The Librarian Principle (17 page)

“
What’s up?”

He inclined his head, eyes shifting right. “Three o’clock.”

Liese followed to see that Ryder and Harvey Little, the assistant principal, had walked through the front door of the bar.

“
What are the chances?” Janet asked.

“
Ugh, I hate Harvey. He always talks to my boobs,” Emily said.

“
Same here.” Blake donned a somber expression.

Janet snickered as Blake rubbed his chest, but Liese couldn’t appreciate the humor. She knew without a doubt that Ryder was headed in their direction. She could feel his molten glare.

“
Oh, man, they’re coming this way,” Blake warned.

Liese grabbed her martini and took a gulp, glad she’d ordered it. From the look on her colleagues’ faces, she was going to need it.

Liese panicked and began to shred her napkin as Ryder approached the table. Like marionette strings being pulled, her head swiveled to seek out the man responsible for her current anxiety. She looked right at him and knew the smile plastered on his face was as fake as the one slapped across hers.

The rigid set of Ryder’s shoulders gave away the tension in his body, as did the way his hands balled into fists and relaxed almost immediately. He repeated the motion, as if he was restraining himself, but barely managing. It annoyed her that she found it arousing.

“
Whitehall,” Blake greeted him with faux enthusiasm. He raised a hand in a half-assed wave and dropped it casually onto the back of Liese’s chair.

Ryder’s jaw clenched, and his eyes flashed with a level of anger she’d only witnessed once before. He eyed Blake’s arm like he wanted to obliterate it. It seemed Ryder continued to read more into her relationship with Blake than there was. And she could now understand why.

“
Celebrating the beginning of the weekend?” Ryder dragged a chair across the floor. It made a horrid scratching sound on the tiles as he pulled it up alongside Liese. “Mind if we join you?” He inclined his head to Harvey and took a seat.

“
By all means, Mr. Whitehall,” Liese said into her martini. She took a swig to occupy her mouth and hoped she hadn’t sounded as derisive as she had in her head. She glanced around the table, but all eyes were on Ryder.

“
Please, Liese, you needn’t be so formal.” The forced smile remained intact, but beneath the false façade she caught a pleading edge in his tone.

“
Sorry, sir.”

Liese continued to suck back her martini as conversation filled the table. Janet and Emily were quite attentive with Ryder, asking all sorts of questions and listening intently to his strained responses. Harvey was quiet, his eyes constantly straying below Emily’s neckline. Liese remained silent as well, only responding when asked a direct question, and then using as few words as possible.

When their waitress came by, Liese took the opportunity to order another double martini. Coordination a little off, she took a dainty sip when it arrived and managed to dribble some on her blazer. Blake gave her a look, and Ryder frowned as she wobbled on her seat when she reached for a napkin.

“
I’ll take a cab home,” she whispered to Blake, embarrassed that she’d managed to get so drunk—and in front of the principal and assistant principal, no less.

He nodded, a worried look in his eyes, and Liese continued to make her drink the focal point of her evening. But she sipped it more slowly, and even ordered a glass of water, which she promptly drained. Still, it amazed her how quickly a martini could disappear if you didn’t engage in the conversation going on around you.

“
I should probably get going.” Emily stood and slung her purse over her shoulder. “I was supposed to be at a family function half an hour ago. Anyone need a ride?” Liese drained the end of her fourth martini. While the question was geared to the entire table, Emily looked at her.

Knowing it would be better to leave before she made a complete ass of herself, Liese pushed her chair back and nearly toppled over. Blake reached out to steady her, but Ryder was faster.

“
Careful.” He wrapped his hand around the top of her arm, his fingers grazing the side of her breast as he whispered close to her ear, “Are you feeling all right?”

“
I’m fine,” Liese replied.

“
I can take you home,” Ryder offered.

“
Em could take me,” Liese suggested. It would have looked suspicious if she didn’t try to get out of accepting a ride from Ryder, particularly considering the conversation before he and Harvey had shown up. And besides, she definitely did not want to ride with him—at least that’s what she told herself.

“
Sure.” Emily rooted through her purse for her keys. “It’s not a problem.”

Liese looked pointedly at Ryder’s hand, still wrapped around her arm.

He smiled, but she could see he was angry, and it served as a warning to be mindful of their present company. She wasn’t sure how far she could push him before he snapped. He released her, but stayed close. He turned to Emily. “You’re already running behind. Why don’t you go ahead? I’m driving Harvey anyway, and I can pass by Annaliese’s on my way home.”

Liese had no idea where Harvey lived, but she did know her house was nowhere near Ryder’s. Emily stood rooted to the spot, keys in hand, looking conflicted. It wasn’t hard to understand why; while she might want to help Liese, she wouldn’t override her administrator, even outside FAHL.

Blake cut in with his own suggestion. “Or we could walk to my house, Liese. It’s only a few blocks. You could take a cab from there whenever you want.”

“
That’s not necessary,” Ryder countered, and Liese caught a flicker of panic before he composed himself. “Unless, of course, that’s what you’d prefer?” He deferred to her, the tension between them flaring. She prayed they weren’t as transparent as she felt.

