by Jaci Burton
“Many of Chelsea’s dresses do,” Jane said.
“I found bargains, and I buy things I love.” Chelsea shrugged. “Which doesn’t mean I’m ever going to wear them.”
“Wherever did you find this?” Josie asked.
“There’s an amazing secondhand store that sells the most incredible dresses. We’ll have to go shopping there because I think you’d love their clothes.”
A shop like that would be perfect for her. “In town?”
Chelsea nodded. “It’s a block off the main street, so you wouldn’t notice it unless you were specifically looking for it. I’ll give you the address so you can go. It’ll be a few months before I’m ready to dress shop again.”
“I’ll mark you in my calendar for two months after the baby comes,” Josie said.
Chelsea laughed. “You’re on. By then, I’ll be ready to leave her with Bash and take a shopping excursion.”
Jane snickered.
“What?” Chelsea asked.
“Or you’ll be taking her with you because you won’t be able to stand leaving her for even an hour.”
Chelsea’s lips curved, and she rubbed her belly. “You might be right. For someone like me who’s been so independent her whole life, I’ve gotten used to carrying her around with me. I can’t wait until she gets here.”
“The last trimester always goes by the slowest,” Jane said.
Josie was excited about both Chelsea and Jane having their babies. She might not be popping out babies herself any time soon, but she couldn’t wait to hold her friends’ little ones.
After she left Chelsea’s house with the exquisite dress in tow, she walked home—courtesy of living right down the street from Chelsea. The crispness of fall had hit Hope, and the leaves were finally turning. She slowed her walk and admired the gold, scarlet, and magenta colors that lined her beautiful street.
She loved autumn. There was something about the change of season from sticky hot summer to breezy, cool fall that felt renewing to her. Maybe it likened back to spending summers at home, where she had frequently been stuck with her mother, who was often out of work. She tried to hang out with friends or at the library, but inevitably she had to stay home to take care of her mom. So while a lot of kids had fond memories of youthful summers, most of Josie’s memories were of her mother’s drugged-out escapades and her worrying that her mom was going to overdose and die and leave her alone.
By the time she got home, her stomach had knotted up from the unpleasant stroll down memory lane, and her happy fall feeling had dissipated. And now she felt like she should call her mom and check on her, even though she knew she should let it go. She wasn’t her mother’s keeper.
Not anymore.
She hung up the dress and did a load of laundry. After she got the first load into the dryer, she sat at the kitchen table to make a grocery list on her phone. While she was thinking of the ingredients for the quinoa salad she wanted to make, a text message popped up from her mom.
She immediately clicked over, her heart sinking as she read it.
Hi, my little Jo Jo. So, I was wondering if you had a little cash to spare. They cut my hours at the store, and I’m having trouble making rent. Just to hold me until next month, you know? I love you, baby.
Josie sighed. It was as if they hadn’t had that phone conversation last week. Then again, her mother had almost assuredly been high at the time and likely didn’t even remember that phone call.
She fiddled with her fingers, debating whether to call her mom, but figured if she sent a text reply, maybe her mother would see it and remember this time.
She started typing.
Hi, Mom. I’m sorry, I can’t send you any money. You know why.
She started to send the message, but hesitated, then added I love you, too at the end.
She slid the phone to the side and went back to her grocery list, then finished her laundry. Every now and then she’d stop and stare at her phone, not sure if she wanted a reply from her mother.
When it was time to get ready for the dance, she knew the nonresponse from her mom was the best answer.
Chapter 17
* * *
ZACH FIDGETED WITH his tie and searched the room, wishing Josie had agreed to let him pick her up. Instead, she told him she was going to drive herself to the dance so it wouldn’t look so conspicuously like they were dating.
Logically, he knew she was right, but he’d wanted to pick her up. He’d wanted to kiss her and maybe make out a little before driving over to the Hope Community Center for the dance.
Instead, he stood near the entrance, watching the kids come in to have their photos taken. That was fun, too, especially seeing some of his burly linemen in suits, straining the seams of their jackets as they posed like uncomfortable sticks with their dates, who looked much more chill than the guys. But his guys’ body language during these photos spoke volumes.
The ones who were on first dates? Hands in pockets, or they didn’t know where to put their hands. And the girls were kind of shy as well. It was cute.
The ones who were couples, on the other hand, were all over each other, hands-wise, and he’d had to step in a couple of times to put a stop to hands on the ass or other suggestive poses.
He was definitely going to have to be on his game tonight. The last thing he needed was to have one of his players called out by the administration for inappropriate behavior.
He shifted his gaze to the front door as a couple came in. It was Bash and Chelsea, along with Will and Jane. He nodded and smiled at them, then masked his disappointment by shaking his head when Delbert Nottingham dropped his hand over his date’s shoulder and let his fingers trail a little too close to her cleavage.
He could not believe he’d gotten so old, he was relegated to ass-and-boob patrol. It wasn’t that long ago he’d been chasing tail. Now he was protecting it.
“Lookin’ for a date, honey?”
