Her Imaginary Husband (Contemporary Romance) (2 page)

“It’s like you’re not hearing me, Janna! I’m late! I have to hang up now.” But Janna wanted to talk about Troy—or was it Tony—who had been such a hot salsa dancer last night. “Janna, I’m hanging up now. Love you!”

Fumbling to stuff her phone into her new over-zippered purse, she looked up into the face of a handsome policeman with dark curly hair.

He smiled and saluted. “Officer Ross at your service.”

“Hi.”
He’s an eager fellow. Like Barney Fife, but…cute.

“You’re a new face.”

For a moment she was distracted by his bright, intelligent eyes and general rugged look. “Oh yes, new everything. New shoes—not good on stairs—new skirt…” Nikki stopped because he was grinning even wider. Changing the subject swiftly, she said, “Strict tardy policy, huh? Police at the doors.”

Officer Ross chuckled. “Just security detail. I’m the campus cop. They want me here today so I can learn all the new faces.”

“Ah, hence the comment, ‘new face’.”

He nodded almost like a bow. “Hence the comment. If I didn’t meet you today, I might arrest you under suspicion of being some kind of psycho out to do harm to the kids. Probably stabbing them with those high heels.”

Nikki looked down at her shoes. “Yes, well, that’s me. I’ll be slashing their English papers until they drip blood.”

“Red ink.” He winced through a smile.

“Actually, I’m thinking green ink. It won’t feel quite so much like a massacre. At least I hope not.”

“Good idea. They can call it alien blood.”

“Right.”

“Or snot,” he added, opening the door.

Nikki studied his face. It was cheerful, and a little scruffy on the chin with black curls at the brow. He looked close to her age, so he must be fairly new, too.

“They really need a cop at Riverview? I thought this was the proud crowd.”

“Yeah, well, a lot of them are packing plastic,” he said shaking his head with mock concern. “You’d better hurry. You’re late, Miss...”

“Fallon. Nikki Fallon.”

He touched the brim of his hat in a courtly salute again and ushered her in.

Nikki entered the building and took a deep breath. Even this back entry from the parking lot had a two-story ceiling with hanging modern art and fancy lighting. Everything gleamed with the pretentious display of a mid-sized rural town trying to play Big City. Riverview may be rich, but it was still more rural than it wanted to admit, and it had its share of wealthy farms in the district.
Still, it beats working at Main Street Market.

She clicked down the empty halls thinking how much better it would be when the noisy students muffled the sound that echoed now through the vaulted spaces. Gayle Kendall, the department head who had interviewed her for the job two weeks before, had given Nikki a tour of the building, and it only took her two wrong turns to find the library. Fortunately, it was carpeted, so she entered quietly.

“Ah, there she is!” boomed a jovial voice. Principal Geoffreys stood like a superhero with his fists on his hips, his chest puffed out, and his legs spread wide. It wasn’t a very convincing look for him, unless he was going
deep
undercover.

“Everyone, this is Nikki Fallon, our new English 9 and American Lit teacher. She comes highly recommended by her student teaching mentors at Clarksdale, if we can believe anything they say.” A ripple of boss-appeasing laughter spread through the room, and Nikki scanned the faces of her new colleagues.

Colleagues. That sounds so much fancier than co-workers.

“Would you like to tell us all a little about yourself?” Principal Geoffreys stepped back, giving Nikki the floor. She glanced around the brightly lit room. The round tables at which the other teachers sat looked new and shiny, unmarked yet by territorial or love-struck teenagers. Plush couches invited cozy reading, and a bank of computers for research flanked either side of the librarian’s desk. No doubt those had been donated by the microchip plant that fueled the local economy. More modern art hung just below the massive central skylight. Nikki wondered if hanging student-made banners for school spirit was against the design code.

An inordinate amount of jewelry glittered in the room. This place was rich. She was grateful again for Janna’s help accessorizing, even if it made her feel a little like a Christmas tree.

“Um, well… I grew up in the tri-city area and then came out to Rakefield to attend Trench College.” A movement in the back distracted her. It was Officer Ross sidling along the shelves to stand guard near the water fountain. He tossed his chin in a friendly way and she wondered if he got paid a lot, too.

“Surely you’ll move here to Eastmont now?” urged Principal Geoffreys. “Get out of the country.”

Right. Because Eastmont has a five-digit population instead of a four-digit one, so it’s big time.
“I don’t know.” Nikki had no desire to teach in the same town where she lived. What if her students caught her in the store buying toilet paper—
or worse?

“Anything else?” he prompted.