She’d reached her drama quota for the week, and if she went with Blake, she now knew she’d be sending a very poignant message to Ryder. She wasn’t sure she wanted to.

“
I should probably just head home.” Liese gathered her purse.

“
You sure?” Blake gave Ryder a suspicious glare.

“
Yeah, I’m tired. It’s been a long week.” She offered an apologetic smile and dug around in her purse for her wallet. She realized with horror she was having difficulty focusing.

“
I’ve got it.” Ryder almost touched her arm before he caught himself. He threw some money on the table, more than covering everyone’s drinks. Whether he did it out of generosity or for show, she didn’t know. But it appeared she didn’t know a lot of things about him.

They all filed out to the parking lot, where Ryder directed Liese to his car. Even with his hand on her elbow to steady her, she almost stumbled more than once. Harvey offered her the front seat, but she declined and got into the back.

It took three attempts to buckle her seatbelt. She tried to keep track of where they were going, but the street signs kept blurring, making them unreadable. Ryder parked in Harvey’s driveway and got out, sticking his head back inside to tell her he’d only be a minute. She ignored him.

The two men stood in the beam of the headlights while Harvey spoke animatedly. She cracked the window in hopes of clearing her head. Liese sighed, irritated that she was marinating in the smell of Ryder while he and Harvey continued to chat like she wasn’t even there. If she’d taken the ride from Emily, she would’ve been home by now, curled up in front of the television and on the verge of passing out. After a few more minutes of waiting, she grew restless.

Harvey and Ryder’s conversation had escalated to a low argument. “The issue isn’t up for debate, Harvey.” She caught the tail end of Ryder’s frustrated response. He glanced at her through the windshield, and she resisted the urge to flip him the bird. “I should get Liese home,” he said.

Harvey said something unintelligible, but his mocking smile told her it couldn’t have been very nice. Ryder rolled his shoulders. Whatever Harvey had said, he didn’t like it. “I’m sure she’ll be fine . . .” His curt reply filtered through the window, but a motorcycle bombed down the street, cutting off the rest.

Harvey lumbered up the walkway to his front door, weaving as he went. At least Liese wasn’t the only one who’d had too much to drink. Ryder closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and returned to the car. She clutched her purse in her lap and looked out the passenger side window as he got back into the driver’s seat.

“
I’m sorry to have kept you waiting.” He buckled his seatbelt, peering at her through the rearview mirror.

“
It’s fine.”

“
You know, you’re more than welcome to sit in the front.”

“
I’m good back here. Thank you,” she replied.

“
Please join me, Liese,” he said, leaning across the vehicle to open the passenger door for her.

She unbuckled her seatbelt. Rather than get out of the car, she batted his hand away and climbed awkwardly over the center console. Flopping down in the front seat, she reached over and slammed the door closed.

“
Better?” She yanked on her seatbelt and struggled to engage the latch.

“
Much,” Ryder replied, his smile infuriating.

He backed out of the driveway, and there was silence for all of ten seconds before Liese went off. “Did you do that on purpose?”

“
I’m not exactly sure what you’re referring to, so the answer is likely no,” he replied calmly, glancing at her.

She hated how easily she fell apart and how composed he remained. The entire time they’d been at the bar, she’d felt like there was a huge scarlet “S” stamped on her forehead, branding her a slut. “You’re such an asshole!” She shifted angrily in her seat.

“
For driving you home?” Ryder asked, seeming confused.

“
Emily would have driven me home if you’d let her!” Liese exclaimed. “Or I could have gone to Blake’s.”

“
You’re right.” Ryder turned onto a side street and hit the brakes.

“
What the hell?” Liese barked.

He shifted to face her, his eyes blazing. “You could have done either one of those things. But let me be frank when I tell you I am relieved beyond all belief that you came with me instead.”

Of course he wouldn’t want her to go with Blake. “It’s not like that with him.” Despite her intoxication, Liese thought better of sharing the new information she’d gained regarding Ryder’s history with him.

Ryder ran his hand through his hair. “Oh no? Are you sure about that? While it’s your right to do what you want, I have no desire to leave you alone with him if I can avoid it. More than that, I wanted to explain myself further before you decide that Blake is a viable option.”

“
You are so obtuse!” Liese said. “I can’t believe you honestly think Blake would try something—ever, but particularly while I’m drunk. I’m not interested in him that way, and even if I was, I have no desire to get myself into another situation like this one. It was bad enough being fucked by you and then ignored for days on end.”

Ryder looked taken aback. “We’ve already been over this. I didn’t intend to ignore you. I was out of the building, and email definitely isn’t a safe way to correspond considering—”

“
Email isn’t the only way to contact a person. You could have stopped by my house, since apparently you know where I live.”

“
Of course I know where you live. It’s on file at the school.” Ryder adjusted his tie. “I didn’t think—”

“
No, of course you didn’t think,” Liese cut him off. “Your dick was too busy doing that for you.”