Kylee wished he had rescued her back then. She felt she was floundering now. Except for these past few days he’d been back in her life. She felt grounded around him, like her old self.
“Work that angle.”
Kyle blinked. Anthony’s blue gaze came back into focus. “Angle?”
What was this angle people were constantly bringing up? She knew she worked for an education company, but somehow, she didn’t think this had to do with math.
“The friendship angle,” Jason said as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.
“I’m not going to use my friend to get ahead in my job.”
That might happen in the capital, but here in Adalia people helped each other because it was the right thing to do. There were no angles in the small town. There were only straight lines that got people to the points they wanted to go and circles of unity to include all of the community.
“Close the deal and you could get put on the high-level testing team.”
Kylee opened her mouth to protest louder but paused. There was that carrot again. The high-level testing team was where they worked on post-secondary materials. It was Kylee’s dream to work on college prep tests.
That team was now walking into one of the conference room doors down the hall. The door closed behind them, shutting her out. But what if it opened for her?
She didn’t need an angle to talk to Ron. She was already in his circle of trust. They hadn’t talked about Thrive last night because the whole door opening situation had distracted them both.
Kylee had seen the work of the other company, Here 2 Learn. Their lesson plans lacked detail. Their competencies were vague. And their test questions were confusing.
She knew her work was beyond what they did. On assessment alone, she ran laps around the other company. She didn’t doubt she was the best woman for the job.
There would be no angles necessary. This would be a straight shot. She’d show that to Ron later, the next time he came to her door. Just the thought of Ron showing up at her home made Kylee feel warm and mushy.
Kylee shook herself out of it. She looked to tell Anthony her decision, but he was already walking away, his head back down on his device. Kylee flipped her sheet of paper back over. The hearts and arrows stared back at her.
The hearts looked like the bubbles of multiple-choice answers. The arrows looked like blanks ready to be filled. But did Kylee dare ask the question? Did she want to fully open the door to the possibility of her and her best friend becoming more?
Chapter Twelve
“Hasta Luigi, baby,” said a fourth grader as she carefully placed a paper crown on her head.
“No, it’s pasta la vista, baby,” said a fifth grader as his salsa smudged crown fell to the floor.
Ron chuckled at the children as he filled their paper plates with refried beans, rice, and melted cheese. It was Taco Night at Buster and Eden’s diner. The owners had allowed the school to use their kitchen as a fundraiser to help restock the arts programs. The quesadillas were aimed to get new instruments for the band. The nachos would hopefully bring in enough to refill the paint and crayon supplies for the art classes. And the rice and beans just might offer some leftover cash to go to the next class play for costumes and sets.
“The saying is hasta la vista, baby,” said Ron. “That means see you later, niño in Spanish.”
The two kids frowned at him. That was the one thing about trying to joke with the younger crowd. They didn’t always get a clever, multilingual, multi-generational joke.
“Bueno,” Ron said. “Go find a table and eat your tacos.”
The two kids moved through the packed restaurant and found their family and friends. Ron tightened the apron over his collared shirt, which was amazingly still spotless, and his dark slacks, which had narrowly escaped a queso splatter. Though he’d long removed the paper crown from his head as the thin cardboard had begun to wilt under the heat.
“You were always such a show off in Spanish class.”
Ron couldn’t hide his smile at the sound of her voice. “Buenas tardes, Señora Bauer.”
“All I can remember is me llama, Kylee.”
Kylee shook her head. Her own paper crown slid to the side, but didn’t fall off. Instead it clung to her locks like it wanted desperately to hold onto them. Ron understood the sentiment.
He felt heat rise to his face as he gazed across the serving table at Kylee. He gave a tug to his collar. Though he’d already loosened his tie, he still found himself a bit breathless in her presence.
“Hi, Principal Kidd.” Molly’s voice was singsong. Her own paper crown sat securely on her head as though it knew the little lady was born for the role.
Molly’s eyes twinkled as she looked between him and her mother. Ron noted that Kylee’s cheeks were flushed too. Was it possible she was feeling the same heat for him that he was feeling for her?
They hadn’t come to any consensus the other night when he’d opened the door to the possibility of them dating. After he made the suggestion, neither of them quite knew what to do next, especially not after Molly had tried her hand at DJing. Ron had left shortly after Kylee had turned the music off. As they’d stood on the stoop of her front porch, the possibilities had lingered between them.
They couldn’t continue the conversation now, not with half the community passing in and out of the restaurant.
Ron piled white rice, pinto beans, and cheese on Molly’s plate, as per her request. When Kylee held out her plate, Ron didn’t wait for instruction. He put soft shells on her plate, brown rice, black beans, and tons of cheese.
“This is exactly what I wanted,” Kylee said bringing the plate up to her nose.
He knew it was. Because he knew her so well. They’d spent many a Friday night at Taco Bell working on college admissions essays and planning for their respective futures.
He took Kylee’s plate from her and plopped down guacamole.
“Hey,” she protested.
“You’re a growing woman,” he taunted, knowing she wasn’t a fan of most green foods. “You need a vegetable.”
“Avocados are a fruit. So are tomatoes.”
