“You were the other woman?” I asked, teasing her, but curious about her high school years.
“I had no idea they were still together.” She shook her head. “I guess my curse started back then.”
“Curse?” I didn’t buy into mumbo-jumbo like curses or karma or fate.
Carrie waved her hand in a dismissive gesture that almost knocked over her wine glass. “One of Dilly’s theories. The point is that the principal, Missy Melcher, hates me and has it out for me. She heard the rumors about Philistine’s and me going home with you and she’s put me on notice, a sort of probation.”
“I still don’t get why she cares what you do in your free time.”
“Teachers are supposed to set an example for the kids we teach. I’m supposed to be careful about how I purport myself in public and Missy’s been waiting for an excuse to take me down a peg. She’s within her rights and I…I just feel like such an idiot.”
“So, big deal,” I said. “She puts you on notice, or probation or whatever, and you behave yourself for a while and then life goes back to normal for you, right?”
“Sure. Except that the recent budget cuts mean the school needs to cut teachers. I’ve been there six years and am making pretty good money. This probation could be the excuse Missy is looking for to get rid of me.”
Since I knew there was only one high school in town, I understood how big a deal this was to her. “Is there any way to get off probation?” I asked. “Anything you can do?”
She put down her fork and looked a bit green. “I had one idea, but it’s absolutely insane and I totally understand if you won’t go for it.”
“Lay it on me.” I would honestly do just about anything to take that sad look out of her eyes and fix this for her.
She pulled in a deep breath. “I may have told Missy I wasn’t drunk, I was having a bad reaction to allergy medicine mixed with alcohol, and I wasn’t behaving badly, because you and I are dating. In fact, we’re quite serious.”
Warning bells rang so loud I had to fight the urge to cover my ears. “How serious?”
She looked down at her plate, blushing pink from her cheeks to the tips of her ears. “Engaged.”
I swallowed hard. “Engaged?” I’d never been in a relationship that lasted longer than two weeks, much less engaged. The very word elicited a primal fear.
She looked up. “She didn’t believe me, because she would have heard it through the grapevine if we were. I’ve lived in this town all my life and my parents had lived in this town all their lives. People talk about everything I do, but I just love it here. It’s home and I was desperate, so I lied and I’m sorry, but if you could just pretend. . . If you could go see Missy with me tomorrow and tell her it’s for real…It would only have to last a couple of weeks, a month at the most.”
Something she’d said had struck close to home and given me an idea. “I’ll do it,” I said. “On one condition.”
She looked at me, her eyes wide and hopeful and I knew I’d do this for her even if she wouldn’t help me. “You aren’t going to believe this, but Bart Gregory won’t sell me his property unless I can prove I have ties to the town, in fact he mentioned you by name. If he believed I was engaged to you…”
“Yes,” she said, clapping her hands together. “Yes, I’ll help you, too. She launched herself at me, her legs straddling my waist, and wrapped her arms around me, hugging me tight. “Thank you so much.”
Her hair was in my face, her scent of flowers and soap all around me, and she felt so good and warm in my arms that I realized how easily I could get lost in her, could drown in her. I grabbed her hips and put her gently off my lap and on her feet. I couldn’t afford to get lost in her. “This will work better if we’re completely platonic in private and act all lovey dovey in public. We don’t want this to get messy.”
She pushed her hair behind her ears, the light in her eyes dimming just a bit. For a moment, I hated myself. My cock definitely hated me.
“Okay. Right. Good idea,” she said.
I didn’t ask for a take-back, I didn’t pull her back into my arms, no matter how badly I wanted to.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Carrie
I pushed down my embarrassment, because he was right. I’d felt things when I’d had my arms around him, things that would only make this more complicated than it needed to be. He wasn’t the right guy for me and whatever I felt for him was nothing more than irrational hormones. “Maybe you could pick me up after work, tomorrow? We could stop in and talk to Missy.”
