Chapter Twelve

Sawyer

“What are you doing in here?” I glance up and find the questioning eyes of Bryce Lehman watching me.

“I brought AJ a coffee,” I reply, setting the cup and white bag down on her empty desk.

“Huh,” he says, crossing his arms across his chest as he casually leans against the doorjamb to AJ’s classroom. “Didn’t know you two were friends.”

I shrug and step away from her desk, my cup of coffee in hand. “It’s on my way in,” I tell him, not owing him any further explanation.

He continues to stare at me, sizing me up and searching for my motives. I could tell that first time I talked to him in AJ’s presence that he had a crush on her. Not that it bothers me, so long as she’s only going out with me. “Have a good holiday?” I ask, taking a sip of my own coffee.

“Not too bad. A few friends and I hung out and played basketball yesterday and grilled out. I love extended weekends,” Bryce says, referring to yesterday’s Labor Day holiday. “What about you? Big weekend?”

“It wasn’t bad.” I’m not about to tell him what I did or who I may have spent part of it with.

“Me and a few friends get together often. You want to come sometime, just let me know.”

“Maybe,” I reply, not committing to anything.

“AJ, is it true you went out with –” Brandy, the school secretary, says as she rounds the corner and comes face-to-face with Bryce and me. “Oh. Hi!” she exclaims, a wide smile spreading across her pretty face. Her eyes sparkle as she zeros in on me, and something tells me, by the way her eyes light up, if she finished that sentence, it would have been my name she mentioned.

Good.

“Oh, hey, Bryce. Sawyer.” She practically swoons as she draws out my name and starts twirling her hair around her finger.

“Brandy,” I nod as she slips into the room.

“I was just looking for AJ,” she says, heading over to her desk and noticing the coffee cup and paper bag. “What’s this?”

“Breakfast.” I have to fight my smile.

When she glances my way, a Cheshire cat’s grin is plastered on her heavily made up face. “Lucky woman,” she singsongs. Glancing over my shoulder, she studies Bryce’s demeanor. He’s standing totally straight, like someone rammed a rod up his ass, and he’s making a face of annoyance. “Hey, Bryce. Good weekend?”

“It was okay,” he stammers behind me.

“Yeah? I hear AJ had a date. Did you hear that, Sawyer?”

“Nope, didn’t hear that,” I reply to her eager question.

“Huh, too bad. Then I guess you probably haven’t heard who it was with then, hmmmm?” she asks, her eyes shining with mischief.

My armor starts to crack, right along with the threatening smile, because I’m definitely ready to stake my claim. Oh, this woman is evil. I see what she’s doing here, trying to get me to confess that I was the mystery man who took AJ out on a date. And while I’m in no way trying to hide that fact, I’m not about to blab to all of our coworkers without AJ knowing first.

“No clue.” I stand my ground.

“Interesting,” she says, drawing out the word and grinning broadly. “I could have sworn that I heard the guy she was out with was –”

“What are you all doing in here?” AJ asks with a smile, but not missing the questioning look on her beautiful face.

“Breakfast!” Brandy exclaims, holding up the bag I set on her desk.

She glances over at Bryce, who barely moves aside as she slips into her classroom, and then her attention turns to me. Her eyes brighten and she offers me a private, knowing smile. “Hi.”

“Good morning, Miss Summer. I just happened to be at that bakery you recommended and noticed they had those blueberry muffins you mentioned. So I grabbed you one and a latte,” I say casually.

“Oh, well, thank you so much,” she replies, and if I’m not mistaken, blushes a little in the process.

“Holy sheetballs, AJ! Is it true? Did you go out with –” Natalie Johnson, a science teacher, blows into the classroom like the devil is nipping at her heels.

“Hi!” AJ squeaks, her eyes wide with surprise.

“Oh. Sorry, didn’t realize you had company.” Natalie glances between the others in the room, from Brandy, Bryce, and then me. When she sees me standing there, all casual and with a grin on my face, she gets all giggly and her face practically splits in half by her smile.

That’s when things get weird. Everyone just stands there, waiting for someone to confirm what they already know, smiles plastered on their faces. Okay, so Brandy and Natalie have smiles. AJ looks like she’s about to crawl out of her skin with nerves and Bryce appears to be completely clueless as ever.

“Well, if you’ll all excuse me, I have to get the ball field ready for first period,” I say, heading to the door. I’d prefer to detour towards AJ and maybe steal a good morning kiss, but know that it’s not the right time or place. Definitely not with an audience.

“Have a great one, Mr. Randall,” Brandy coos, waving and watching my backside as I leave.

“You all too.”

I smile as soon as I hit the hall, knowing that as soon as Bryce is out of earshot, the Spanish Inquisition will begin for poor AJ. But I can’t focus on that. Right now, I’d like to find out how half the school seems to know about our private dinner date from Saturday night.

Small towns.

* * *

I’m on detention duty today, which is why I’m sitting in the study hall after school on Thursday with two boys who couldn’t seem to keep their fists to themselves during lunch period. It was about a girl, of course, because most scuffles usually are, especially with teenagers. The boys have been staring daggers at each other from across the room, which tells me the fight at lunch probably won’t be the last.

I dismiss them at four and escort both boys out the front door. They give each other a wide berth, which is good since I’m not really in the mood to deal with teenage hormones and the smart mouths that come with them. Plus, I’ve learned real quickly that being forced to be the authority figure isn’t always fun.

My office door is barely shut when it opens again. When I glance up, I find those sexy green eyes staring down at me. She’s wearing a light blue top with black cropped pants and is leaning against the back of my door like some teenage fantasy. AJ Summer is way better than Playboy magazine.

“Hi,” she says softly, not moving farther into the room.

“Hey.”

