Chapter 13

David

Greyson kicked back in his chair, his patterned sock showing as he lifted his foot onto his knee. “I think I’m going to like Allison being around.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah, maybe you’ll be on time for a change. This makes two days you’ve been to work on time, and I know she’s the cause. With any luck, you’ll develop a habit.”

“Don’t hold your breath. Once she’s settled in, I’m liable to slack off a whole lot more.”

“Great. Just don’t ride in together when you two finally hook up, or you’ll have to fire her for being late.”

“Come on. Again, with that?” I wished the guy would lay off about me and her, and I hoped he didn’t make his jokes in her presence. I didn’t need anything complicating things. They were crazy enough on their own.

“Yeah, I see how you don’t deny it. I guess I’ll have to learn to knock. You’ll have her bent over the desk all ‘Oh! Oh! Oh!’”

He was making the obscene sounds when Allison knocked on my open door.

“I can come back if I’m interrupting something?” She grinned, and Greyson got to his feet, his face beet red, and stepped across the room to welcome her.

“Sorry, I was just telling him about my weekend.” He straightened his cuffs.

I held back my laughter, biting the insides of my cheeks.

“It’s been a long time, and you look exactly the same,” Allison said.

I was jealous of the smile she offered him, and even more so when she stepped over and gave him a quick hug.

“Yeah, you look as scrumptious as ever,” he said. “Now, I can see why this fool was in love with you for so long.”

She looked over at me, and he took the opportunity for her back being to him to give me a sly grin.

“Greyson Young, always the kidder.” I gave him a pointed look, and he made his way to the door.

“Come to my office later,” he said. “I’ll finish telling you that story over the budget report, and you can sign a few papers for me.”

“Sure thing. I’ll be spending most of the day getting Allison here settled in.”

“If I need anything, I’ll just knock.” He flashed a wink as he slipped out the door and closed it behind him.

“He hasn’t changed a bit, has he?” I asked as she slipped off her coat.

“No, he still thinks I’m oblivious to his insinuations.”

My cheeks reddened. “He’s got his head full of ideas about us.”

“Don’t worry about it. I have a friend just like him. But let me just make one thing clear.” She stepped over to the chair but stopped to lean over the desk. “I never say ‘Oh! Oh! Oh!’ I’m more of a ‘Yes! Yes! Harder, deeper’ kind of girl.”

My eyes widened, and my mouth fell open. There was an awkward silence as her eyes bore into mine, the seduction hung thick in the air, and my blood pumped through my veins, swelling my dick. At least, until she cracked a smile.

“I’m just kidding with you. You should have seen your face.” She slapped at my hand and sat down in her chair. “I heard him when I stepped up to the door. Like I said, I have one just like him. You remember Katrina, right?”

“How could I forget? Did she give you a hard time for leaving the diner?” I imagined the two girls loved working together.

“They already replaced me; like two days later. And Kat’s pretty supportive. She knows how much I needed to make more money.” She folded her hands in her lap. “So, where will I spend my days?”

She looked around my office and into the small sitting area to her right where I’d placed a bookshelf and two sofas in case I needed a less formal place to talk to clients.

“I thought, that you’d kind of just hang in here, close by for a few days until I can clear out a space for you. Again, this is a new position. My father had a secretary, but she retired when he died, and Greyson said she never did anything, so I turned her office into that space. I could add a desk in there if you like.”

“That would be fine.”

“I’m sure you know your way around a computer, right? I’ll have to get you one of those. Perhaps a partition so you can have some privacy.” I hadn’t even thought about it, but it made sense she’d want her own space.

“I’m fine. Just a desk and a chair, of course. I’ll need a computer, but if it’s all the same, I’d prefer a laptop of some kind. Something I could carry home when needed.”

“Anything you like.” I was still imagining her panting and screaming out in ecstasy.

“Thanks. I know there will be times I’ll have to tend to Sierra, but if I have a laptop, I could work better from home, like if she got sick or something. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen. She’s a horrible patient.”

“Not that sweet little girl.”

“She gets so mean when she’s sick. She just wants to be left alone, and all I want to do is baby her.”

I had always been the same way. I hated for anyone to dote over me. “I can relate. I’d rather not have someone poking thermometers at me or trying to tuck my covers in when I’m sick. My mother used to want to rub my back.”

“You’re one of those?” She laughed, but then her phone sounded, causing her brows to pinch tightly together. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” She took the phone out from her bag and closed her eyes, gripping it tightly to her chest.

“Is everything okay?” I didn’t know if there was an emergency or what, and just when I was about to go to her, she held up a finger and answered the phone.

“This is Allison Simon.” She got up and paced the office as she listened. “Are you sure this is necessary? I’m just starting a job today and— I see. Yes, thank you.” She hung up the phone, and a look of anger washed over her usual sunny expression.

“What is it?”

“That was Sierra’s school. They need me to come down there. She’s in trouble again. I’m so sorry. Just for one day, I’d like for them to deal with this shit until school’s out and send a note home like a normal fucking school. But no, they are constantly up my ass to come pick her up, because God forbid, she upset another student.”

“I’ll drive you.” I stood up and grabbed my keys.

“No, I don’t want to ruin your day.”

“You’re not, and you’re too upset to drive yourself.”

“Thank you. I promise I’ll explain to her I can’t keep leaving work.”

“You’re fine. Besides, your new boss is a total pushover.” I was really, especially when it came to her. I’d done my time being a hard ass and usually let Greyson handle any problems with staff. I saved my hard balling for business deals. Where it really mattered.

“He’s the greatest.” She gave me a heartfelt smile and grabbed her bag. Then we headed to the elevators where I called Greyson to tell him we were stepping out for a few hours.

