Breaking the Rules (7 page)

“Sure, Jas.” Colin watched him move away and then turned his attention to Hope.

She looked around at anything but him. The basketball hoop, the trashcan next to the table, a few rocks in the sand by the sidewalk. When she finally looked sideways at Colin, she saw he scooted closer. Taking that as a bad sign — even though her skin felt all tingly all over — she stood and folded the napkins into the paper bag. “Well, I need to get going.”

Colin stood in front of her. “Listen, I want to apologize for all the flirting.” He stroked an eyebrow without looking her directly in the eyes. “I don't want to run you off.”

When he finally gave her eye contact, she sighed. “I really have to go.” She scraped her teeth over her bottom lip. “Listen, Colin. I can't say the flirting hasn't been flattering, but … ” She tried to move her loose hair behind her ear and under her hat, but it pulled back in front of her eye.

He reached down and pushed the stubborn hair out of her face. “I was getting a different vibe from you.”

She couldn't look him in the eye, because he was right. There was a vibe between them, and she wanted to know where it would lead. But she couldn't allow it.

Before she could say so, Colin put his palms up. “Actually, I completely understand where you're coming from. I mean, you've been my patient, although Rajan is really your doctor.”

“And I'm Jason's principal. It just doesn't seem right.”

“Right.” He put his hands in his pockets and stared at her with those beautiful green eyes. Then his smile broadened and she couldn't help but smile in return. “But, Hope, I've got to be honest. Even if it is a little unorthodox, I feel this force between us. Don't deny you don't feel it, too.”

“I do.” Hope took a deep breath. All this energy-building, sexy man induced excitement had to stop. If not, who knew where it would lead? If it were up to just her, she would throw herself into his arms, Jason nearby or not, and kiss Colin from head to toe. So, she had to store up her self-control. She pointed at his chest. “But, we have to be just friends — vibe or not.”

He shrugged and squeezed his eyes. “Just friends then.”

She nodded.

He wiggled his brows. “I'll text you later, then.”

“I can't wait.” She walked to her car and after a few steps turned to peek over her shoulder. He still stood there, waved and turned around. Everything would work out fine. She just had a nice day with the Calaways. That was all. She had to eat lunch and he offered. Plus, they were friends with Kelly and Tim. She sighed as she pulled her hat off. His touch that made her knees weak … that was just a friendly gesture. Nothing more.

Oh, to hell with it! Who was she fooling? She was attracted to him. He was almost perfect. She would have to be a tree not to feel some type of connection to him. She would just have to get some control over her yearnings and pull herself together. Hard to do when he raced through her mind during her errands and all the way home.

When she reached the door of her apartment, a phone message beeped. He wouldn't …

I'm 95 percent happier than I was yesterday. Thanks for today. Your friend, Colin

A tiny flutter flickered in her chest. He
was
perfect. Sighing, she struggled with the four grocery bags and her key, and thought of how to answer back. When the idea finally came to her, she lounged on her open door and texted back.

If you want to be happy, be. (Tolstoy) Thanks for lunch.

Slamming the door behind her, she didn't miss the irony. Maybe she should listen to her own advice.

When Hope walked through the door of Kelly's house, men's laughter sounded from the dining room. She knew it was poker night at Kelly's, which meant Colin was there. She didn't want to run into him, afraid of her feelings, but her friend wanted to show her the nursery and she couldn't say no.

“They won't bite, Hope. Loosen up.” Kelly threw her purse on the couch as they passed through the living room.

Hope took a deep breath, knowing that when she turned the corner she would see Colin. A whole week had passed since their lunch on the playground, and if she wasn't busy, if she had just a moment of rest, she would see his smiling face and hear his laughter in her mind. That's why she stayed busy all week, not that she had to try. It was the beginning of October already, which meant she had a board meeting to prepare for, a Halloween dance to plan, parent meetings to schedule, and staff meetings to lead. She was up to her eyeballs in work, and she loved it.

The men's laughter grew and then it stopped as the women came into view. Tim said something in the background, but her focus lay only on Colin's face. Their eyes locked and the moment froze in time.