She had him there. He hadn’t really cared whether she was eating every food group. He just wanted to keep her company for a little while longer.
“Principal Kidd, you left your watch at our house when you were over last night,” said Molly. The little girl’s voice carried over the Top Forty tunes coming out of the ancient jukebox. A few glances turned their way.
Kylee’s cheeks turned redder than the salsa on her plate. Ron was sure his did as well. This time he couldn’t blame the burners. Kylee’s gaze met his. Once again, they were the only two people in the room.
“I can drop it off tomorrow,” said Kylee. “Or you can swing by later…?”
Kylee shrugged her shoulders as she let the sentence trail. Ron was mesmerized by that shrug; how her collarbone became more pronounced. One shoulder was higher than the other making an asymmetrical shape that he wanted to measure. By the curve of her lip and the way she looked up at him from beneath her lashes, she wanted him to fill in the blank she’d left.
Ron knew his answer, but before he could complete the request, there was the sound of a throat clearing, followed by the high-pitched voice of an irritated child.
“You’re holding up the line,” said Ricky, Jr.
Ron wasn’t the only teacher manning the food station. There were three others. But of course, Iman Hilson would come to his line expecting special treatment.
“As I live and breathe,” Iman drawled. “If it isn’t Princess Kylee.”
Kylee grit her teeth. Her family had lived in this town long enough that no one bothered with ceremony. His Royal Highness Prince Edvard Nicholai Bauer was simply Eddie when he’d walked the streets every evening. The only time the Bauer’s royal status was brought up was when someone wanted to drag the family through the mud. Like when their little princess ran off with the town bad b
oy.
Seeing as that little dig didn’t get a rise out of Kylee, Iman went for the jugular. “Did you return to your maiden name? Or are you still holding onto Jason’s?”
Kylee had never done fake well. It was why she and Iman rarely crossed paths back in high school. Kylee had seen right through the mean girl’s fake friendliness.
“Nope, it’s Bauer. I smartened up and cut both the name and the man loose.”
“Oh,” Iman pressed her hand to her heart and her face contorted into a compassionate grimace that didn’t reflect in her gaze. “I had heard Jason found someone else.”
Kylee bobbed her head, the crown slipped down to her ear, holding on by a few strands of her lush hair. “He’s probably found a few more someone else's by now. I’d be happy to be your reference if you want to wait in his line.”
And with that, Kylee turned her back on Iman. But not before giving Ron a quick smile. “See ya?”
Ron couldn’t articulate after that performance. He was too busy trying his hardest not to fist pump Kylee’s retort. But he didn’t need words with Kylee. He knew she saw clearly in his gaze that she would indeed see him later tonight. And tonight, he planned to say every flowery, romantic word he’d ever dreamed of saying to her.
Before Kylee stepped away from the serving table, Ron reached out and fixed the crown on her head, securing it back in its rightful place. Kylee gave him another warm smile. Then she and Molly headed off to find a table.
“My dad left a watch collection at my mom’s house,” Ricky, Jr. was saying. “You can come to my house and see it.”
Ron took the kid’s plate and began loading it up. “Why not bring it in for show and tell? With your mom’s permission, of course?”
Ricky nodded as he took his tacos from Ron.
Ron began on Iman’s plate. He moved as quickly as possible so that she could move on and take her false smiles with her and out of his line.
“Looks like you’re showing interest in a parent,” said Iman. “Isn’t that against the rules?”
“But Mom, I want him to show interest in you,” said her son.
“I always knew you had a thing for her,” Iman said, ignoring her kid as usual.
Ron didn’t respond. He simply handed the woman the lettuce and beans she’d indicated that she wanted.
“Well, you better not let it interfere with business,” Iman said as she took her light fare in one hand. “You wouldn’t want to be accused of showing favoritism to your girlfriend.”
“Kylee’s not my girlfriend. She’s my friend.”
But even Ron didn’t believe his own lie. He could tell Iman didn’t either. She walked off and took a seat with some other parents. By the glances they stole at Ron he was sure that his relationship status with Kylee was the topic of conversation.
He wasn’t breaking any rules. However, before his eyes, people’s perspective about him was changing. The question was, did he care?
Chapter Thirteen
Kylee fixed her skirt, giving the pleated hem a tug. It came above the knee. Was that too high? Or maybe it wasn’t high enough?
She’d changed three times, showered, put on makeup, taken makeup off, and then reapplied. Not in that order. Looking in the mirror her cheeks looked more plum than blush. She was so nervous that she was going to break out in hives.
Why was she so nervous? It was just Ron; her old buddy, her old pal. He was just coming over to pick up his watch. They might sit and talk. And…
And? What and? There was no and. And that was that. Except there was still the door that he’d left open.
It’s really not that ridiculous.
What exactly wasn’t ridiculous? Molly wanting them to date? Or the possibility of Ron and Kylee dating? He’d never clarified.
Kylee hated vague statements. There was always a right and wrong answer. She’d never let such an open-ended question like that get by as one of her test questions. So the first thing she’d do when Ron stopped by was to ask him to clarify his meaning so that she’d best be able to narrow down her response.
