The Hot Billionaires Box Set

by Nella Tyler

  “We can continue this discussion in my office on Monday, Abigail,” Terry said, sounding a little defeated, though his eyes stayed sharp.

  I nodded once and he walked away, his face changing as he smiled at another table full of students and their loved ones. I looked at Drew, forcing a nervous smile even though I dreaded what was to come out of that conversation on Monday.

  “At least I wasn’t fired on the spot.”

  He didn’t smile as he tracked Terry’s movements with a worried look in his eyes. “Are you okay with all of this? I’d hate for it to lead to you being out of work.” He glanced at me again.

  I shrugged one shoulder. “I don’t have any control over what the principal says or does, but I do have control over this moment, right now.” I smiled more genuinely, that warm feeling lighting me up inside. I was with the people I cared about most in the world. I slid an arm around Sophia’s tiny, birdlike shoulders. “Let’s have a great Valentine’s Day lunch.”

  Drew smiled, too, the concern in his face relaxing. We kept on smiling and laughing through each course, each of us making guesses about what we thought the secret dessert was going to be. The fifth graders had a choir, and they filed into the cafeteria near the end of the meal, just as we were finishing with our main course, and began to sing a few silly love songs, their tiny voices loud and clear. That filled me up, too, and I found myself near tears at the end of their performance.

  “And now, please enjoy this special Valentine’s Day dessert!” Terry announced, his deep voice booming from the speakers. We hadn’t so much as met each other’s gaze since the conversation at the table. I wasn’t looking forward to the conversation on Monday, but I wasn’t going to allow myself to focus on that right now.

  The teachers who were assisting as servers for the afternoon brought out trays laden with tiny chocolate cakes topped with a dollop of whipped cream. The guests ooohed and ahed at the sight of them. As soon as our table received ours, I cut into mine and melted chocolate flowed out of the inside.

  I gasped with delight. “Oh, how wonderful. It’s molten chocolate cake.”

  Sophia took a big bite, her smile cranking up at the taste. “It’s yummy!”

  “I can’t think of a better way to end this great lunch,” I said.

  “I can,” Drew replied. “How about you join me for dinner tonight at our place?”

  I smiled. He was right. That was better.

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  We held each other’s gaze for a bit longer, the heat sizzling in the air between us, and then went back to devouring the cake.

  Chapter 37

  Drew

  Monday

  Sophia and I woke earlier than usual and had a great start to the day, deciding to make pancakes with sprinkles and hot chocolate overflowing with whipped cream on top. We chatted about the Valentine’s Day lunch and how happy she was that Abigail had been able to sit at our table. We’d ended up spending the rest of the day together, taking Sophia to see a movie in the afternoon and then making dinner together that night. It was nice, like we were meant to all be together like that. I couldn’t shake the ironclad certainly that I wanted this woman in my life long term.

  I parked in my normal space when dropping Soph off at school. I’d been expecting to see Abigail outside waiting on us, but she wasn’t anywhere to be found. I helped Soph out of the truck and gave her a big hug before sending her on her way. I waited a few moments after she disappeared into the side of the building, my stomach tightening the longer I waited for Abigail to appear.

  And then it hit me: Principal Clarkson had said something about a talk in his office on Monday. That might have meant first thing in the morning. He could be in there reading her the riot act before firing her.

  I jumped back in my truck long enough to kill the engine and retrieve the keys, and then I got out again. I strode across the parking lot, moving quickly in front of the line of cars waiting to drop off students. I went around to the front of the building and walked through the front entrance. The main office was right here on the left. I walked in and paused in the doorway.

  There were a few parents in here, along with employees sitting at their desks in the open space. Principal Clarkson’s office was in back, just past the desk where his elderly secretary was quietly going about her tasks. I walked back that way. The door to his office was open, and I could see the principal in there talking to Abigail. Her back was to me, though, so I couldn’t see the look on her face, but her posture seemed tense. The expression on Principal Clarkson’s face was severe and closed off, the way someone might look after letting go of an employee.

  I went from concerned to pissed in a matter of a millisecond. I crossed the office, headed for where Principal Clarkson was still talking to Abigail in a tone too low for me to overhear.

  “Sir?” the secretary asked, but I didn’t halt my forward motion long enough to respond. “Sir, you can’t just walk into the principal’s office!”

  It turned out I could just walk into the principal’s office because I did exactly that. “What’s going on in here?” I asked in a tight tone.

  Principal Clarkson looked up at me, his brow furrowing, and Abigail turned around. I saw instantly by the look on her face that whatever this early morning talk was, it didn’t have anything to do with her being fired. That was a relief, but I didn’t like the thought of her being lectured over choices she was making in her personal life. That was none of this asshole’s business.

  “Drew?” she asked, confusion sneaking over her pretty features as well at the sight of me. “What are you doing here?”

  “You weren’t out at the car loop,” I said. “And then I remembered about your talk today.” I switched my attention to the principal. “Are you in here threatening her again? I know you don’t have a legal right to fire her, but maybe you decided to make her life a living hell until she just gives up and quits, either her job or me.”