“Sure. And I’ll take you out to dinner after.” He stood and carried our plates to the kitchen. I took them from him, rinsed them, and stuck them in the dishwasher. “Tonight, we should go for a walk around the neighborhood and make sure everyone knows what’s up.”
The nerves that had been rolling through me ever since I lied to my boss and arch-nemesis did not let up like I thought they would. I hated lying, I hated pretending, and the fact that Cody hadn’t laughed in my face and told me I was crazy was making me more than a little worried. He was being way too nice and understanding and I needed him not to be understanding, I needed him to be a jerk. Even him pushing me off his lap had been sweet and considerate. A real jerk would see how far he could get with me with no consideration for my feelings. “Great.” I turned to face him and found him way too close to me, so close his breath tickled my cheek. I slid along the counter until there was a bit more space between us. “I really appreciate you being so understanding about all of this,” I said. “It was wrong of me to lie to Missy.” So, so wrong. “And you could have easily told me to get lost.”
He shrugged. “You’re helping me out, too. If you hadn’t shown up on my doorstep with this crazy idea, I’d probably be looking to move somewhere with a more readily available property.”
Somehow, his words didn’t make me feel better. The web of lies was spreading. I knew we’d have to make it seem real, but—
All my thoughts froze when Cody’s hand cupped my cheek and he looked into my eyes. “It’ll be okay. We’ll just have to pretend for a week or two, and then we’ll have a massive break-up and everything will go back to normal.”
I wanted to believe him. “I hate lying,” I said. “I know this town can feel oppressive, with everyone prying into your business, but people here, they really care about me. They worry about me and I…I just…”
“I’ll be the asshole, okay,” he said. “When it’s time to break up, it’ll be my fault and no one will ever think any less of you.”
“I can’t let you do that. I’m asking you for a favor.”
“You’re not letting me do anything. I’m insisting.”
“Why are you being so nice to me?”
“I’ve always been nice to you,” he said. “You just didn’t take it the right way.”
His words should have pissed me off, but I couldn’t stop the smile that ghosted my lips. His brown eyes crinkled at the edges as he smiled back and I felt the breath leave my body in a needy little sigh. Shit, what the heck was wrong with me? His eyes darkened and he leaned in a bit. I looked at his lips, his soft, full lips and my body heated, need lancing through me. It had been a really, really long time since I’d had a good kiss or a good anything, and I —
Somewhere, a lawn mower started up, the sound making me jump and bringing me to my senses. I backed up and slid out from between him and the counter. I marched toward the door. “We should probably take that walk before it gets too dark.”
He cleared his throat and followed me out into the evening.
We took a leisurely stroll through the neighborhood, our fingers laced together, and made sure everyone saw us together. Norma Jane was out on her front porch and we told her we were engaged. She was thrilled. Betty, of course, also asked us what was going on, but she was less than impressed. She suggested we were moving way too fast and that the whole thing would end in disaster. I tended to agree with her, but I forced a pleasant smile and suggested it was l
ove at first sight between me and Cody. She said that, judging by the way we fought, she just might believe it was. She had a twisted view of love.
Back at Cody’s driveway, I dropped his hand and headed toward my house. “Thank you for a lovely walk,” I said. “And for dinner.”
He grabbed my hand before I got too far, the tingles I’d felt all over my body during our walk turned to a raging inferno. I pulled my hand out of his, just to be able to think. I didn’t appreciate being manhandled. I just didn’t.
“What are you doing?” I hissed.
“I think it would be more believable if I spent the evening with my fiancée,” he said in a low voice, his teeth gritted. He looked over at Betty, who was watching us, and gave her a smile.
“I have papers to grade.”
“Great,” he said in a louder voice. “Then I’ll come to your place.”
