Page 11 of Welcome to Forever
Chapter 4
Kat smiled warmly at the DILF, as Val had so crudely labeled him.
She flinched inwardly. Had she just thought of one of her student’s fathers as a dad she’d like to…? That was not in good principal form.
“Hey, Kat,” he said as she approached.
Just the sound of his voice made her breath grow shallow. She’d already stood for a solid second at their table without saying a single word.Say something,her brain demanded. “Hey, you two. Looks like we had the same idea for dinner tonight.”
Ben nodded, the motion not quite rhythmic. “We never have pizza on a weeknight. It means I’m in trouble.”
Micah’s dark eyebrows jumped at the claim. “No, it doesn’t. Maybe I just want to enjoy my son.” He looked at her again, melting all her bones. “Looks like you’re alone,” he observed.
“My friend canceled. Which is just as well. I have work to do.” She glanced back at the papers on her table. Work that would be smeared with pizza sauce before it was all said and done.
“You can join us if you want,” Ben said.
She started shaking her head to argue. “No. That’s okay. It looks like you’re having family time.” And her hormones were currently begging her to rip his father’s clothing off. What was wrong with her these days?Get a grip, girl.
“Pleeeasejoin us, Principal Chandler. That’d be so cool.” Ben’s eyes were large and hopeful as he looked at her.
At his age, the school principal was still a superhero. And she had to admit, she kind of liked being a superhero.
“Dad, tell her we don’t mind,” Ben said, looking at Micah.
Micah hesitated, and then lifted his eyes to meet her gaze. “We, uh, don’t mind.”
She read his body language loud and clear, though—he minded. But disappointing such an adorable third grader had to be a sin, she thought, turning back to Ben. “Well, if you’re sure.”
“You can sit right there beside my dad.” Ben pointed at the narrow seat.
If she sat there, she’d barely have elbow room. She would be rubbing up against the handsome father that, yes, she was very attracted to despite her earnest wish that she wasn’t. Even though he’d been considerably nicer toward her at their last meeting, he was still a parent—one whose trust she was working hard to earn.
“Please. Join us,” Micah urged, surprising her and leaving her with very little choice.
“Okay then. I’ll just go grab my pizza and put my papers away.”
Ben cheered as she walked back to her table.
Why on earth had she just said yes? It was bad enough that she’d practically drooled over Micah’s tightly molded muscles as he’d lifted his glass just then. Checking out a student’s father crossed some ethical line in the principal handbook, didn’t it? She’d just have to spend the dinner focusing on Ben, which wouldn’t be too hard. With his adorable glasses and limitless curiosity, he was already leading the pack for her favorite student this year. Not that she had favorites.
She placed her pizza on the table beside theirs and Micah slid over an inch, gesturing for her to sit beside him.
“See?” Ben pointed at the spinach pizza. “That side of the pizza is my dad’s. He likes spinach just like you.”
She nodded. “Your dad has good taste.”
Ben’s smile stretched impossibly wider. Then he peppered her with questions as they ate. What was her favorite color?—green. What was her favorite food?—chips and salsa.
“Which war is your favorite?” he asked.
“War?” Kat glanced at Micah. Until now, he’d been quiet during her interrogation by his son.
“Ben has a special interest in history. Wars specifically,” Micah told her. Sitting this close as he spoke to her felt intimate. Meeting his eyes with only a few inches between them felt too close for comfort, but not nearly close enough if she consulted her woman parts.
Kat nodded slowly, directing her gaze and thoughts forward as she searched for an answer. “I guess I prefer peace over war.”
Ben awkwardly angled his head to bite from his pizza. When he was done chewing, he smiled at her. “That was a slack answer, Principal Chandler.”