Someone slung their arm around his shoulder. He looked up to find Bash standing next to him.
On the other side of him, Will, shaking his head. “I’ve never seen a sadder spectacle of manhood. All alone, hugging the wall, unloved. It’s kind of pathetic.”
He frowned. “Speaking of dates, don’t you two have some?”
Bash grinned. “We do. They’re off checking themselves in as chaperones.”
“We, on the other hand, are not chaperones,” Will said. “And you looked kind of lonely, so we thought we’d see if we could help you out.”
“I’m not lonely. I’m keeping an eye on the students.”
“Looked to me like you were keeping an eye on the door,” Will said, sliding his gaze to the double doors. “Got a hot date?”
“No.” These guys saw way too much. Was he wearing his thoughts on his face? If so, he was going to have to work on being more guarded.
“Want us to fix you up with someone?” Bash asked. “Chelsea said Bekka Sims is available. She’s a fellow history teacher, right?”
“I don’t date other teachers.”
His gaze snapped to the doorway, where he saw Josie walk in and slide off her coat, revealing a knock-him-dead lacey dress that clung to her body.
“Damn.”
Will snorted out a laugh, then leaned in toward him. “Yeah, you don’t date other teachers.”
Shit. He turned to face the guys. “So, you want to go check out the food table?”
Bash shook his head. “Nuh-uh. We want to watch you drool over Josie and pretend you’re not interested.”
He pushed between the two of them. “I’m going to the food table. And to get some iced tea.”
What he really wanted was a beer, and maybe a shot or two of tequila. Unfortunately, there was no alcohol at a high school dance. So he made his way to the table and grabbed some chips and a tiny sandwich, then followed some of the students to the drink table, keeping a side eye on the kids lurking in the corner.
There was a situation brewing back in one of the corners
with a couple of guys who appeared to be having words. So while he chewed his sandwich and drank his tea, he wandered that way.
They must have seen him coming, because one kid went north and the other headed south before he could get there. That suited him just fine, as long as no fight broke out. But he’d linger in the open anyway just to make sure they didn’t reconnect as soon as he turned his back.
“You’re taking your job very seriously.”
He hadn’t even noticed Josie coming up to stand beside him. “I thought I saw an argument brewing between a couple of students.”
“Well, you look plenty menacing, even in that very nice suit.”
“Menacing, huh?”
“Yes. And extremely well dressed. I like that tie.”
“Thanks. You look devastatingly gorgeous, and I’d very much like to put my hands on you in this very inappropriate venue.”
Even though the lights had been turned down, he caught the telltale blush on her cheeks. “Oh. Then, thank you for thinking inappropriate thoughts about me.”
He wanted to give her a look. The kind of look that would tell her just the kind of inappropriate thoughts he was having. But not here, not when so many kids could zero in on the two of them chatting. So instead, he nodded. “Any time.”
Fortunately, the music started up, and most of the kids hit the dance floor, so they were less on display.
“Would you like something to eat?”
She laid a hand on her stomach, then grimaced. “No, not right now.”
“Drink?”
“Not unless it’s vodka.”
He laughed. “Yeah, I know that feeling. Want to take a lap and see what’s going on in the dark corners?”
She tilted her head. “Is that your way of dragging me into a dark corner?”
“I wish. Come on.”
Something was obviously on her mind, or else she wasn’t feeling well. He skirted a glance at her while they walked. She looked too damn good to be sick. Her full, pouty lips were painted a dark, burnished, kissable shade that made him want to capture her lips to see if she tasted like cinnamon.
Just thinking about it made his pants tight, so instead, he kept his focus on watching those dark corners and frowning when he saw students doing things they shouldn’t be doing. It was amazing how just a frown could get kissing or handsy kids to pull apart.
“I think I’ve inherited my father’s stern frown,” he said as they wound their way near the dance floor.
“Is that right?”
“Yeah. I’ve discovered I’ve got the trademark Powers glare. Very effective on teens.”
She stopped and turned, tilting her head back to search his face. “Show me.”
He gave her the look.
She laughed.
“Hey.”
“Sorry. Not effective on me.”
“You’re not one of my students, and your passing grade doesn’t depend on me.”
“True. But I have to tell you that glare makes you look a little … How can I say this without offending you?”
He crossed his arms. “Go on. Say it.”
She chewed on the lower corner of her lip, once again pulling his attention to her mouth.
“Constipated.”
“What?”
She shrugged. “Sorry.”
“And to think I wanted to kiss you.”
“Oh, but now you don’t?”
“Nope.”
She offered up a sexy smile. “Liar.”
She turned and walked away, forcing him to follow her. They ended up at the table where their friends were.
Bash came back with a tray of lemonades and iced teas. Josie took a seat so Zach made sure to sit next to Bash because he knew she was jittery about people possibly thinking they were together.
“So, when are you going to ask Josie out on a real date?” Bash asked.
Zach shrugged. “I have asked her.”
“Oh. So she doesn’t like you?”
He furrowed his brows. “It’s not like that. There’ve been scheduling things and timing issues.”
“Uh-huh.”
