Page 3 of Teacher's Pet

“I’d love to do that.”

His shimmering eyes search mine. “Why?”

“Because she didn’t deserve it. We both know that. And Alex is a bully. I’m not surprised that he said something that mean about your wife. But I can’t lift the suspension. The principal did it. I’ve already tried to talk him out of the suspension but he’s being freaking stubborn. I can’t get him to change his mine.”

“Oh.” He paces back and forth in front of me and I struggle to pull in air, confused by the heat flaring back to life as the big, aggressive beast lurks in front of me, pacing like a wolf moving in for the kill. His muscles ripple under his flannel shirt and when he glances back at me, his gray eyes are laser beams, skimming along my curves.

“Well, maybe you should have been paying more attention to what was going on in your class and this never would have happened,” he growls and my hackles rise.

“Excuse me? I do pay attention to my kids. But this was at lunch and I don’t have cafeteria duty this week. How was I supposed to know what he was doing?”

Fury races across my skin like lightning when he grimaces. “I’m sure you should have noticed when they got back.”

“It was too late by then. This happened in the cafeteria. They were already down in the office and I’m not responsible for discipline.”

“Too bad,” he grumbles under his breath and I suck in a sharp breath.

What is he trying to say there?

“That’s okay…discipline is my thing,” he says and I see a smirk on his face as my eyes wander down to his huge hands, wondering just how tough he can be and whether I’d like that or not.

Judging by the zing in my lower belly, I’d say I don’t want to delve too deep into that image.

“I’m gonna talk to the principal and then I’ll be back and we can pick this up where we left off.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” I back away from him, heart pounding with the urge to run.

His gray eyes sear me as he turns back around. “Be here or I’ll hunt your pretty ass down.”

Then he stomps out of the room and I right my chair, sinking into it, dazed.

My kids start coming into the room, chattering and I pull myself together.

I need to get my head on straight. That daddy is not mine and he’s never gonna be.

And no matter what the arrogant man says, he’s not my boss. I’ve got one of those already and he’s enough of a prick to deal with. I’ve got more than I can handle on my plate. And I definitely don’t want or need another man telling me what to do.

And what the hell did he mean about my pretty ass?

FOSTER

Stomping down the hall, I veer into the office and the secretary jumps up, smiling when she sees me.

“Hello, can I help you?”

“I’m here to see the principal,” I bark out.

She winces and glances back at the closed door. “Oh. I’m sorry. Principal McBride isn’t in.”

I lift a brow. “Is that why his door is closed and you’re trying to block me from seeing that there’s a shadow behind that door?”

I stalk past her, ignoring her outraged squeak. When I reach the door it swings open and the principal stands there, smiling and holding out his hand.

“Hello! I’m Principal McBride. What can I help you with?”

“I want to discuss my daughter being suspended. You weren’t here the other day when I picked her up so I had to come back to get the explanation that I think was warranted and should have been given.”

His round face falls into a pout that makes him look like a spoiled baby. A baby with a nasty glint in his eyes that I don’t like. “I thought I made it plain what happened on the phone.”

---