Kelly moved to Tim and kissed him. “I brought Hope in to show her the new comforter for the crib. Right, Hope?”

Hope shook her head to clear it and tore her eyes from Colin. “Uh, yeah. I can't wait to see the completed nursery.” She looked at Colin then back to her friend.

Kelly smiled to the other two men at the table. “Hi, guys.”

Colin leaned back in his chair. “Hey, Kelly.” His serious eyes examined her. “Hope.”

“Hi, Colin. Good to see you again.” She could barely speak. Why did this man have such an impact on her? She straightened her spine and decided to pretend she wasn't affected by his stares. “Whatcha playing?” Oh geez, what a question. Yeah, way to pull herself together.

Colin sat up and smirked. “Uh, poker.” He eyed the man next to him. “This is my brother Scott. Scott, meet Hope.”

Scott held out his hand and gave the same Calaway smile. “So, you're Hope? Nice to meet you.”

What did that mean? Did Colin mention her before? Great. Now, his brother would think she was a dork, too.
Save yourself, Hope. Say something to get yourself out of this hole.
“Nice to meet you, too. I'd have guessed you were brothers. You both have those charming good looks that would knock a grandma off her motorized scooter.” She closed her eyes.

This was why she normally planned what she said. Before any big speech, she spent hours going over her note cards, memorizing every line as if she had just made it up. Because when she actually said anything spontaneously, this is what happened. “I mean … ”

Scott placed his cards down. “Yep. I like her already.”

Kelly saved her then. “Let me show you the nursery.” She pulled Hope by the hand and dragged her to the end of the house.

When they got to the baby's room, Kelly stopped in front of her. “What the hell was that all about?”

Hope took a deep breath and raised her face to the ceiling. “I know.” She slumped into the rocking chair next to her. “God, I'm such a dork.”

“Honey, you've got it bad for Colin.” Kelly kneeled in front of her. “I had no idea.”

“I already told him we can't date.” When Kelly raised her eyebrows, she added, “He's Jason's dad. I'm Jason's principal. Don't you see anything wrong with that?”

“Well, it's unfortunate, but there has to be a way around it. We'll go fix up a margarita, sit on the back porch, away from the source of this predicament, and figure out a plan.”

Hope grabbed her friend's hand. “Thanks. You know I love you, right?” She stood up and looked around. “Now let me see this nursery.”

“Here's the new quilt. I got it in baby green so it would work with either a boy or a girl.”

Hope placed her hand on the soft fabric and caressed the intricate Winnie-the-Pooh designs. “It's lovely, Kelly.” She faced her friend. “Any word from the adoption agency?”

“Still waiting.” Kelly picked up the big teddy bear in the crib. “The agency is still having trouble with the Guatemalan ministry. It's so frustrating, Hope. There are so many children there without homes, parents, even shoes to wear. Tim and I have been waiting for five months now.”

“It'll happen soon. Aren't you on top of the list?” Hope rubbed her friend's arm.

“We're on a list. But there's a big list. The State Department has put a hold on all adoptions to Guatemala because of fraudulent cases. But those poor kids, you know?”

Hope pulled her friend in for a hug. “Soon, Kelly. Have faith.” When Kelly pulled back, Hope smiled. “I love the nursery. It's beautiful. What a lucky baby.”

“Sometimes I catch Tim in here at night, just staring at different things — the mobile or the diapers. God, I wish I could have his baby.”

“Hey now, you will have a baby. You just need patience. And you'll be great parents.”

After looking around the room with a big sigh, Kelly said, “Let's go have those margaritas.”

“I really need one.” Hope followed Kelly out to the lion's den.

• • •

“Who's in?” Colin said as he shuffled the cards. After Hope left the room, he couldn't stop smiling. She was a nervous wreck when she walked in. In fact, it was adorable, because he knew she got nervous because of him. Scott and Tim kept poking fun at him, but he hadn't really done anything. He only said hello. He'd like to talk more to her, if she would come out of that damn room in the back. He looked at his watch. How long did it take to see a new comforter?