“I won an award for most innovative curriculum design. You mean like that?”

Geoffreys slapped her back heartily. “Exactly like that! We only hire the best at Riverview, and we’re very glad to have you aboard. Why don’t you have a seat?”

Nikki quickly made her way to an empty chair. “Thanks for saving me a seat, Mrs. Kendall,” she whispered.

“It’s Gayle, now,” she said, patting Nikki’s hand. Gayle looked and smelled like Nikki’s grandmother in the best possible way. Stylish, fruity, and very much
don’t-mess-with-me
. She’d said in the interview that she would mentor Nikki for the first year, and Nikki could tell they were going to get along.

As Principal Geoffreys introduced the administrators, a ridiculously well-built man with receding sandy hair passed out papers to each desk. “Hi,” he said with a husky whisper. “I’m Coach Will Carlin. Welcome to Riverview.”

Dang, he smells good for a coach,
thought Nikki. “Thanks,” she said, her heart fluttering a little at his dazzling smile. She studied his features. He was probably in his early thirties, judging by the fine laugh lines around his eyes, but every part of him fit perfectly together with no odd bumps or angles. She caught herself staring and closed her mouth with a pop.

He moved on and Gayle leaned in. “Watch out for that guy. He’s a real snake.”

“Really?”

“Had an ugly divorce a couple of years back. His wife left him for a pilot.”

Nikki frowned sympathetically. “Sad.”

Gayle waved away her concern. “He’s made up for it. New gal every month if rumors are true.”

“Oh.” Nikki tried to swallow her disappointment. That persistent twinge of loneliness mocked her. She had good friends and was rarely alone if she didn’t want to be, but that wasn’t the same as having someone to call her own. She sighed.
I can’t let every cute smile get my hopes up that someone will take me seriously.

Behind them, Officer Ross noisily unwrapped a granola bar and winked at her.

“The two most important people to befriend at any school are the head secretary and the head janitor,” said Gayle. “Those two can get everything done, and if they like you, life will be a breeze here. If you tick them off, you might as well be teaching in a tent somewhere in Zimbabwe.”

“The secretary and the janitor?” Nikki’s eyebrow arched skeptically.

“Don’t be a snob,” said Gayle. “I’m telling you, be nice to Doug and Katie. They know everything about this school, and you will always have the supplies and repairs you need.” She winked and opened her bottom desk drawer, revealing a big enough stack of Post-it notes and stapler refills to last two years.

“Wow! It’s the mother lode!”

Gayle slid the drawer closed with a flourish. “Yep. C’mon, I’ll treat you to lunch. This is the only week we’ll have time to do that.” She touched up her lipstick. “I may look like a stunning fifty-something, but I’m actually only thirty. This place ages you!”

Nikki giggled and clapped her hands to her face protectively. “No!”

Gayle waved for Nikki to follow. “No worries for you. I’ve never seen such perfect skin. Do you paint that on?”

“Nope.” Nikki blushed at the compliment. “Just lucky I guess.” She peered at their reflections as they passed a very long trophy case filled with football awards. “Now if my eyes can just figure out what color they are.”

Gayle squinted at Nikki. “Easy. Greenish brownish goldish something.”

Nikki barked a laugh. “They won’t be giving you a job naming eye shadows.”

“Pardon me, I meant
Frosted Algae
!” Gayle waved her arm dramatically.

“Oh, like
that’s
better!” Nikki snickered. “More like
Mystic Sludge
.”

“Radiant Moss!”

“Mud Madness!”

“Hey, bright eyes!”

Gayle and Nikki turned to see Will Carlin sauntering up behind them. They took one look at each other and burst out laughing. Will grinned self-consciously. “Was it something I said?”

Nikki turned shining eyes to him. “We’re just heading out to lunch.”

“Oh.” He gave Nikki a half-smile. “I was just coming to invite you.”

“Perfect!” cheered Gayle. “You can treat us both!” She winked knowingly at Nikki, who suppressed a smile.

“Right. Sure.” He leaned on the bar of the door to open it, holding it open with his back so that Nikki had to pass close by him to exit.

Mmm. Very nice.
She closed her eyes and willed her cheeks not to flush.
The man is fine.

“Shall I drive?” Coach asked.

“No, I get carsick,” said Gayle. “Come on. I’m over here.” She led them to a dark green minivan. “Nikki’s up front with me.”

Will opened the side door. “Where’s the seat?”

“It’s there in the back. I had to take out the second row to transport a few flats of flower bulbs and I just never got around to putting it back in. You can sit back there in the third row, can’t you? Your long legs will love it.”

