Fringe Benefits (4 page)

Noise assaulted Dani’s ears the moment she opened the doors to the gym. One thing she could say about Douglas High—the students always turned out to support their sports teams. Even a sport that seemed less popular, like volleyball.

Scanning the bleachers, she was relieved none of the usual school gossips were there for the match—especially Mary Henry. After Dani had been locked in the closet with Nate, Mary had somehow found out and the story had spread like a rampant virus. While the grapevine at Douglas was extraordinarily efficient, it was also highly inaccurate. By the time someone worked up the guts to tease Dani about the closet incident, the tale involved them not just kissing but shoving their tongues down each other’s throats and having their hands in inappropriate places when the principal happened to discover them.

The reason she’d decided to come to Nate’s volleyball match was to show that they were nothing more than colleagues. Friends. When people saw them being cordial yet distant, the stories would finally die, hopefully replaced with more juicy gossip about other people that was every bit as exaggerated as the “closet clinch,” as it had come to be called.

The announcer, fellow English teacher Jeremy Pratt, was introducing the players, so Dani worked her way up the bleachers to sit by herself in what she hoped was a rather inconspicuous place—where if she were seen, no one would think anything of it. Just a teacher out to cheer for her students. As she settled herself on the uncomfortable seat, Nate’s gaze caught hers as though he’d somehow known she’d arrived.

A smile, dimple and all, lit his handsome face. He hadn’t shaved in a couple of days, judging from the light brown stubble covering his cheeks and chin. The rugged look suited him, and damn, she really needed to stop thinking about him with any inclination toward romance.

Why?
Beth’s voice echoed in her head.
What harm would there be in getting to know him?

The harm would be if their names were linked often enough that the administration got wind of it. Nate was a new teacher, which meant he needed to prove himself. Dani was the new department chair, which left her in the same position—trying to show the principal that she could handle the job.

It simply wasn’t the right time to even
consider
getting involved.

He tossed her a goofy half-wave and then focused on talking to his team.

Volleyball.
The poor guy had clearly been roped into coaching the sport, judging by how uncomfortable he looked pointing to his clipboard and trying to explain something to his girls. One thing that was expected of new teachers was to fill any openings in extracurricular activities. She’d coached everything from cheerleading to academic teams to the philanthropy club. All in their season, and each easily passed on to a newer or more enthusiastic teacher. With the exception of training the spring distance runners, Dani had shed all her extracurricular responsibilities, and she’d become selfish with her personal time.

The match was close, and she lost herself in cheering for the students she either had in class or had taught in years past. Breaks between sets were filled with kids who scrambled up the bleachers to greet her and talk for a moment or two. Although she wasn’t the most popular teacher at Douglas, she did like the fact that her students sought her out to ask advice, tell her some news, or just chitchat.

When the match ended, with Nate’s team winning, she worked her way down the bleachers, not sure if she should head out without at least speaking to him for a bit. As he packed things into his bag, he glanced back at where she’d sat, his eyes widening and then scanning the gym. The panic in his expression eased as his gaze caught hers.

Wait for me?
he mouthed.

At least he hadn’t shouted. Dani inclined her head toward the exit, and he nodded, zipping his bag and striding toward the hallway that led to the locker room, most likely for the after-match debriefing of his team.

The night was sultry, a typical late August evening in Illinois. Cicadas buzzed in the trees that bordered the far side of the baseball field, and a nice breeze kept the evening from being too warm to enjoy. She took a seat on one of the wooden benches right outside the big double doors, hoping he wouldn’t be too long.

Nate strode through the doors a brief ten minutes later. “Hey,” he called as he headed toward her. “You came.”

“Just showing my school spirit,” she replied, knowing her flushed cheeks had to make him think otherwise.

“Have you eaten?”

She shook her head.

“Wanna go get a burger?”

The hopeful tone in Nate’s voice made Dani feel guilty turning him down. “That’s probably not a good idea.”