  The principal sighed. “Mr. Reid, I can assure you that I have no intention of trying to force Abigail from her job here at Blaine. She is a valued employee who clearly cares deeply about her work with the students. It would be foolish to do anything that would cause such a great teacher to leave the school.

  “I just wanted to let Abigail know how to best comport herself between now and the end of the academic year when your daughter is no longer one of her students. You are absolutely right, Mr. Reid. If you and she are in a committed relationship with each other, there is nothing I can do to put a stop to that. I can only make sure it doesn’t interfere with classroom activities.”

  I didn’t have a response to that. In fact, I felt mildly stunned. The last obstacle to our happiness as a couple had just removed itself. Could it really have been as easy as that? All of this trouble for nothing?

  Abigail smiled and nodded at her boss. “I appreciate your support and concern for me, Terry. I really do. I would never let anything interfere with my responsibilities to the students. Drew and I care a great deal about each other.” She looked back at me, her green eyes wide, and I felt my insides melt. “I should really get to my class before the students begin to arrive.”

  “I’ll see you at the faculty meeting after school,” Terry said with a small smile. “Good morning to you, Mr. Reid.”

  I nodded and left when Abigail did. We didn’t speak until we were out in the hall. There were kids everywhere, all of them chattering as they walked in different directions.

  “I can’t believe you showed up out of nowhere like that,” she said, smiling up at me, her light eyes shining and intense. “Thanks for trying to save the day, even though there was really no day to save. Terry is a kind and fair man.” She must’ve seen the sharp change in my expression. “Really. He was worried for the school and for me. I can understand that, especially now that he understands I intend to keep seeing you.”

  That put a smile on my face. “How about you keep seeing me tonight?”

  She pursed her lips in an
attempt to keep from grinning at the idea. Her eyes were heartbreakingly green this morning. I’d never seen anything quite like them. “What do you have in mind?”

  “I promised Sophia we’d have breakfast for dinner tonight, just the two of us, but she goes to bed at eight on weeknights. You could come over then, and we could watch some movies together.”

  “With popcorn?” she asked.

  “I’ll give you a hell of a lot more than popcorn.”

  She giggled, her cheeks coloring attractively. “You’re on. I’ll see you tonight. I really do have to get to class now.”

  “I have to go, too. I’ll see you tonight.” I watched her jump into the current of rapidly moving students in the hallway, and then I got going myself.

  The workday passed quickly and before I knew it, I was leaving the office to pick Sophia up from school. Despite just having had pancakes for breakfast, she couldn’t stop talking about eating French toast for dinner. Sometimes we ate dinner in the living room while watching a movie of her choice. Today, she wanted to watch some nature documentary about underwater sea creatures. I loved that her mind was always hungry for knowledge, even if it sometimes meant she bombarded me with nonstop questions.

  I was washing up the dishes while Sophia changed into her pajamas upstairs and brushed her teeth. The doorbell rang, and I walked to the front foyer while drying my hands. I opened the door, grinning in anticipation to the loveliness on the other side.

  Abigail was standing on the porch, clad in a dark jacket and jeans, a hat pulled over her head to hide her fire red hair, and her green eyes sparkling like stolen emeralds.

  “Come on in,” I said. “Make yourself at home in the living room. I just need to get Sophia tucked into bed before we can have our night together.”

  I went upstairs to read Sophia a story, keeping it shorter than usual because I was anxious to get downstairs to see Abigail. I kissed her in the middle of her clear forehead as she smiled up at me.

  “Are you happy, Daddy?” she asked.

  “I’m very happy, pumpkin. Are you happy?”

  She nodded, smiling wider. I could see she was tired after such a long day. “Yep. I’m glad you like Miss East again.”

  “Me, too,” I said, and gave her one more kiss. “Good night, Soph. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “Night, Daddy.”

  I turned off the overhead light and closed her door most of the way. I hurried downstairs, slowing my pace before walking into the living room, not wanting to look too eager. Abigail glanced over and smiled at the sight of me. Goddamn, she looked good. And, it felt like she belonged here in our house. I couldn’t think of another place in the world that I’d rather be than right here with her.

  Chapter 38

  Abigail

  Friday

  This week had flown by, and it felt like I’d floated through all of it, my head forever in the clouds and a dopey smile on my face. I hadn’t been this happy in a long time, maybe not ever. I couldn’t explain the feeling of serenity that had fallen over me since I decided to make my relationship with Drew an official priority. I could see in his eyes that he felt the same way. It was crazy to think that I’d almost given up this great connection we had out of fear that turned out to be completely unfounded.

  The school day went by like a dream. My students stayed very well behaved and engaged. We occasionally had behavioral problems here and there, but it was nothing out of the ordinary — talking out of turn, running in the hall, not keeping hands to oneself. Today, though, every boy and girl seemed to be on their best behavior. When the end of the day crept closer, I instructed the students to clean up their workspaces and gather their personal belongings.

  “Who plans to have a nice weekend?” I asked as I always did on Friday afternoons.

