around her slender shoulders. A heart-shaped face was dominated by brown doe eyes. Her slender figure had to be a perfect size 4, and she was dressed in skinny jeans and a pink long-sleeved blouse.

  “You must be Carly,” Dani said, extending her hand. “Nate’s told me a lot about you.”

  The brunette set the towel on the counter and gave Dani a cool, rather smug smile. “Carly won’t be here for a couple of days. I’m Kat.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  The moment Nate saw Kat standing in his mother’s kitchen, he’d wanted to grab Dani, toss her over his shoulder, and run right back to Illinois.

  The look on Dani’s face—the horrified expression that was immediately replaced by the mask of calm it had taken Nate forever to breach—had felt like a stab to the chest. Every bit of progress he’d made to win her heart might have been lost.

  The thought chilled him to the bone.

  While Dani just stood there with her fake unemotional smile, Kat hurried to him, wrapped her arms around his waist, and rose on tiptoes to brush her mouth over his. “I missed you so much.”

  Although his arms remained at his sides, Nate caught the narrowing of Dani’s eyes. A good sign since it meant she was jealous of Kat laying hands on him. He finally found his voice. “What are you doing here, Kat?”

  The type of sensuous smile she gave as she kept her arms around him would have had a profound effect on him a long time ago. Now it only irritated him that Kat was being so brazenly affectionate. Not only did he want to spare Dani any more pain at seeing his former fiancée throwing herself at him, but he also wanted to give Kat a shake and remind her that she’d walked away from him, that what had ever existed between them was dead and buried.

  “I’m home for good,” she announced.

  “I beg your pardon?” The last he’d heard, she’d been in London with plans to backpack her way through Europe with some guy named Norm.

  “I’m home for good,” she repeated. “Jackie helped me get a job as a school aide while I finish school.” Kat let out a little chuckle. “I’m just about done with my paralegal certification.”

  Although he had no intention of having a friendly conversation with Kat, he needed to know what the hell was going on, and he needed to know right now. There was a reason she was here today, and he couldn’t stop thinking his mother had something to do with it.

  Jackie had always been so supportive of Nate’s relationship with Kat, and when they’d split, she hadn’t even tried to hide her disappointment. Could this be her attempt to throw them back into each other’s paths?

  All he could think to ask was, “Why are you here?”

  “I live here.”

  “You what?”

  Instead of answering, Kat turned her dark eyes on Dani as she thankfully stepped back so he didn’t have to push her away. “Since Nate’s obviously in shock at seeing me again, he’s forgotten his manners.” She held out her hand. “I’m Kat Brennan.”

  Dani shook her hand. “Danielle Bradshaw.” Her voice was as monotone as a computer simulation.

  “You’re Nate’s boss. Jackie said Nate was bringing you to some education conference.” Her gaze shifted back to him. “Where exactly is that conference being held, honey? Funny thing… I couldn’t find anything online about a conference for teachers anywhere in Indy.”

  How in the hell could he have found himself in this ridiculous predicament?

  By lying to his mom. If he’d been open and honest with her about his relationship with Dani, especially about them living together, he wouldn’t be facing this awkward conversation with Kat, nor would he have to have a similar awkward conversation with his mother.

  No way around it—he’d been a chickenshit. Nate had put off telling Jackie about Dani because he knew how she’d likely react. It wasn’t that she disliked Dani; it was that she couldn’t get past her being his boss and a few years older, silly notions she’d repeated in almost every one of their conversations. Kat’s words only emphasized that point.

  Utter nonsense, but he’d learned from experience that once his mom had her stubborn mind set against something—or someone—she needed to be confronted, told why she was wrong, and then buried in evidence before she would be convinced to change her opinion.

  Dani had been acting even more reticent since Friday, as though something had happened. But in her typical fashion, she hadn’t said a word. Since he couldn’t do anything about her change of attitude, he decided to focus on what he could do.

  It was time to straighten things out. “Where’s Mom?” he asked.

  “Right behind you,” Jackie said before poking him in the back. “Welcome home, Nate.”

  Nate embraced her and waited until she’d greeted Dani with a polite aloofness. “Mom, can we sit and talk?” he asked.

  “Oh my. That sounds ominous.”

  Dani moved closer to Nate. “I’m sorry to be a bother, but I’m g
etting a really bad headache all of a sudden. Is there someplace quiet I can go to and lie down for a little bit?”

  Jackie was the one to answer. “Of course. The basement suite’s ready for you.” She tossed Dani a lopsided smile. “Figured you’d like to see things from Nate’s point of view. Plus you’ll have tons of privacy.”

  “Thank you,” was Dani’s flat reply.

  “Downstairs. It’s the second door on the right,” Jackie said. “If you see a washer and dryer, you’ve got the wrong room.”

  As Dani went to the stairs, Nate followed. “Are you okay?”

  “Fine. Just getting a splitting headache.”

  “Can I get you anything? Aspirin? Tylenol?”

  She shook her head.

  Damn if she didn’t move her hand out of his reach when he tried to take it so he could give her a reassuring squeeze. Then she left him to face the music.

  Thankfully, his mother didn’t speak again until Dani was well out of earshot. “Call me paranoid, but something’s wrong here. Nate, I really expected you to be a helluva lot happier to see that Kat has finally come home.”

  “Happy?” Kat pouted her lip. “More like catatonic…”

  “Look, let’s go sit down and talk. Okay?” he asked.

  His mom nodded and went to plop on the sofa. He wasn’t at all surprised that Kat followed and took the seat right next to Jackie.

  Inwardly, he shrugged at her audacity. It was pure Kat, so he figured he might as well get this over and done with, with both women at the same time.

  Sitting on the coffee table to face them, Nate took a deep breath and blew it out as he leaned forward to rest his forearms on his thighs. “I need to tell you about Dani.”

  “She looked kinda sick,” Kat said. “She got really pale all of a sudden. Is she ill?”

  Catty as always. “No, she’s not sick. She’s… upset.”

  “Upset?” Jackie knit her brows. “Over what? Did you have a fight or something? Is she kicking you out of her basement?” She gave him a curt nod as though she accepted that idea as the truth. “We’ll start looking around for a house for you to rent and—”