Shaking his head, Will climbed aboard, bent over as he moved to the back of the van. Nikki took the time to admire the view.
Yes, very nice.

Gayle whacked the top of Nikki’s head with the palm of her hand.
No lookie!
she mouthed.
He’s a lech.

Yes, ma’am,
mouthed Nikki. She faced front and pouted playfully.

Revving the engine, Gayle checked the rearview mirror. “Where are you taking us, Will?”

“Martino’s Café?”

“Ooh, good call!” Gayle patted Nikki’s arm. “You’ll love this place. Very snug. Best Alfredo salad ever.”

Nikki gave Will a thumbs up. “Buona idea! Delizioso!”

“You speak Italian?” Gayle whistled. “Nikki, you keep surprising me. Don’t you play the cello, too?”

“I wish!”

Will’s stony silence in the back squelched the mood.

“I mean, I wish I played the cello. I took clarinet lessons for a while, but all the ducks in the neighborhood heard me playing and thought I was torturing their mother, so I quit.”

Will chuckled, and Nikki caught a glimpse of his usual smile. She had learned over the years that humor eased most tension. She used it as soon as she felt a negative vibe seeping in. Strong emotions frightened her after years of listening to her parents argue.

“But Italian?” Gayle maneuvered through traffic with agility incongruent to the size of her vehicle.

“Actually, only what I had to sing in high school choirs and whatever I picked up at restaurants.” She tucked her hair behind her ear and glanced back at Will, feeling his eyes on her. “I can sing about calamari and Christmas. That’s about it.”

This time, Will belly laughed, and their eyes locked in the rearview mirror. Nikki felt a flutter in her stomach and quickly looked away.

“But you like Italian,” said Will. “That’s good to know.”

“Love it.”
Am I flirting? I think I forgot how.

“Here we are. Looks like we beat the rush,” said Gayle, parallel parking like a pro.

Nikki moved to get out of the car and found Will already standing there, pulling the door open wider. He reached in a hand to lift her out, and she felt a tingle at the rugged warmth. Averting her eyes behind her lashes, she whispered. “Why, thank you, sir.”

A step later, Gayle hooked an arm over her shoulders and said, “Let’s eat. All those boring meetings have made me hungry.”

Martino’s Café proved to be a miniature version of the Olive Garden, but with more intimate lighting and less garlic on the bread sticks. The hostess seated them in a corner booth and Gayle wriggled her self into the center so that Nikki and Will were forced to face each other at either edge of the C. This meant that avoiding eye contact was nearly impossible as they scanned the menus.

Nikki sipped her water and studied Will’s features while he and Gayle debated the merits of the seafood dishes. Though his hair was thinning, it had a lush color and attractive wave to it. His blue eyes, always on the move, revealed an analytical mind that constantly assessed his surroundings. Until they came to rest on her, and then they remained thrillingly focused.

The waiter arrived, and Nikki ordered first. “I’ll take the chicken Caesar salad, and I—”

Will’s ankle brushed against hers and her voice pitched upward. Recovering, she feigned a hiccup. “Sorry.” She enunciated clearly. “And Diet Dr. Pepper, please.”

Will’s eyebrow rose coyly. His leg had not moved. “Diet?”

“Must keep my girlish figure, you know.” She smiled at the waiter, handing him her menu.

“You’ll be twelve by next week at this rate,” teased Gayle.

Lunch came, and with it, more stolen glances. Nikki listened more than speaking, learning much about the politics at the school between teachers, and sensing that both Will and Gayle were probably excellent teachers in their fields.

Gayle eventually steered the conversation to more personal matters. “So, how’s Patty?” She flashed a wicked grin at Nikki. “Have you heard from her lately?”

Will’s whole demeanor tensed, and he looked at his empty plate. Fidgeting with his napkin, he mumbled, “Only when she wants more in alimony.”

“Does she ever ask after me?” Gayle looked at Nikki conspiratorially. “She was one of our student aides a few years back. Super cute. The kids loved her.”

“I’m pretty sure she’s in Barbados or something.”

Gayle squealed appreciatively, and Nikki sensed she was goading him.

“All those frequent flier miles,” he said bitterly. He cleared the dregs of his Coke and crunched the ice. “I’ll go pay the check.”

As he walked away, Gayle patted Nikki’s arm. “Look, it’s none of my business, but—gorgeous bod aside—Will’s still on the rebound. I don’t want to see you hurt while he’s still mopping up his shattered ego, you know?”

Nikki nodded and swallowed. “I get it. Thanks for the warning.”