Page 10 of Sipping Seduction
CHAPTER5
Evan
I’d crossedthe fine line from concerned friend into stalker territory. Not only did I swing by Frannie’s house on my way home last night to see if there was an unfamiliar car in the driveway, but I’d also decided to drop by her school on my way to work again.
With one hand wrapped around a large skinny vanilla latte and the other holding a plain cup of black coffee, I entered the building.
“Hey, Evan. Long time no see.” Charice stood by the administrative assistant’s desk. She and Frannie had become close over the past couple of years. We got along okay, though I liked her a little bit less when I heard she’d been encouraging Frannie to put herself out there more. I couldn’t exactly tell her I was biding my time to make my own play for my best friend, so I said nothing when they went out on the occasional girls’ night.
“Is Frannie around?” I craned my neck, trying to peer around the doorway to see if Frannie was at her desk.
“She’s in a meeting right now, but should be done in a few minutes. What’s the occasion?” Charice nudged her chin toward the two cups in my hands.
“We didn’t get to have our first day of school dinner last night, so I thought I’d stop by with a latte. I don’t mind hanging around for a minute or two.” I took a step toward Frannie’s office. “Is it okay if I wait in there?”
“Oh, that room’s taken.” Charice cut me off before I could enter Frannie’s office, but not before I noticed a kid sitting in the chair across from the desk.
The kid looked up at me, his eyes full of regret. He had to be a Stewart. They were the only family I knew of that had sky-blue eyes and hair so dark that it looked black.
“What’s he in for?” I turned away from the door and took a seat in a chair in the waiting area.
“I’m not at liberty to discuss students with you.” Charice narrowed her eyes.
“I can’t believe Frannie’s the one dishing out consequences. When I used to get sent to the principal’s office, it was terrifying. Kids nowadays get to squish therapy putty around in their hands and talk about their feelings.” I shook my head.
Charice clamped a hand on her hip. “We encourage kids to talk to us. When we were younger, they still believed restrictions and punishments were the best way to gain compliance.”
“Maybe you’re onto something. I was a repeat offender, so obviously whatever they punished me with didn’t have the desired effect.” I took a swig of my coffee while Charice stared down at me, the hint of a smile teasing the corners of her lips.
If anyone knew who Frannie was with last night, it would be Charice. But there was no way I could get any info out of her without being obvious. The woman was trained in deciphering nonverbal communication. She was a pro. I could try fishing for details, but I’d have to be careful, or she’d be on to me like a starving duck on a crispy June bug.
“It’s too bad Frannie and I didn’t get to have our dinner last night. Do you know if her dad’s doing okay?” I kept my tone casual and as neutral as possible.
Charice’s brows furrowed so slightly I wasn’t sure they even moved. “She hasn’t said anything this morning, so I’d assume so.”
Nodding, I picked a spot on the carpet a few feet in front of me and focused. “It’s too bad what she’s going through with him. Especially after losing her mom so young.”
“It sure is. Can I ask you something?”
I looked up, meeting her no-nonsense gaze. “What’s up?”
At that moment, Frannie swept into the office. She had on a teal dress that wrapped around her middle and accentuated her waist. I loved it when she wore dresses. Sometimes I imagined lifting the hem of her skirt up over her full hips and bending her over the desk in her office until she screamed my name.
Now wasn’t the time for a hard-on inducing fantasy. I forced the blood to divert from my crotch and hopefully make its way back up to my brain, so I didn’t embarrass myself by saying something stupid.
“Evan! Two days in a row? It’s a good thing I ripped up that informal restraining order that prevented you from entering school property when I got hired on as principal.” Frannie took the latte from my hand without missing a beat. “Please say you stopped by to bring me this. I have the feeling I’m going to need an extra thousand or so milligrams of caffeine to get me through the day.”
Seeing her always put a smile on my face, but this morning she positively glowed. I beamed right back at her, though I wondered if the extra aura of happiness surrounding her had more to do with her date last night than it did with me bringing her caffeine.
“I missed you last night. I mean, I missed our dinner.” Sweat beaded at my hairline even though the office couldn’t be more than sixty-eight degrees. “Is everything okay with your dad?”
Her left eye twitched. That had been her tell since we were kids. If I didn’t think she was hiding something before, I knew it for a fact now.
“You know Dad. He’s always in need of something.” She took a sip of her drink, then closed her eyes just long enough to let out a contented sigh. “Thanks for this. You have no idea how much I appreciate it this morning.”
“You’re welcome. You’d let me know if there was anything I could do to help your dad, wouldn’t you?”
The look she shot me made it seem like she might be offended by my question. “Of course. You’re the first person I’d call if I needed help.”