I wanted to stamp my foot and scream, but I couldn’t. I didn’t think I’d be able to focus on anything with his large presence in my home, but I didn’t have any choice if I wanted our fake engagement to look real. I narrowed my eyes, until I remembered this whole thing was my fault. “Fine,” I said. “Come—”
He grabbed me and pulled me in tight against him, his hard, big body fitting just right against me. He pressed his lips to mine with a soft growl. I was so startled, I froze. He didn’t give up. He licked and nipped until I opened to him, and then he kissed me with such fierceness that my whole body lit like a live wire and I kissed him back like I was trying to get closer to him. I wanted to get closer to him.
He pulled away and I followed him with my lips, wanting more, but he chuckled, his eyes dancing with amusement. “I think we’ve given Betty enough of a show.” He appeared to be completely calm and…Amused? How could he be amused? Had the kiss made him feel nothing?
I put on a serene smile and pretended I felt nothing either. “Let’s get inside then.”
He wrapped an arm around my shoulders and we walked into my house together.
***
I was a wreck. Cody had stayed at my house until after ten. I’d graded papers and he’d read one of the books I kept stacked on my bedroom floor. He’d seemed quite content just to hang out and he’d left as soon as I told him I was ready to hit the hay. He’d suggested he stay over, but I knew I’d never get any sleep if he did. Even after he left, I couldn’t calm down. My body was alert and throbbing and wanting, still lit up from that kiss. I’d stared at the ceiling for a long time, before I’d given in and reached into my night stand drawer for my battery-operated boyfriend. It took the edge off, but I was still buzzing, still wanting. I managed to get through my work day without any problems, but as three o’clock approached, I started to get nervous about our performance for Missy.
What if Cody forgot? Or was late? Or couldn’t convince Missy? The last bell of the day rang and my nerves amped up to a million and ten. I sat at my desk, my feet tapping a nervous rhythm on the linoleum, as students fled my class. I gathered my stuff, my hands shaking.
“Miss Harrison.” I looked up to see Kayla, her expression sad, the usual spark and energy in her eyes, and in her usually almost kinetic movements, stilled. “You wanted to see me?”
“You didn’t turn in your last assignment,” I said. “It was only worth about ten percent of your grade, so your overall grade shouldn’t drop too much, but I wanted to give you the opportunity to make it up if you’d like. Or you could take on some extra credit.” I also wanted to make sure that her missing this assignment wasn’t a sign of decreased future involvement in class or of problems at home, but I didn’t think prying was going to get me anywhere with her.
Her lower lip trembled and tears filled her eyes. “I can’t…I don’t have time and…I’m sorry, Miss Harrison. I haven’t even read the book. Is there anything else I can do for extra credit?”
“Of course. I’ll…I’ll make up a list of options for you. Kayla, if there’s anything you want to talk about—”
“I have to go.” She turned and fled before I could ask her anything else.
I dropped my head over my interlaced fingers on my desk, fighting my own tears. I was worried about Kayla, but it was frustration as much as worry that upset me. I was a teacher, it was my job to be able to get through to my students and, if I couldn’t do that…What the hell was I doing?
“It’ll be okay.” Large masculine hands dropped over mine. “We’ve got this.” I looked up to see Cody, his big, brown eyes warm and open, his smile reassuring. He’d shaved and was dressed in jeans and a red button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to show off his muscled fore-arms. He thought I was worried about our meeting with Missy, which I had been just moments before, but now…I straightened my shoulders and focused on Cody. If I was going to be of any help to Kayla, I had to keep my job.
“You dressed up,” I said, so grateful that he was taking this seriously.
“I want to make a good impression. Carrie Harrison wouldn’t be engaged to a slob.”
My heart warmed, but I couldn’t forget my worry about Kayla. I forced a smile onto my face and stood. He stepped back, dropping my hands and reached into his pocket. “I got you something, to make this more realistic. It’s not much, but it’s the best I could do on short notice.”
He slid a small black box across my desk and my heart raced. I’d absolutely been one of those little girls who’d imagined her wedding and her engagement ring and how her true love would propose. In all my pretend games and imaginings, it had never gone anything like this.