As if on cue, the ladies returned. Colin looked up and smiled at Hope. She seemed more comfortable, and smiled back at him.

“There's my wife.” Tim pulled Kelly to his side. “How about making those famous nachos of yours, babe?”

“Oh, no, you didn't.” She pointed her finger at her husband.

“I told the guys about them. You gotta make them.” He slapped her butt.

“Ow! Yes, boss.” She looked at Hope. “Sorry, Hope, it'll only take a minute.” She made her way to the kitchen, which sat openly to the side of the dining area.

Hope watched Kelly walk to the kitchen, her hands clenched into fists, then she wrapped her arms around herself. When she glanced at Colin, he gave her a reassuring grin. She sighed and looked around the room — anywhere but at the table. Then, she walked around the room, away from him. She straightened a picture frame on the wall and continued staring at it. He didn't like that she was so unnerved. Colin wanted to make her feel comfortable. So, with a smile, he said, “Sit down and join us.”

“Hey, this is a man's game,” Tim groaned.

“Can it.” Colin answered back. He smiled softly when Hope eyed him again. “I bet Hope could out win us all.”

She looked around at the men's faces, all staring her down. He could see her rationalizing the situation in her head. What else was she going to do? Straighten all the pictures around the house? Sighing, she rubbed the edge of the empty chair at the table, then shrugged and sat down. “I guess I could try one hand.”

Colin cleared his throat. “Um, you ever played before?”

“I know a little bit. Come on, you can let a woman play, can't you?” She sat up straight and frowned.

Good for her, Colin thought, not letting these dopes run her under the bus.

“Then let's get this game going.” Colin sent a warning glance toward Tim before he could speak up. He passed out the cards to the players.

“So, Hope, you're a school principal I hear?” Scott broke the silence. “How do you like that?”

She arranged the cards in her hand. “I love it. This is my first job as principal, but I was an assistant in Virginia before coming to Harbor Bay.”

Colin stopped what he was doing. “I didn't know that.”

Smiling at him, she added, “There's a lot you don't know about me, Colin.”

“I bet.” He laid out a ten-dollar bill for the first ante.

Hope's eyes grew. “You guys play with real money?”

Colin laughed and Tim moaned, “You said you wanted to play.”

She grabbed her purse and fished inside, pulling out some money. “I have to put ten dollars, right?”

Tim set his money down. “That's right.”

She laid money in the middle of the table and picked up her cards. “So, Scott, what do you do?”

“I'm a doctor, too. It runs in the family.” He shrugged.

“What kind of doctor are you?” Hope placed one card face down on the table and nodded to Colin. “One,” she mouthed.

“I'm a cardiologist like our dad.”

Colin listened to them talk back and forth, figuring each other out. Scott had heard about Hope from Jason. After the Friendly Games Morning Jason blabbed on and on about Ms. Robinson this, Ms. Robinson that. Then he produced the photos on his Blackberry, which formed tons of questions from Scott and his wife, Sarah. Who was the principal? Why were they paired? How did they end up eating lunch together? Too many questions and Colin didn't know how to answer since he was also trying to figure Hope out. He only knew that Hope told him they couldn't be more than friends. Friends who had fun, he reminded himself. So, let the fun begin.

“So, Hope. How was your week?” Colin butted in.

“Great.” She grinned at him and then looked away. She was doing a good job avoiding his gaze. He wouldn't let her.

“Jason had a lot of fun on Saturday. I want to thank you again.”

“Where is Jason, by the way?”

“He doesn't like poker, so I sent him to the slot machines at the casino instead.” This got a snicker from her.

“There's the laugh I've missed.” He beamed at her and this time her mouth twitched with amusement.

“Very funny.”

“I'm on call, so he stays with his grandparents in Tampa on those weekends.” He folded his cards down. “I'm out.” He couldn't think while he played next to this woman. He needed a beer, but he couldn't have one since he was on call. Damn it! Swishing his hand through his hair, he looked at his brother, who smirked at him. Damn it, again. His brother knew what he was thinking.

“And that's how you do it, boys.” Hope laid out her cards and he couldn't believe it — a full house.