“Detention duty, huh?”

“That would be correct. It was the most thrilling thirty minutes of my life.”

She laughs. “Oh, don’t I know it. My turn is coming up.”

AJ doesn’t say anything else, and I can’t help but wonder what brought her down to my corner of the gym well after the school day has ended. Before I can ask, she pushes off the door and walks my way. I’m leaning back in my chair, one tennis shoe clad ankle resting on the opposite knee. Her eyes travel the entire length of my body, landing on the place my now hard cock throbs in my shorts.

“So, I was thinking,” she starts, but doesn’t finish. She does, however, step closer until her leg is touching mine.

I drop my leg, keeping my knees shoulder-width apart. Mostly because the baseball bat in my pants is restricting my movements. “Me too.”

“What were you thinking about?”

“Tomorrow night.”

“What about it?” she asks, stepping between my legs and sitting back on the corner of my desk. And suddenly, all I can think about is taking her right there. Seeing her brown hair fanned across my desk while I tower over her from behind, my hands splayed across her lower back as I take her from behind.

“What?” I ask, realizing she asked me a question.

“Tomorrow night. What about it?” she asks with a knowing smile.

Adjusting myself casually, I continue. “I was thinking maybe we should hang out.”

“Like a second date?”

“Definitely a second date.”

“Can’t. Have plans.”

Well, I wasn’t expecting that. “Plans?”

“Yes. The high school cheerleaders have invited the junior high girls to come and cheer with them for first quarter of the homecoming game.”

“So, you’re ditching me to hang out at the high school?” I ask.

“Yes,” she replies, her knee swinging gently to the side and connecting with my thigh. “But…”

“But?” I ask, holding my leg as still as possible for fear that I’ll sever the connection of her contact. It’s not the skin-on-skin I’d prefer, but considering I’m sitting at my desk at school, I’ll take what I can get.

“But maybe you could come. You know, support the team and all.”

“High school football, you say?” I ask, stroking my chin as if considering all options.

“There’ll be popcorn,” she urges.

“You’ll buy me popcorn?” I ask, earning a quick head nod. “With extra cheese seasoning? And a Coke?”

“A Coke might be pushing it a bit,” she teases.

Leaning forward, I grab her hand and bring it to my lips. “Fine, so you get the popcorn and I’ll get the Cokes?”

“Deal.”

“Deal,” I agree, pressing my lips firmly to her palm. I feel the shiver sweep through her body like a jolt of lightning.

“Your office is awfully private, Mr. Randall.” Her words are all breathy and make me think of sex. Well, think more about sex. Specifically, sex with Miss Summer.

“It is,” I confirm, running my lips up her wrist, licking and tasting the soft, sensitive skin of her inner forearm.

“That must come in handy,” she pants.

“It hasn’t yet, but I’m optimistic.”

“I bet you are,” she chokes, gasping as I swipe my tongue over the crease of her arm.

I slide my other hand up her outer thigh and grip her hip tightly, pulling her body even closer. I can feel the tremble in her legs. Legs that I’d kill to have wrapped around my waist right now. AJ’s hands dive into my hair. She tugs and pulls with just enough grip that I almost come in my basketball shorts.

“Does your door lock?” she asks, her question a plea.

“It does,” I confirm before standing up. “But we’re not locking it.”

“We’re not?” Confusion is written all over her face.

“Our first time isn’t going to be in my stinky office.”

“It’s not?”

“No way. When I finally get you naked and get to have my way with you, it’ll be in a bed and there won’t be the prospect of a janitor interrupting us. In fact, I’m pretty sure when you’re finally in my bed again, I’ll be keeping you there for a long time.”

“How long?”

“Hours,” I reply, kissing her neck. “Maybe even days.” Lick.

“Days?” she gasps.

“Fucking days, Alison,” I say just before my lips claim hers in a hard, bruising kiss.

She tastes like magic, like honey and sin, all wrapped in a sexy little package, but as much as it pains me, I have to pull away. Mostly because I’m dangerously close to losing control and we’re not in the best location for that to happen. Plus, when I finally get my hands and mouth on her, I’m going to take my time and savor every second of it.

“Tomorrow, I’ll meet you at the game. We’ll consider it date number two. I’ll even buy the hotdogs.”

“What is it with you and hotdogs?” she teases, her breath hitting me on the lips and making my brain go haywire.

“They’re my favorite,” I tell her, slipping my hand back into her hair. “And maybe, if the date goes well, you may consider coming home with me. After.” I try to sound casual, but I’m not sure it happens. I’m so fucking worked up right now that I’ll probably be beating off to memories of her later tonight.

“You do realize that’ll put us both at the football game. Together. In public.”

“I’m fine with it if you are.”

She seems to really mull it over for a few seconds before nodding her head. “I’m okay with it. I’m also okay with the after the game.”

“Do you want me to pick you up for the game?”

“I have to be there early. Plus, I think I’d rather have my car. You know, in case you turn all clingy and needy and I need to make a quick getaway.”

“Oh, I’m gonna be very clingy and needy,” I whisper, running my finger down her jaw and throat until I hit her cleavage.

“You may not be the only one,” she murmurs.

“Maybe you can bring a bag with you tomorrow night to the game?”

“Maybe I will.”

“Then maybe I’ll see you tomorrow night?”

“You will definitely see me tomorrow night,” she says, backing away and walking to the door. “Besides, you owe me hotdogs and a Coke,” she sasses with a wink before slipping out my office door, the heels of her shoes slapping the floor as she leaves.

Twenty-four hours.

Tomorrow night, I’ll join her at the football game, and after that?

She’ll be joining me at my place.

Just the two of us.

Alone.

It’s gonna be the longest twenty-four hours of my fucking life.