“Looking good, Mom.” Molly poked her head in the bathroom door. “Now, that's how you dress for a date."
"This is not a date." That had not been made clear. Yet.
It also wasn’t an angle. She wouldn’t use her friendship with Ron to get her anywhere. She’d been used enough in the last ten years by Jason. This was simply a reconnaissance mission. Ron would retrieve his watch and Kylee would then interrogate him.
"Are you wearing lip gloss?" asked Molly.
Kylee put a finger to her lips. She’d slipped on one coat of gloss. But only because she hadn’t gotten enough water today and her lips were parched.
"Is that eyeshadow?”
The shade matched her blouse.
“And earrings?”
Well, they complimented the embroidery in her skirt.
“It's a date, Mom."
"It's Ron,” Kylee protested. Her cheeks flamed even brighter accentuating the makeup she applied.
"I like Mr. Kidd.”
Kylee sighed. "I like him too."
“He likes you. He's always staring at you and grinning.”
“He does? Oh my God, this is a date."
Molly nodded.
Something bubbled up in Kylee’s chest. Was that heartburn? Or excitement? Probably excitement since she’d eaten the tacos only a couple hours ago. Kylee was feeling excited about dating her best friend.
But wait. Did Ron think this was a date? He’d made that joke about being a hot commodity around moms. Did he think Kylee was trying to commoditize him? Was that even a word?
Oh, no. What if Ron thought that she thought that this was a date? Or worse, what if he thought the only reason she’d asked him over was to work an angle?
But there had been that moment between them the other night when their fingers had interlocked while they’d sat on the couch. And before that, back in his office when the air had positively sizzled between them. Hadn’t it?
Kylee’s man radar was off. It probably had never been on. Jason had swooped in unexpectedly while the system was preparing to turn on. Other than that, she hadn’t seen interest in any other guy.
She was probably wrong. Or maybe she wasn’t? She didn’t know. She hated not knowing. But the one thing Kylee knew for sure was that her daughter wanted this to be a date.
Kylee turned to Molly who was still framed in the bathroom door admiring her mother’s reflection. “Should we have a talk?"
“About what?”
“About… you know…”
Molly rolled her eyes and groaned. ”We already did the birds and bees talk."
"No," said Kylee. "About what dating means? I just want you to know that if I start to date, it won't affect your relationship with your dad."
Molly kicked the toe of her tennis shoe at the area on the floor where the wood of the hallway turned to the tile of the bathroom floor. "He missed our call last night."
"Maybe he was traveling?”
"You always make excuses for him. You don’t need to do that anymore. I’m not a little kid.”
“Oh, I beg to differ, missy.” Kylee bent down to be on level with her daughter. She didn’t have to bend as far anymore. Molly was getting so big. “You’ll always be my baby.”
"I'm not a baby," Molly grimaced. "And he's the adult. It's his responsibility to reach out to me."
The little woman was right. When had she become so grown up? Would her father ever be the grown-up that she needed? Kylee doubted it, but she did hope so. For Molly’s sake.
The doorbell rang pulling Kylee's attention. Kylee straightened, tugging her skirt again as she did so.
"Your date is here," Molly grinned. Then she tilted her head back and gave an exaggerated yawn. ”I'm feeling tired. I’m going to my room. I won't come down at all tonight."
The door to Molly’s bedroom closed with a quiet snick. Kylee made her way down the steps. She fingered her earrings, wondering if t
hey were too much. She touched her lips wishing she had a tissue to wipe off the gloss.
Before she knew it, she was at the front door. She knew if she opened it, whatever happened, there was no turning back. Her relationship with Ron would be different from that moment on.
She peeped through the hole. And there he was. His face was in profile as he looked up. The porch light illuminated the small smile on his face.
Kylee let her gaze rake over what she could see of him through the small hole. For the first time since he’d come back into her life, she allowed herself to simply look at him. She’d always made fun of the gray hair that shaded his young face. With a bit of age and wisdom in his countenance, it made him look devastatingly handsome. Ron looked capable, experienced, and it took her breath away.
Kylee gasped at the transformation that took place in her mind as her childhood friend turned into a very desirable-looking man. At that moment, Ron turned and looked right into the peephole. Had he heard her? Had he seen her? Had he caught her staring?
She expected him to push the doorbell again. But he didn’t. Of course, he didn’t. He was Ron. He waited patiently for her to show up.
Ron had always been patient with her. He’d always stood by and waited for her after school. He was always ready with a kind word or a joke if things didn’t go the way she’d planned. She wished he’d been there for the last decade of her life.
Even if this wasn’t a date, she knew she wanted this man back in her life. She wanted to spend as much time with him and his goodness as possible. She needed a light like Ron’s to shine on her.
Kylee flicked the lock and turned the doorknob. She pulled it opened just a crack. Still hesitant at the change she knew was about to happen.
Ron’s smile dazzled her from the other side of the door. "Hey."
“Hey."
His gaze dipped to her lips. She knew she no longer had to ask for clarity. This was definitely a date. She had to make a decision. It was now or never.
The Princess and the Principal: a Sweet Royal Romance (The Rebel Royals Series Book 5) Page 6