He leaned back to glare at Bash. “Why do you even care?”
Bash shrugged. “Maybe I think you need someone.”
“Really. Why?”
“I don’t know. I’m happy. Will’s happy. All of our friends have found someone.”
“I don’t need anyone.”
“Yeah, that’s what I used to think. Until this insanely beautiful woman forced me to fall in love with her.”
Chelsea turned her head. “Wait. What? Forced you? There was no forcing, mister.”
Bash laughed. “I knew you were listening.”
She lifted her chin. “I never eavesdrop. It’s rude. And Bash is right. Ask Josie out on a proper date.”
Zach rolled his eyes. “Thank you. I’ll give it some thought.”
Josie leaned near Chelsea. “What are you all talking about?”
“Football,” Bash said.
“Oh.”
Zach got up and went over to Josie. “Let’s dance.”
Her eyes widened. “Here?”
“Sure. Great way to keep an eye on the kids on the dance floor.”
“Oh. Okay, sure.”
She laid her napkin on the table and stood, following him onto the dance floor. There was a fast song playing, so they moved in time to the music. He had no complaints about watching Josie’s hips sway.
She got in closer to him. “You are not watching students. You’re looking at me.”
“Okay, fine.” He turned around and scanned the dance floor. Everyone seemed to be behaving, for the most part, so he pivoted again to face her. “Nothing scandalous going on.”
“Did you expect there to be?”
“You never know. But not really.”
The song switched to something slow. Josie started to walk off, but he grabbed her hand and tugged her close, moving her into the center of the dance floor.
“One more.”
“We shouldn’t,” she said, tilting her head back.
“Probably not. Just glance around and look mean, like you’re scanning for inappropriate dance behavior.”
She stifled a laugh. “Okay.”
He enjoyed the feel of her against him, though he couldn’t really pull her as close as he wanted to because he didn’t want the students—or faculty—getting any idea that there was something going on between them.
But there was definitely something going on between them. He was having a hard time focusing on anything but the way her dangling earrings teased the column of her neck, or that one hair curled possessively against her earlobe, making him want to tease his tongue there. Or the sweep of her dark lashes whenever she made eye contact, and the utter sea blue of her eyes that never failed to draw him in. Not to mention the softness of her hand or her sweet scent.
“So, what exactly should we be looking for?”
He snapped himself out of his mental inventory of Josie. “What?”
“You know, on the dance floor. The students?”
“Oh. I don’t know. Inappropriate touching, kissing, those kinds of things.”
“I see. Okay, I’ll be on the lookout for those things, but so far everyone seems to be behaving.”
She was right. The only one who wasn’t behaving—at least mentally—was him. So he pulled his focus from the beautiful woman in his arms and back to scanning the dance floor. He realized a few of the other teachers and parental chaperones had taken to the floor to dance, including Chelsea with Bash and Jane with Will, which made Zach and Josie stand out a little bit less, thankfully.
Not that it mattered. The kids were only looking at one another. Adults were practically invisible to them.
“Would you like to go out with me?”
Josie snapped her gaze back to Zach.
“What?”
“You know, on a date.”
“We are out.”
He slanted a look at her. “
This is not a date. This is chaperoning the homecoming dance.”
Her lips curved. “I don’t know. I’ve never been to homecoming. It’s kind of romantic.”
“Come on, Josie. I mean a real date. Just the two of us. Out to dinner or to a movie or something you’ll enjoy doing.”
“Well, first, I am enjoying myself. Second, I’d love to.”
He hadn’t realized he’d been holding his breath until she said yes. “Great.”
“How about Tuesday?”
That was random. “Why Tuesday?”
“The movie theater has movie noir night.”
He grimaced. “You mean old movies in black and white.”
She laughed. “It’ll be fun. And there’s popcorn.”
“Sounds awesome.”
The song ended, so they made their way back to the table. Josie excused herself to go to the restroom, and Chelsea and Jane went with her.
Zach went to refill drinks for the two of them, and grabbed another sandwich while passing by the food table.
When he sat down, he smirked at Bash.
“What?” Bash asked.
“I have a date with Josie.”
Bash leaned back in his chair. “Asked her out, huh?”
“Yeah.”
Will leaned forward. “When?”
“Tuesday night.”
Bash laughed.
“What’s so funny?”
“You’re taking her out on a work night?”
“Yes. So what?”
“Dude. Nothing hot can happen on a work night.”
“I don’t know about that,” Josie said, giving Zach a wink as she walked past the three of them on her way back to her chair.
Chelsea took her seat. “If I recall correctly, Bash, we had no problem with Monday dates. Or Tuesdays. Or Wednesdays. Or—”
Bash raised his hand. “Yeah, yeah. I get it.”
Zach laughed, then skirted his glance across the table at Josie, who gave him a heated smile.
Tuesday was going to be a good day.
Chapter 18
* * *
JOSIE WAS ENJOYING the quiet time of her prep period Tuesday afternoon, grading papers in her classroom when the door opened and Zach walked in. She could tell from the look on his face he was not happy.