My hands shook as I picked up the box and flipped the lid. A ring with a small diamond in the center and sapphires on either side sat against black velvet. Tears filled my eyes, because I’d wanted this so much and now here it was, for pretend and maybe the best I’d ever have. It was depressing and sweet at the same time. “It’s lovely,” I said. “You didn’t have to.”
“I did,” he said, his voice a bit unsteady. “It’s not real. I can’t afford real right now, but it should do the trick.”
I slid the ring on my left hand, my heart breaking a bit for the dream I’d once had for this moment in my life. It was only pretend, I reminded myself, and didn’t mean I wouldn’t have the real thing someday.
I swallowed, swiped at the tears under my eyes, and looked up at Cody. “It’s perfect.”
His smiled dropped and concern filled his eyes. He walked around my desk and pulled me into a warm hug. “If it’s perfect,” he said, his voice gruff. “Why are you crying?”
His arms around me surprised me almost as much as the real concern in his voice. “It’s stupid. I just never imagined my first engagement ring would be part of a plan to lie to everyone I know.”
“I’m sorry. But I promise you this won’t be the last engagement ring anyone ever gives you. The next one will be for real.”
He sounded truly sorry and I realized what an ungrateful, sentimental idiot I was being. I pushed out of his arms and wiped my eyes. “You have nothing to be sorry for. The ring is perfect. Are you ready to meet my boss?”
He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Lead the way.”
I took his hand in mine and led him through the halls to the main office. “How’d you find my classroom, anyway?”
“I asked at the front desk when I checked in at the office.” It was then I noticed his visitor’s pass stuck to the left side of his shirt.
“You’re really going above and beyond for this,” I said. “Thank you.”
He shook his head. “I think you’ve been out with too many douche bags, Carrie. I’m doing the bare minimum of what you deserve.”
I had no idea what to say to that, so I just shook my head and kept walking. Caroline, the school secretary, smiled when we walked in. She’d been working at the school since I was a student there. “Hi, Caroline,” I said. “This is my fiancé Cody Reynolds.”
Caroline clapped her hands and beamed. “I heard you were engaged, Carrie. I’m so happy for you.” My gut sank at th
e horrible lie I was telling, but Cody squeezed my hand before he dropped it to shake Caroline’s.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he said, all charm and good grace.
Caroline narrowed her eyes at Cody. “You treat our girl right, you understand.”
Cody’s smile slipped a bit, but he took my hand again. “I’ll do my best. She’s deserves it.”
“She certainly does,” Caroline said. “Carrie Harrison is an absolute angel. Do you know—”
“Caroline, is Missy in?” I asked, before she could launch into a monologue about my kindness. She was a wonderful, kind woman, but she tended to go on and on once she started.
Caroline frowned and shook her head, before returning her attention to Cody. “She doesn’t like anyone to speak well of her, but you are her fiancé and you should know that she gives her heart and soul to this school and all the students here. She is good people. When my husband of forty years passed away, Carrie brought me casseroles for three weeks and helped me clean up my house after I had all those people traipsing through for the memorial service. She is a saint.”
My cheeks heated and I was squeezing Cody’s hand so hard, I was surprised he hadn’t shaken me off.
“She is a good person,” Cody said. “I was drawn in by her outer beauty, but it was her inner beauty and her good heart I fell in love with.”
My good heart was in danger of cracking with all this praise, real and imaginary. “Thank you, Caroline, but we have dinner reservations,” I lied. I mean really, what’s one more lie at this point? “Is Missy available?”
“Of course, dear,” Caroline said. “Go right in.”
Missy’s door was open and I walked in, pulling Cody along with me. “Hello, Principal Melcher,” I said as cheerfully as I could manage.
Missy looked up, her make-up and perfect hair unable to quite hide her sour expression. Her eyes widened when they settled on Cody and her expression changed to a sweet smile, though her lips pursed when her eyes dropped to our joined hands.
The Deadbeat Next Door Page 11