Breaking the Rules (21 page)

She muttered under her breath to stop thinking about him and said a little prayer the night would run smoothly. No thinking of a sexy man who could make her scream to hell and back, even if it was Halloween, a night of hidden ghouls and witches.

She pulled at a hanging skeleton and waved at one of the parents who stood by the bobbing for apples booth. Soon, the D.J. started the music and a few costumed kids pounced the dance floor.

Kelly walked up to her. “All good so far.”

Hope smiled at her friend, who wore a Wizard of Oz outfit. “Have I told you that you make a great Dorothy?”

“Cute, huh? Tim said I make his wildest fantasies come true.” She laughed. “This party ends at nine, right?”

“Yep. Just enough time to keep these kids out of trouble.”

“Has anyone said anything about your costume yet?”

“Still waiting for people to get here.” Hope eyed the entrance, and at that moment, a prickle danced across her skin. Immediately she knew why. At the entrance, Colin stood with Jason and his friend Kyle, and she couldn't hold back the laughter. “Nope, but I'm sure to hear something soon.” She nodded toward Colin.

Kelly laughed with her. “Amazing. You two are hilarious.”

“We did not plan this. I promise.” Hope reached for one more candy corn and headed their way. “Hello, Calaways.”

When she reached Colin, his mouth opened as he took a one-over of Hope. “You've got to be kidding.”

“Two great minds think alike.” She smirked. “Although, I think my mind is a bit smarter than yours.” She placed her hand on the hips of her Red Sox baseball uniform.

Colin, however, put his hand over his Yankees jersey. “I beg to differ, Ms. Robinson.”

Who would have thought they both would show up in their team uniforms? Eternal enemies to be exact. Colin shook his head and laughed. “Wow, Soxy. You … just … wow.”

“Hi, Jason. Glad to see you came in a decent costume.” She smiled.

“Yeah, zombies are way cool.” Jason beamed. “Come on, dude. Let's go get some pizza over there.” Jason and Kyle ran off leaving the two adults behind.

“So, how did this happen?” Colin gestured between the two.

She whispered, “I don't know, but I can't wait for you to turn around so I can see your butt in those tight baseball pants.”

Colin's eyebrows rose. “Feeling brave, tonight, aren't you, Ms. Robinson?”

He tempted her like nobody's business. Remembering they were at her school, she straightened and crossed her arms. “I better go check out the other areas of the cafeteria.”

He grabbed her elbow. “Don't run off yet.”

Before he could say anything else, two mothers approached him. One mother batted her eyelashes in an annoying way. “Dr. Calaway, you're here. We have you signed up at the refreshment stand for the next hour.”

“Uh, alright.” He placed his hand across the small of Hope's back. “I guess we'll talk later.”

Hope waved. “Nice to see you, Dr. Calaway.” She wandered off, without a look back. Okay. Maybe one peek. When she turned her head over her shoulder, he also stared after her as the mothers continued to talk to him. He smiled and she continued to the dance floor.

Still the teenage boys stood on one side and the girls on the other. She wondered how she could get them to mingle a bit more. It was a dance after all. Turning to the D.J., they discussed ways to get the group together. Deciding on a limbo contest in a few songs, she jumped down from the stage and walked to the jack-o-lantern carving table. Not too many students here. She motioned over a few kids and convinced them to join the contest.

All the while, she could feel eyes watching her, and they weren't from the pretend spider webs around the room. One glance toward the soda stand told her it was Colin. He was in a conversation with Dave Hunter, who stood next to him in a vampire costume, complete with blood dangling from his lip to his neck.

A tug on her jersey made her pull her attention back. “Ms. Robinson, have you bobbed for apples yet?” a zombie-dressed boy asked.

“Not yet, Jason. Do you want to try?”

“With you? Sure!” Together they walked to the station.

“You first.” Hope motioned for Jason to stand in front of the water-filled container.

After trying a few times, and a drenched forehead, Jason finally got an apple.

“You cheated, Jason. You can't use the stem.” Hope laughed. “But it's okay, because I might have to do the same.”