The school was not designed for adults, and if the staff treated the children the same way they treated the parents and visitors, it was no wonder Allison kept having problems. The woman at the front desk barely made eye contact as she slid the clipboard toward Allison and returned to whatever was more exciting on her phone.

“How are you today?” I asked, forcing her to speak.

She looked up, and her eyes trailed down my body as a smile spread her lips. “Just fine, and you are?”

“I’m here with Ms. Simon.”

“Yes, Sir, you’ll just have to sign in as a guest, and I’ll get you a visitor’s pass. It’s for security purposes, just precautionary.” She was suddenly so sweet, you’d think the sun had risen on her ass. I scribbled my name on the sheet under Allison’s, and the lady turned to read it. Her eyes widened a little.

“Mr. DeVant? You’re not one of the DeVants are you?”

“Yeah. That’s me. The DeVant.”

“Oh, it’s so nice to meet you, Sir.” She held out her hand, and I took it, giving it a shake.

“Would you mind telling us where we should go?” I asked.

“Oh, of course, Mr. DeVant,” the woman gushed.

Allison held back a smile. “I know where the room is, thank you.” Allison took my hand and led me down the hall. “No one’s ever gone out of their way to be so friendly to me.”

“That’s why I forced her to speak. Do you think that flattery over my name means anything to me? Come on, you know me better.”

“I know that.” She’d sure snatched my hand in a possessive way, and it turned me on. I could tell by her expression she hadn’t liked the woman making eyes at me.

She dropped my hand and stopped in front of a classroom door. “Here it is.”

She knocked and opened the door after peeking through the small window. Sierra and a young woman sat in the room, and Sierra was puffed up like a bullfrog and looked mad at the world.

Sierra stayed in her seat as the woman got up and walked over.

“Hello, Ms. Simon. Thank you for coming down again.” The woman’s tone stressed her irritation.

“What is it this time?” Allison folded her arms.

“Are you the father?” She turned to me, speaking over Allison.

“No.” I looked at Sierra and waved. She waved back but stayed in her chair like a little prisoner.

Allison cleared her throat. “Excuse me, I’m right here. I asked what the issue is?”

“Your daughter has upset several other students today. I told you she’d need that counseling, and I am afraid I’m right.” The woman was clearly distressed and put her hand on her heart.

“What did she do?”

“She’s been telling all of the other students that her father is dead. At first, I thought there’d been some accident over the weekend, and then upon further questioning, I realized she was lying. Some of the kids were crying when she told them he wouldn’t be able to come to Career Day.” The woman folded her arms and glanced back over her shoulder. “It was very disturbing.”

“I’m sure it was and I’ll—”

“You’ll what?” the teacher interrupted. “You’ll talk to her? I’m sorry, Ms. Simon, but I don’t think you’re being very effective. As I stated in our previous discussions, whatever is going on with your child is a matter for a proper counselor. I’d suggest someone in family counseling.”

Allison crossed her arms beneath her breasts. “And I’ve asked you to please try and handle these situations by sending a note home, but you insist on dragging me down here and sending her home, which, quite frankly is not doing her any good, either. She’s missing out on class time.”

“I can’t have her disturbing the other students with that kind of talk.”

“I agree, so tell her to shut up and write me a note.”

The teacher gasped. “We don’t use that phrase in class, Ms. Simon. It’s a sad face phrase. We try to teach the children that there are certain words and phrases which are frowned upon, and ‘shut up’ is one of them. We did send a list home at the beginning of the year.”

“Seriously?” Allison stepped forward, and I saw her expression change to that of the little girl who used to throw dirt clods at me. I grabbed her arm.

The teacher drew herself up to her full height. “I’m going to have to insist that you arrange counseling sessions. It’s obvious—”

I had heard enough from the snooty woman. “Excuse me, but she’s already told you she’s not sending the girl to a counselor.” I looked up and waved the girl over. “Come on, Sierra. We’re going home.”

“And who are you again?”

Sierra joined her mother, and I stepped to their side. “Who I am is none of your concern. And as for the counseling, she’s not going. Her mother will decide what’s right for her. She’s a single mother doing the best she can, and you’re disrupting her livelihood with these nonsensical problems that you yourself are escalating. How about you do your job on this end, and she’ll do hers at home? Are you teaching school or pampering the next generation of snowflakes?”

The woman’s face was ghostly white, and she was sputtering to find her words as we headed out into the hall.

I ripped the stupid Visitor sticker off my shirt and slapped it against the front desk as we headed out.

When we got in the car, I realized I might have overstepped my bounds. “I’m sorry. I just can’t see how you put up with that for so long. I had to say something.”

She smiled. “Are you kidding? That was awesome. I’ve been wanting to give them a piece of my mind for weeks but being her mom, I think it’s best I keep my composure.”

“You’re probably right about that,” I said.

Allison turned to look at Sierra. “And you, young lady. We’re going to have a long talk when we get home.”

She let out a sigh. “Yes, Mama. But Mr. David, will you take me to Career Day?”

The question tugged at my heart, and I glanced in the rearview of Allison’s SUV and could see Sierra behind me.

“Sierra, that’s not—”

“That’s not a bad idea.” I looked at Allison with pleading eyes. “Come on. It’ll be fun.”

“Please, Mama, please.” Sierra’s eyes were pleading.

“Yeah, please Mama?” My expression softened, and she let out a sound of frustration.

“You two together are a force of nature.” She shook her head. “Fine.”

Sierra cheered in the backseat until Allison turned around. “You’re still in trouble, little miss.” Her eyes turned to me. “And you, too if you don’t watch it.”

I glanced at the little one again, who gave me a wink. I was not only falling in love with Allison all over again but Sierra, too.