  All the kids raised their hands. I was pleased to see that Sophia was among them, giggling and bouncing up and down like the rest of her classmates.

  Something had changed in her since Drew and I started to see more of each other. She was opening up, her personality blooming like the mysterious flower it was. I liked to believe that some of that was my doing. It gave me a toasty feeling inside to consider that my presence in her life might make a number of positive differences over time. I only wanted the best for that little girl, and I couldn’t wait to see all of the fantastic things she would achieve in the future.

  “Okay, put your jackets on and line up to wait for the bell to ring.” I watched as the kids scrambled to do as I’d asked, laughing and talking. I didn’t mind if they chatted, as long as they used inside voices and didn’t stop doing the task I’d given them. We were lined up and ready to go when the bell rang. We walked out outside behind Mrs. Wallace’s class, the kids getting more excited the closer we got to the door.

  I grinned at Drew, who was waiting beside his blue truck. Sophia waved at him. He waved at both of us. We waited for the rest of the students to get into their parents’ cars and drive away.

  Sophia glanced up at me, looking very serious. “Can I stay with you today afterschool?”

  I was surprised by the request as she’d never asked to do this before. “Well, that’s up to your father, sweetie.” As far as I knew, Drew hadn’t spoken to her about not mentioning our relationship during the school day, but she appeared to appreciate that it was information that shouldn’t be shared with everyone. She must have been thinking about asking this all day, but she waited until we were standing mostly alone near the entrance door to the school. Even Mrs. Wallace had gone back inside by this point.

  Sophia slid her hand out of mine and used both arms to beckon her father closer.

  He had to retrieve the keys out of his truck before he crossed the parking lot to join us on the sidewalk. He was wearing his usual work attire of jeans and boots, his sweater hidden under a black winter jacket. Sometimes he wore a knit hat, but today his brown hair was loose and blowing around his head in the wind.

  “What’s going on, ladies?” he asked with a light smile.

  “Daddy, can I stay with Miss East after school in her class?”

  Drew lifted her into his arms, and she hugged his neck. “Is that okay with Miss East?”

  Sophia smiled, her dimples showing. “She said to ask you.”

  He looked at me, a questioning light in his eyes.

  I shrugged. “I’m okay with it if you are. I can drop her off at home after I finish up here in about an hour.”

  “Well, then it’s okay with me, too.” He planted a kiss on Sophia’s forehead as her little body bucked with happiness. “You behave yourself.” He set her down on the sidewalk, and she took my hand again. “I’ll see you at home, honey.”

  “Bye, Daddy!”

  Drew hesitated, his light brown eyes lifting to mine and giving me that buzz of crackling warmth I could feel traveling from him to me. It was invigorating, and I hoped it never faded, this excitement of just being close to him. He turned and walked back out to his truck while Sophia and I watched. Once he pulled away, we turned and hurried into the warmth of the school again.

  Sophia was talking about the rock climbing that she was planning to do on Saturday with her dad and Brian, her backup dad. I smiled as I listened to her animated story of the last time they had all gone rock climbing. Brian had fallen from one of the advanced walls and screamed so loud, everyone in the gym turned around.

  I started packing my things for the weekend while Sophia wandered the room, looking at the posters and work stations in a way she never got to during the school day. I found myself watching her move around the classroom, her chubby fingers trailing over the surfaces. She was so different from the other kids, but in a good way. She thought deeply about things and seemed to have an intuitive understanding for the nuances of other people’s thoughts and feelings that would serve her well in life. Emotional intelligence was just as important as academic intelligence.

  She glanced up and caught me looking at her. I almost looked away, that was how intense
her gaze was.

  “Can we sit on the carpet and talk?” she asked, dropping to her butt on the fuzzy rug and crossing her legs.

  I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling at this. She was taking this seriously. I should do the same.

  “Of course, sweetie,” I replied. I put the last file into my bag and left my desk. I sat down across from her on the reading carpet. “What would you like to talk about?”

  She took a deep breath, her brown eyes never leaving mine. She’d left her coat on from our walk outside, which was fine, since we would be leaving soon, too. I hadn’t told Drew this, but I planned to take her for hot chocolate on our way to their house, just to give us a little more girl time.

  “Do you like my daddy?”

  The plain openness of her words gave me pause. I knew that she was a very observant child and emotionally open to those around her. Drew and I hadn’t hidden our relationship from her, but we were also careful not to include her in our more adult conversations about the future. Now that things were heating up nicely between Drew and me, we were planning to have an age appropriate conversation with her in the summer, once I was no longer her teacher and she would be truly free to think of me as her father’s girlfriend.

  “I like your daddy very much,” I said.

  She nodded once at that, like a little adult instead of a child. “He likes you, too. He can be sad sometimes.” Her brown eyes widened, and I could see by the look in them as well as how her posture stiffened slightly that she had so much love for her father. It was beautiful to see the two of them together. “My mommy died when I was little. They were married.”

  “I know, honey.”

  She reached for my hand and held it with both of hers. “I’m glad you like my daddy and he likes you back. He’s happy now without the sad times.”