After too many tries, she finally had an apple in her mouth. She forgot how fun it had been to play these games. In fact, she couldn't remember if she ever did play this game.

“Nice look.” A deep voice sounded behind her. “A drenched Red Sox player.”

“Ha ha. Very funny.” She pushed him forward. “Your turn.”

Colin ducked his head in and got an apple in one bite — without cheating. He pushed his wet bangs back as he pulled it out. Laughing, the apple fell out of his mouth and into his hand. He took a bite and wiped his face with the back of his hand. “Learn from the pro, Ms. Robinson. Learn from the pro.”

Jason smiled. “Cool. How did you do that?”

He shrugged his shoulders. “Years of practice.” They all walked to the edge of the dance floor. “Aren't you going to dance, Jas?”

“Nah.”

“Look at that pretty little fairy over there. Come on.” Colin put his arm around Jason. “You know you want to.” The
Monster Mash
sounded from the speakers. “She wants to.”

“Why don't you ask Ms. Robinson to dance?” Jason blurted out. “I mean, since you kissed her, I thought you'd at least dance.”

Colin and Hope froze before frantically searching to see who might have heard. Kyle stood behind them, smiling from ear to ear. “Cool. Your dad kissed Ms. Robinson?”

Jason opened his mouth, his eyes wide. “No. I mean, I don't — ” He stared at his dad, then ran off and faced the fairy.

Kyle shrugged and walked off with a knowing smile.

Hope turned to Colin, and her face must have been as red as the apple in Colin's palm. “Did he just say that?”

“Hello, Ms. Robinson. Dr. Calaway.” Mrs. Morales stood behind them. Hope inhaled deeply. How long had she stood there? From the look on her face, she must have heard everything.

Colin tried to laugh it off. “Kids will be kids.” His face was full of strength, and he tried to maintain calm. But she saw the vein in his neck bulge.

“Mrs. Morales, how do you think the dance is going?” Hope asked, trying not to sound ruffled.

Mrs. Morales studied the two of them, the glasses on her nose sliding down. “Did you two plan on wearing the same costume?”

Hope and Colin laughed and spoke at the same time.

“Funny isn't it?”

“No. We didn't.”

Then they stood quietly and observed the room, anywhere but at each other.

“I see,” Mrs. Morales said. “A bit suspicious if you ask me.”

What was with this woman? Why did she think she was the high and mighty of the school? Only because she was a student's parent and a board member didn't give her a right to go around making accusations, even if they were true. In fact, she hadn't really made an accusation, but it was there on her face. “I believe I just heard Jason say — ”

Colin cut her off with his unruffled voice and his soothing eyes. “Mrs. Morales. As you know, Jason is an eleven-year-old boy with an active imagination.”

The woman put her hands on her hips and frowned. “Yes, but I also see you two staring across the room at each other. In fact, a few parents have said something about it. And at a middle school dance, might I remind you. For heaven's sake!”

“Mrs. Morales, I'm not sure what you are saying, but I'm the principal and I wouldn't do anything inappropriate at the school dance. So, if you excuse me, I need to attend to my students.” Hope forced herself away, taking in a deep breath as her chest tightened.

Of all the women and accusations. She didn't like leaving Colin there, but she had to prove who she was and what she was about. She was a principal first and foremost. That's why she came to Harbor Bay and she wouldn't let anyone get in the way.

To hell with bobbing apples with the sexiest guy there. To hell with dancing with a student's father. To hell with board members making accusations. Looking around the room, she had the sensation everyone stared at her, that she was on display for the entire world. Heat swelled in her face and she rubbed her sweaty palms together.

She would not allow anyone to take away her biggest dream — to be the best principal she could be.

Kelly occupied herself at the popcorn ball table, arranging the balls into different bowls, and Hope quickly told her what happened, all while avoiding any look in Colin's direction.

Kelly rubbed Hope's shoulder. “Mrs. Morales is always getting her nose up in people's business.”

“Exactly. I know she's going to tell the other board members.”

“She's always had it out for you since her cousin's son applied to be principal, too, and he didn't get it.”

“Well, that explains things,” Hope whispered.