“Why? You a vegan or something?”

“No. It’s just… people are already talking.”

He rolled his eyes. “The ‘closet clinch’?” A snort slipped out. “People really do have vivid imaginations around here. Mary Henry ought to write romance novels. She has a way of embellishing that most authors would envy.”

Dani smiled. “That she does.”

“C’mon, Dani. Let’s get a burger. I’m starving, and I still want to talk about the unit we’re starting on
To Kill a Mockingbird
.”

Her heart sank. After all her worrying about the spark between them whenever they’d been together, she’d misjudged the attraction. Nate only cared about being a good teacher, not about anything that might or might not happen between them.

“It’ll be fine,” he said. “We can go to Aspen Grill.”

His suggestion confused her. “A great place to eat, but it’s a long drive.”

“Not that long, especially if we want some privacy.”

“You want privacy to talk about
To Kill a Mockingbird
?”

He took a slow look around the entrance and then his gaze swept the parking lot. Too many ears to say what he wanted?

Dani stared up at him. “I guess Aspen Grill would work.”

“Great. I’ll drive.”

*   *   *

Aspen Grill was almost empty. No wonder since it was almost eight. The drive to Ellisville had eaten up a good half hour, but Nate had scented Dani’s fear.

However, he didn’t share it. They taught at the same school. So what? Teachers dated other teachers all the time. Sure, Douglas High was a small school in a tiny town, but there had to have been other teachers who forged relationships in the microcosm of Cloverleaf, Illinois.

He held the door open for her, letting his hand rest on the small of her back as if it were the most natural thing to do. A waitress led them to a booth, handed them menus, and then took their drink orders. In a short time, they were sipping soda and waiting for their burgers.

“Let’s talk themes for
Mockingbird
,” Dani said. “I love the coexistence of good and evil that the story—”

Nate held up a palm.

“What?” she asked. “I’ve got some great insight into that book. It’s one of my favorites. And we get to teach
The Hobbit
.”

“We’re not here to talk about Atticus or Scout or Jem or themes from
To Kill a Mockingbird
.”

“
The Hobbit
, then?” The gleam in her eye made him happy. She was finally relaxing with him.

“No matter how much I love it, not even
The Hobbit
.”

“But I thought you wanted to get in synch with what we were teaching about
Mockingbird
.”

“I want to talk about us and the closet.”

Dani glanced away. “Nate…”

Sitting back, Nate folded his arms over his chest and stared at her. He didn’t know her. Not really. Sure, they spent time together in school, working through their lesson plans and coordinating the sophomore classes. And she’d been a great mentor, showing him the ropes and making him feel welcome despite being dumped in her lap with no notice.

No, he didn’t know her.

But he wanted to.

Now he needed to figure out if he was stuck in a one-sided attraction and whether that chemistry he’d felt had been his and his alone.

“What are you so worried about?” he asked.

Slowly, her eyes came back to his. “The kids have to take the Illinois sophomore literature test in November.”

“You told me that.”

“
Mockingbird
is a great book to prep the kids for that test.”

“You told me that, too.”

Her brows gathered.

“I don’t want to talk about school anymore.”

Her blue eyes widened. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

Nate took a breath and blew it out slowly. For a while, he’d thought she’d simply been playing coy. On the drive there, they’d talked about the volleyball match and the upcoming Open House evening. Not a thing was mentioned about the fact that they’d come so close to kissing.

Now that they were someplace private, Dani acted as though she had no idea why he’d dragged her out of town just to get a burger. No wonder. She really didn’t know what he wanted from her.

She wasn’t being coy after all.

“I want to talk about what happened… well, what
almost
happened when we were locked in the supply closet.”

The speed that her face flushed red made him smile. “I thought we’d put that behind us.”

“I don’t
want
to put that behind us.”

Fiddling with her silverware, she said, “Nothing happened. Not really.”

