Page 5

I grinned when I checked the screen. Ruby. I dialed her back.
“Hey, bestie,” I said the second she picked up.
“Hey. When do you think you might get here?” She sounded frazzled.
“Soon. I’m in the parking lot now, getting ready to head out. I thought Grayson was helping?”
Ruby snorted. “He’s trying.”
“I heard that, kitten,” Grayson’s voice came through the phone.
“Babe, you are great atsomany things, but Wren can see my vision for this better than you.”
I laughed as Grayson grumbled in the background.
“I’m on my way.”
“Thank you.” She laughed, and I could hear Grayson again in the background as we hung up.
I didn’t even have time to tuck my phone back into my purse when it buzzed again. I answered the call without checking the view screen. “What did you forget now, Ruby?”
“Ms. Winter,” said a deep, commanding voice.
Not Ruby.
“Mr. Hunter. So nice of you tofinallyreach out to me.” There was no way he missed my sarcasm.
“Ms. Winter. I’ll be at the school shortly and—”
“I won’t be there,” I answered abruptly, regretting my decision to park at the end of the staff lot to get in extra steps today. It didn’t help that my knee-length black skirt hindered me from going much faster.
“We had an appointment.” His annoyed tone grated on my nerves.
“Which you were a no-show for. I can’t sit around waiting for you all day long. I’ve got to go.” Tapping to end the call was even more satisfying because I didn’t give him a chance to respond. I was the one in control.
My phone buzzed, and I tossed it into my purse seeing that it washimagain.
“Nope,” I muttered. “I don’t need to pick up.”
A car pulled into the staff parking lot. When the driver’s side door slammed shut, I jumped.
“Ms. Winter!” his deep baritone called out, halting me in my tracks.
I hated how I immediately followed his demand. My hand clenched around the keys I pulled out of my purse, grateful I’d thought to drop them into the small front pocket of my bag.
“Ms. Winter. We need to talk.” His quick footsteps echoed on the asphalt.
I loved how he thought I’d acquiesce. And if it had been any other parent, I actually might have.
I looked back, raised my arm, and then flipped him off. “You can email me to reschedule.”
The edges of his lips lifted into a semblance of a smile before he flattened them. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Did you just give me the middle finger?”
I quickly dropped my hand and searched the parking lot for the prying eyes of staff, parents, or, God forbid, the principal. What was I thinking? I never did stuff like this, especially to parents who could get me fired if they wanted to.
I ignored his words. It was better to leave before I did something else I’d regret.
“If you’d just give me one minute to explain, you’d understand—” He was only a few car lengths away and quickly gaining on me. His gaze fixated and focused like a hunter after its prey.