Finally chancing a look, she noted that Colin continued to talk to the nosy lady, his hands in front of him in a defensive mode, yet still with comforting eyes. When Hope turned to watch the kids on the dance floor, Kyle stood to the side with a huddle of other sixth graders, pointing in her direction. Great. The little sneetch. Now, the whole school would know.

Kelly handed Hope a popcorn ball. “It's really no big deal. Remember that you can have a life. Your relationship does not interfere with how you run this school.”

Hope bit into the candied treat and a kernel stuck in her throat. She coughed, louder than she intended, and many eyes landed on her.

Kelly patted her back and tried to calm her down. “Are you okay?”

After one final deep cough, she nodded her head. She tried to hold back the tears from the strong coughing, or the fear of Mrs. Morales pulling her down, she didn't know. She looked out over the crowd of students and the song “Thriller” shrilled from the speakers. She had to make a final decision. “No more.”

“Yeah, no more popcorn for you.” Kelly reached for the ball in Hope's hand.

“No, I mean no more seeing Colin. I cannot risk losing my job or sounding unprofessional. Even if Mrs. Morales is wrong, some people might wonder, and I cannot handle that. It's Vincent all over again.”

Kelly shook her head. “No, Hope — ”

“Colin is wonderful and I'm having the time of my life, but I can't take the scrutiny from the community again. I just can't.” Hope looked around because she needed something to drink. “I'll be back. I've got to get some water.”

“Think about what you're saying, Hope. You're wrong,” Kelly called after her.

In the hallway by her office, she guzzled water from the fountain. Taking her final gulp, she stood up and came face to face with the hunkiest Yankees fan she'd ever seen. Damnit.

“There you are.” He caressed her cheek. “I didn't know where you ran off to.”

Hope looked around the hallway to make sure the coast was clear. “Did you clear things with Mrs. Morales?”

He shrugged. “She's a bit meddlesome, isn't she? I swear I'm going to kill Jason. He's completely ignoring me now.”

“Don't kill him. He's only saying the truth.” Hope looked around again and dragged Colin into the administrative office. She opened her office door and then slammed it shut once they were inside. “We need to talk.”

“I like this private talk idea.” He reached for her, but she stepped back.

“I'm sorry, Colin, but I can't continue this.”

“Are you going to let little ol' Mrs. Morales ruin what we have?” He stepped toward her, but Hope only stepped back again.

Holding up her palm, she raised her chin and willed herself to speak strongly enough to continue with her new plan. “It's not just her. You heard what she said. Others are talking and I don't even question why. Think about it. The hot, single dad and the new single principal, both wearing baseball outfits, spending a lot of time together. Seen at dinner a couple of times, even with Jason there. Maybe others have seen us at the boardwalk or at the swim meet. We're probably the talk of the town.”

A line formed between Colin's eyes and he tried to stroke her arm again, but she stepped further back.

She held her hand up to stop him, before he could say anything. “I cannot be the talk again. I cannot allow people to think of me as some young principal with sex on her mind and not her work. I cannot do it, Colin.”

He smiled. “The sex is good.” When she didn't smile back, he walked toward her until she backed into the wall. “What about the other night at my house? Don't tell me you didn't feel anything then.” He splayed his fingers out over her shoulder and caressed up her neck, circling the little area he knew drove her crazy.

She turned her head and whispered. “Stop, Colin.”

“Or how about the beach and boardwalk?” He ran his fingers up to her lips and caressed her full bottom lip. “The night at your condo. Don't pretend we don't have something.” He leaned in to kiss her. Their lips lingered longer than she wanted. It just felt so right. But she couldn't allow this to continue, so she turned her head to make him stop.

Colin stood up straighter and grabbed her hand with a sigh. “Listen, Hope. This is not what happened to you in Virginia. This is different. Who the hell cares what people are saying? It's not against any damn rules. We are two consenting single adults who enjoy each other's company.”

When she didn't respond, he ran his hand through his thick hair. “Hell, Hope. What about what I think? I know it's shitty what others say, but maybe they are actually happy for us. Maybe they approve.”