Nate laid his hand over one of hers. “You’re right. Nothing happened. But I brought you here to tell you that I wanted something to happen.” He smiled when she finally looked him in the eye again. “I think you did, too. Did you want me to kiss you, Dani?”

Even though her teeth tugged hard on her bottom lip, she nodded.

“There. Was that so hard to admit?”

“Yes!”

“Why?”

Dani eased her hand back. “Why? You have to ask me
why
?”

“Since I have no idea what’s going through your head right now, yes. I have to ask you why.”

“I’m your boss, Nate.”

“You’re my department head. While that might technically be my
boss
…”

She let out an inelegant little snort.

“Fine. You win. You’re my boss. But that only means you get to do a couple of evaluations of my teaching. That’s all.” Trying to get her to relax, he waggled his eyebrows. “Unless you think your lust for me would keep you from impartially judging my teaching abilities.”

At least she smiled.

“Seriously, Dani. If you weren’t my department head, would you at least give me one date? Just one date to see if whatever it was that we felt back in that supply room might lead to something… more?”

“I don’t know, Nate…”

The waitress interrupted, putting their burgers in front of them.

They ate in silence, although Nate didn’t feel any kind of awkwardness between them. He hoped to hell that meant she was thinking things over. A good thing since he wasn’t about to give up on her simply because she’d have to give her opinion of the kind of teacher he was.

It was time Dani learned he had a stubborn streak a mile wide.

After wadding up his napkin and tossing it onto his empty plate, he rubbed his belly. “That was great. I’m definitely full.” Her plate was empty, too. “Want some dessert?”

“Nah. You said you were full.”

“You’re not?”

She shrugged.

“You never cease to amaze me,” he said, meaning every word.

“Because I eat like a real person and not a rabbit?”

“That, among other things. You’re just not like other women. In a good way.”

Over Dani’s protests, he paid their check and they headed to the parking lot. It wasn’t until he was opening the car door that he realized he was missing what might be his last chance to have her alone, away from the small-town prying eyes.

Nate laid a hand on her shoulder, turning her gently to face him. “Wait.”

*   *   *

Dani knew better. She did. But the plea in Nate’s voice was her undoing.

Instead of shaking her head, getting in the car, and hightailing her ass back to Cloverleaf—away from temptation—she did the stupidest thing she could think of. She put her arms around his waist and pressed her lips to his, knowing she would savor his surprised expression for a good, long while.

His lips were soft, his breath sweet. His kiss gentle. Until he wrapped his arms around her and held her tight against him as he thrust his tongue between her lips. The kiss he gave her was anything but gentle.

Heart pounding, Dani fisted her hands in the back of his shirt and let go of her tight self-control, if only for that moment. She was rewarded with the kind of kiss she’d always dreamed of, one that seemed to suspend the laws of time and space and made her wish for one of those impossible happily-ever-afters.

Her common sense returned in a rush, making her turn her head and ease her hands between them.

Nate resisted her push against his chest for a moment; then, with a sigh, he released her.

“We should get back.” Her voice was husky and full of need she hoped he couldn’t hear.

With a nod, he let her into the car and shut the door. Moments later, they were on the road back to Cloverleaf.

Nate slid her a glance. “So have we solved the problem?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“The ‘you’re my boss’ problem. Have we solved it?”

Dani understood exactly what he was asking, but it was easier to play dumb. “It was just a kiss, Nate. Just one stupid kiss. Nothing special.” The hangdog look on his face made her regret the lie. “We’re colleagues. Friends. Can’t we just leave it at that?”

His sigh hung heavy in the air, but he never answered her.

It wasn’t until they were back at Douglas to pick up her car that she spoke again. “Look, how about you come to a cookout this weekend?”

“I thought you said we weren’t—”

She dismissed the thought with a wave of her hand. “Not as a
date.
It’s just the Ladies having a relaxing Saturday together. It’ll give you a chance to get to know Mallory and Beth. They are teachers at our school, after all.”

“Fine. When and where?”

“Just like that?”

“Just like that.”